Jan Hudec had every reason to fail.
Stuck with a $15,000 Alpine Canada team fee levied because his ranking was outside the top 30 in the world, Hudec was still looking for sponsors three days before last weekend’s Lake Louise World Cup.
Injuries had kept him off snow for an entire summer of training, and he skipped the final training run to rest his aching body. Many thought he had retired.
But every time Hudec has faced adversity – seven knee surgeries, countless back problems, challenges from younger racers – he’s emerged triumphant.
“All things considered, I had one of the best runs of my life. A couple of mistakes, but I skied the parts I wanted to ski well and I’m close. I started skiing two weeks before Lake Louise and I’m just happy to be here and able to perform at this level,” Hudec said.
Hudec was the top Canadian at the 2011 Winterstart Lake Louise World Cup downhill, finishing 12th with a time of 1:48.3. Switzerland’s Didier Cuche, 37, was the fastest on the course with a time of 1:47.28.
Hudec nailed the top section of the course, lost some time in the middle and carried speed well through the end.
“That was the game plan. I almost forgot about the middle section and lost a little time. I knew I could make up time at the bottom.”
After nailing the fall away section of the course, Hudec was on easy street.
“I was almost smiling because I knew I was going to be fast.”
Disheartened by the need to fundraise to ski in front of his hometown crowd, Hudec said his performance was a community effort. Several big sponsors left Alpine Canada after the Olympics and the national organization could only cover costs for two racers – Erik Guay and Mike Janyk. Hudec didn’t meet the criteria and had to pay his own way.
“Literally three days before the race, Grizzly House, one of Banff’s most famous restaurants, came on board. I came with no sponsors and am still looking for sponsors and had to do a fundraiser to pay for team fees. To perform like this, it’s nice to perform for the people who have supported you.”
Hudec was 11th in the Super G at Lake Louise last season, and went into the race with a podium finish in his sights. After drawing the No. 2 bib, he sat in second place for the first third of the race, but slowly saw his ranking slip as the Swiss and Austrian skiers tore into the snow covered course.
In the latest battle between alpine powerhouses Austria and Switzerland, Cuche becames the oldest winner in world cup history. He finished .06 seconds ahead of countryman Beat Feuz, who is 13 years his junior. Austria’s Hannes Reichelt finished third with his first downhill podium finish. The Austrians had three skiers in the top five, but missed the top two spots.
“Today we’re the losers to the Swiss,” Reinchelt said.
Cuche was sixth in the downhill at the Vancouver Olympics and second at the World Championships last season, and serves as inspiration for elder Canadian skiers Hudec and Guay. He previously won the Lake Louise downhill in 2009 and was third in the Super G in 2008, but wasn’t happy with his training runs. He tried to ski less aggressively and the change obviously worked.
“I hope they’re not mad I’m still here,” Cuche said. “At Lake Louise you have to be lucky with the weather. To have success in the first race, you have to be confident for the rest of the season.”
Cuche started racing on the World Cup in 1993 and recorded his first win in 1998. He said he’ll take it season by season, but quipped he’s been getting retirement questions for the past four years.
“I’ll go season by season, but I’ll finish this one first,” Cuche said.
Feuz scored his first downhill podium of his career, and was happy to finish close to his countryman.
“It was perfect. He’s the old guy, I’m the young guy. To be behind him gives it a sweeter finish,” Feuz said.
Canada’s top skier, Eric Guay, had a disappointing run, finishing 44th, however he didn’t expect a strong performance due to inconsistent skiing.
“I wasn’t expecting big things coming into this weekend. The skiing isn’t there on command. But I’m happy the back is doing well.
“From start to finish I didn’t ski technically as well. When you’re dropping time the whole way down, you end up with a big number.”
Other Canadian finishers included Robbie Dixon (25th), Ben Thomsen (33rd), Louis-Pierre Helie (47th), and Kelby Halbert (53rd). Ryan Semple and Conrad Pridy tied for 59th.
