Great revenge for Erik Guay Print E-mail
ATHLETES & COMPETITIONS - Alpine
Written by SkiPressWorld.com   
Tuesday, 16 March 2010 00:00
After missing several Olympic medals in the speed events at Turin and Vancouver by only a few hundredths of a second, Erik Guay took a sweet revenge today at Garmisch-Partenkirchen winning his second Super-G race in a row and capturing the specialty World Cup title ahead of Austria’s veteran Michael Walchhofer. Last week, he won a Super-G at Kvitfjell, in Norway. It’s the fourth Canadian win of the season.
The 28-year-old skier from Mont Tremblant, Quebec finished ahead of Croatia’s amazing Ivica Kostelic and Norway’s very consistent Aksel Luind Svindal to become the first Canadian ever to collect the Super-G Crystal Globe. He is only the second since Steve Podborski’s downhill triumph in 1982 to achieve such a remarkable performance.

Guay had nothing to lose.

Guay was only in 3rd position in the points standings with a delay of 69 points on Walchhofer prior that last competition and he knew what he had to do to clinch the title. “I had to go for it, I knew I had to win to have a real chance to get that cup even though I only had a small chance. Michael just needed a top-8 place today to remain out of reach,” the smiling Canadian said afterwards.

“I fought as hard as possible and made many mistakes but I kept pushing all the time,” he added. “It’s really fantastic to get that cup now after my disappointing Olympics, I’m so happy,” also commented Guay who finished twice 5th at Whistler Mountain in downhill and Super-G. He was 4th in Super-G at Sestriere in 2006.

“It was tough to lose a medal there by only a few hundredths of a second, I had my chance. The expectations on our shoulders were huge. This great success pays me back for all the hard work done since years. I felt much more comfortable after the Olympics, it definitely helped me to ski the way I can, aggressive yet also more relaxed than in Canada. This is also very important for our entire team.”

Two years ago, Erik Guay celebrated his very first World Cup win in downhill on the same slope – and now he wrote skiing history with that Super-G globe. “It’s an amazing moment, it’s a perfect way to end the season for me. I’m excited that the coming World Championships are taking place here in a year.”