ARTICLES

THE UPBEAT LIFE OF A DOWNHILLER

Unplugged | Erik Guay Canuck skier loves heavy metal, hates skin-tight suits.

Canadian downhiller Erik Guay was standing in the finish area in Val d'Isere, France, last season when someone identifying himself as Shania Twain's agent came up and told him the mega superstar wanted to meet him.
"I was like, `Good one, buddy,'" recalled Guay. "I thought it was one of those lookalike Shania Twains, you know, that sing."
It turned out to be the genuine article, flustering the normally cool and collected Guay.
"I spaced it because I wanted her to sign my bib but I forgot to ask her," he said. "Anyway, next time."
There isn't much that fazes this 25-year-old from Mont Tremblant, Que., who finished in 23rd place in yesterday's World Cup downhill at Lake Louise and figures to be one of Canada's stars heading toward the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He never flinched during an entertaining visit with Unplugged as he talked about snow bunnies, strange thoughts in the start gate and what he never leaves home without.

If you could have any three people in history to dinner, who would they be? Michael Schumacher, probably Lance Armstrong and Bode Miller to liven the party.
Complete this sentence: I'd never be caught dead without ... My skis.
Is Kitzbuehel as intimidating as everyone makes it out to be? Absolutely. You get to the top of the course and it's steep and it's icy and you've never seen anything like it. The first thing that goes through your mind is, "Omigod, I have to go down this?" It doesn't get any easier from there. You slide down the course and it's all bumps and rolls and speed. The finish line, when you see the 100,000 that are standing there, it's a little nerve-wracking but I'd say it's the greatest World Cup you could ever race.
The worst ski crash you've ever witnessed? I'd say that would be myself. I've had a couple of them. In 2003, I got close to 90 to 100 metres of air before I crashed into the compression in Val Gardena, Italy (suffering a knee injury). I've witnessed a lot of broken legs and those aren't fun, either.
Do skiers have groupies? Yes. My girlfriend won't like to hear this but there are groupies, mostly in Europe but a little bit everywhere. They usually hang out in the finish line and try to find out what you're doing later and what's going on. But I have a girlfriend and I'm happy with her.
What's your go-to song to get cranked up for a race? "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC. There's a lot of them. Anything by Metallica pumps you up.
What did Shania Twain say to you when you met her? She just said, "Great result. Great race. Have a good season." She told me she was Canadian, like I didn't know. That was it.
What's something you'd be embarrassed to let people know about you? (Laughs) I don't know. Okay, I have one. My girlfriend always puts her underwear in my bag sort of as good luck when I travel. The guys always find it in there and say, "What are you doing with this?" So they think that I wear women's undergarments.
What's the worst thing about the skin-tight racing suits you wear? Being in skin-tight racing suits in front of everybody, in front of all the fans and the people that watch.
Do you get the sense the women are trying to size you up? Oh, they definitely do, sure. Wouldn't you look if there was a girl in a skin-tight suit? I would.
So do guys try to enhance ... No, I don't think so. I don't think it would be so comfortable on the way down to have a sock up there.
Does your mind ever wander when you're racing down the hill? Never when I'm going down the hill. Then, it's really 100 percent focus and determination. But it does wander sometimes before you go out of the start and you think of random things that don't add up.
What's the strangest thought you ever had in the start gate? I remember thinking once about my mom cooking apple pies. It was really weird. Sometimes your mind just jumps to different things.
What's the biggest extravagance in your life? My GMC truck that I couldn't afford otherwise. (He gets a free one for a year from a team sponsor.)
Life's most underrated pleasure? I can't say that (laughs). Life's most underrated pleasure ... poutine.
Best thing about being a ski racer? The travelling.
Worst thing about being a ski racer? The travelling.
Greatest fear? Crashing and hurting yourself when you're going really fast. It's not a fear that you have on the way down, but it's a fear I would say probably plays in every ski racer's mind before.
Favourite Internet site? Wreckedexotics.com. It's about wrecked exotic cars. It's pretty cool. They show you all the new Enzos that have been crashed.
Your most annoying habit? My girlfriend would go down the list for hours and hours. My most annoying habit is probably, I don't know, delaying what I have to do now, putting things off. I don't return many phone calls, either.
What would you like to come back as in your next life? A hockey player. Less travelling. Get to stay home, make more money than a skier. I think it'd be fun.
What's your most treasured possession? My ski technician.
Any superstitions? Nope. It's bad luck to be superstitious.
How would you describe yourself in one word? Calm.
Which performer would spend the most money to get a chance to see? Probably Metallica.
Is there a movie you watch over and over on the road that you never get tired of? I watch The Matrix over and over. ... It's awesome. Scarface is the best movie of all-time, hands down.
Did you take much abuse about your last name as a kid? Not too much. I got in a fight once in high school about it. That was about it. ... All the Europeans pronounce it as Gway, anyway. I don't really correct them. I just let them do it. Even in the States, they say Gway.
Tim Hortons or Starbucks? I'm Canadian. Tim Hortons.
Jessica Simpson or Scarlett Johansson? Jessica Simpson. She looks like my girlfriend.
Jockeys or boxers? Jockeys. No rubbing.
SUV or sports car? Sports car. If had any choice, Ferrari Enzo.
Beer or wine? Beer.
Stock market or real estate? Real estate.
Cats or dogs? Dogs.
Family Guy or Simpsons ? Both, but Simpsons.
Letterman or O'Brien? Neither, but Letterman. I don't really watch those late night shows.
Podborski or Read? Read (former Crazy Canuck Ken Read, head of Alpine Canada). He's my boss. I have to say Read.
Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy! ? Wheel of Fortune because then I wouldn't have to think.
Barber or stylist? I don't know. I wouldn't be good at either one. (Told the question is about which he uses.) Oh, I use my mom. She cuts my hair.