GUAY PICKS PERFECT TIME TO START DELIVERING
He claims he is not even thinking about the Winter Games but Canadian Erik Guay looks to be the speed skier who is finally delivering on his promise, right on time, in an Olympic season.
Guay continued his improved form here on Friday with his second runners-up spot after his finish at Beaver Creek and recent sixth and seventh places in downhill.
At 24, Guay is the leading light in a very young Canadian team that are raising eyebrows on the circuit.
There is nothing unexpected about his rise to the top though -- he had been earmarked as a talent to develop from a very early age and had it not been for a serious injury he might have opened his World Cup victory account by now.
That injury came at Val Gardena two years ago when he was first out on the first day of practice and went crashing off the course, damaging his knee.
Last season was a year of rebuilding the strength in his leg and also learning to lose the reckless streak that critics said was costing him the chance to compete among the elite.
"Things have been going well pretty much from pre-season where we trained with the Austrian and Swiss teams," said Guay.
"Lake Louise was disappointing for me but then Beaver Creek and Val d'Isere went well and then this result really gives me a boost," he said.
The men take to the Saslong slope for a second time in successive days on Saturday -- this time in a downhill battle which Guay says he is relishing, despite being wary of local hero, Italian Kristian Ghedina, who posted the fasted time in training on Thursday.
"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow even though Ghedina really put one down in training -- I like these head-to-head speed events," he added.
Guay's 19-year-old brother Stefan is also competing in the Dolomites, although he did not make the cut for Friday's race, but Guay is well used to being the 'older head' in the squad.
"If you look at the rest of the team -- I'm the oldest guy on the roster at 24," he says.
With the form he is showing at the moment Guay has to be among those considered to be in with a chance for the Winter Games in February.
"To be honest it hasn't been on my mind at all," he said. "I've never skied at Sestriere and it is still more than a month and a half away -- I'm trying not to think too much about it."
"The main thing is to keep going up toward the Olympics and arrive at the finals with my confidence really up."