Canadian team looks to rebound at worlds in Cortina

When Canadian alpine director Phil McNichol acknowledged “confidence is king” it might have been a rally cry for the group as they finalize preparations for the world championships, beginning tomorrow in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

The occasion is streaming reside on CBC Sports activities in Canada, see TV schedule

The 2020-21 season has been largely mediocre for the Canadian group on the World Cup circuit. There have been some highlights and moments – one medal and a small handful of high 10 finishes – however as an entire they don’t have any lived as much as expectations. A bronze medal by Marie-Michèle Gagnon in a girls’s super-G in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany is the marquee spotlight with greater than half of the season accomplished. Evaluate this to the U.S. ski group who’ve 11 World Cup medals between 4 skiers.

However McNichol is optimistic, stating a number of Canadian skiers are “knocking on the door” to podium performances. Talking to us not too long ago from Northern Italy, the place the ladies’s group advantageous tuning race preparations, McNichol mentioned the group is worked up and in good spirits. Alpine Canada named 13 skiers – seven girls and 6 males – to the world championships roster. Ski Racing breaks down the outlook for the Canadian group.

It’s been a tough begin on the worlds for race organizers with heavy snowfall wreaking havoc on the already jammed schedule. The ladies’s super-G is now scheduled for Tuesday.

WOMEN’S SPEED: Gagnon harnessing pace confidence

Who will begin: 
Downhill: Marie-Michèle Gagnon
Tremendous-G: Gagnon, Val Grenier
Mixed: Gagnon, Val Grenier

The ladies’s super-G could possibly be the perfect likelihood for a Canadian podium end. Gagnon’s bronze medal in Garmisch instilled confidence within the veteran (242 World Cup begins). It was additionally her first World Cup medal in five years and first in the speed events. “Garmisch was a giant step for her, she’s making that transition to believing what she’s able to [in speed events] and it’s thrilling to see,” McNichol mentioned.

Canadian Val Grenier, from St. Isidore, Ont., could possibly be a darkhorse within the super-G. Simply previous to a downhill crash in 2019 which sidelined her for over 18 months, Grenier completed fourth within the super-G at Cortina and has been pace coaching not too long ago with Mikaela Shiffrin. In response to McNichol, Grenier may even be within the combine within the mixed and within the large slalom. “She may strike lightning, she’s adequate that’s for positive,” he mentioned.

WOMEN’S TECH: St-Germain, Mielzynski pack 1-2 punch

Who will begin: 
GS: Val Grenier, Cassidy Grey, Ali Nullmeyer, Amelia Good
Slalom: Laurence St-Germain, Erin Mielzynski, Amelia Good, Ali Nullmeyer

That is the deepest expertise pool for the Canadian group. In slalom, Laurence St-Germain and Erin Mielzynski have each scored persistently within the high 20 in World Cups and look like in high kind. “Laurence and Erin are gunning for podiums,” McNichol mentioned. “Slalom is slalom and issues occur however they’re podium skiers and we’ve had a pair phenomenal days of coaching.”

Grenier has scored three high 20 finishes in large slalom, significantly spectacular contemplating her return from harm. The younger crew of Cassidy Grey, Ali Nullmeyer and Amelia Good all have World Cup factors and have been coaching sturdy, in accordance with McNichol. “The rostrum could also be out of attain [for them] however they’re extraordinarily promising and it’s an incredible alternative for them, he mentioned. “Our expectations are saved in examine however they’re going on the market to carry out.”

MEN’S SPEED: Crawford leads Gen Z crew

Who will begin:
Downhill: Brodie Seger, Broderick Thompson, Jeff Learn, Jack Crawford
Tremendous-G: Seger, Thompson, J. Learn, Crawford
Mixed: Trevor Philp, Crawford, J. Learn

Jack Crawford’s sixth place end within the super-G at Kitzbuehel was a spotlight for the younger group decimated by early season injuries. Brodie Seger’s return in Garmisch additionally bolsters the depth and the group’s probabilities to attain in Cortina.

The boys’s pace group was off the tempo within the final World Cup males’s downhill in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany, however McNichol was not overly involved. “They’ve much more in them however they have been preventing the situations and it was not set as much as actually punch in there,” he mentioned referring to the snow situations which made it difficult to cost from later begin positions.

“They should imagine in themselves as a result of that’s the league they’re in now,” McNichol mentioned. “I’m a giant believer that confidence is king, it beats talent nearly on daily basis.”

Big slalom specialist Trevor Philp not too long ago scored spectacular outcomes at a Europa Cup super-G ending tenth (Zinal, Switzerland) on consecutive days – in addition to forerunning the Kitzbuehel super-G – so he could possibly be within the combine for a begin within the super-G. In response to McNichol, Jeff Learn could possibly be a darkhorse within the mixed, scheduled for Thursday Feb. eleventh.

MEN’S TECH: Learn – rested and prepared

Who will begin:
GS: Erik Learn, Trevor Philp
Slalom: E. Learn, Philp

The Canadian males’s tech group is small however Erik Learn may present a brilliant gentle for the group’s probabilities in slalom and GS. Learn’s outcomes on the World Cup have tapered off since a powerful begin to the season however he has persistently scored within the high 30. McNichol mentioned Learn has been “slightly flat” after many months in Europe however not too long ago rested for plenty of consecutive days. Trevor Philp completed seventh in a Europa Cup in Folgaria, Italy, not too long ago and seems to coming into high kind.

PARALLEL: Double the enjoyable

Who will begin:
Girls: Erin Mielzynski, Laurence St-Germain, Cassidy Grey, Ali Nullmeyer
Males: Erik Learn, Jeff Learn, Trevor Philp, Jack Crawford

For the primary time the world championships will host particular person and group parallel occasions. The Canadians have a historical past of success in group parallel, taking a silver medal on the worlds in 2015 (Beaver Creek, Colo.). Erik Learn regarded snug within the parallel in late November in Lech, Austria, and will problem for a deep run. 

Workforce Canada

Athletes:
Ali Nullmeyer (Toronto, ON/Georgian Peaks Ski Membership)
Amelia Good (Invermere, B.C./Workforce Panorama Ski Membership)
Broderick Thompson (Whistler, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Membership)
Brodie Seger (North Vancouver, B.C./Whistler Mountain Ski Membership)
Cassidy Grey (Panorama, B.C./Workforce Panorama Ski Membership) 
Erik Learn (Canmore, AB/Banff Alpine Racers)
Erin Mielzynski (Thornbury, ON/Georgian Peaks Ski Membership)
James Crawford (Toronto, ON/Whistler Mountain Ski Membership)
Jeffrey Learn (Canmore, AB/Banff Alpine Racers)
Laurence St-Germain (St. Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC/Membership de ski Mont Ste-Anne)
Marie-Michèle Gagnon (Lac-Etchemin, QC/Membership de ski Mont Orignal)
Trevor Philp (Calgary, AB/Banff Alpine Racers)
Valérie Grenier (Mont-Tremblant, QC/Membership de ski Mont-Tremblant)

Coaches:
Manuel Gamper (Girls’s Head Coach, Alpine)
Mark Tilston (Males’s Head Coach, Alpine)
Phil McNichol (Excessive-Efficiency Director, Alpine)