LAKE LOUISE – Brodie Seger couldn’t wipe the smile off his face after racing to a 16th place finish, and career best, at the season-opening super-G world cup at Lake Louise Ski Resort on Sunday (Dec. 1).
Seger’s result was the top finish by a Canadian over the weekend's Audi FIS Ski World Cup.
The 23-year-old alpine racer from North Vancouver, was 57th out of the gates, facing an already chewed up course, but overcame the tough conditions that challenged the racers before him.
“This was my goal to land in the top 30, and that’s what I’m shooting for all season long," said Seger. "I knew it was going to be tough today – it was going to be rough starting from my position and I was going to have to make some big moves, but I was just trying to trust my ability and the way I’ve been skiing in training … and it was really nice to see it pay off like that."
The "home town" spectators roared as Seger crossed the finish line, ending the weekend on a high note, after a mediocre showing from the Canadian team.
“It’s so good to see Brodie Seger step up. I’ve been saying it all summer ‘This guys going to have a big year,’ and it’s just wicked to see him throw down a run like that,” said veteran Canadian ski racer and teammate Benjamin Thomsen.
Standing on the top of the podium after 61 racers was the reigning Olympic super-G champion from Austria, Matthias Mayer.
The Austrian, edged out last season’s super-G champion, Dominik Paris of Italy by 0.4 seconds. For the second consecutive day, Paris finished in second place, and once again there was a tie for third place. Sharing the bronze position was Mauro Caviezel of Switzerland and Mayer’s teammate Vincent Kriechmayer with a time of 1:31:89.
On Saturday (Nov. 30) in the downhill event, on the three-kilometre Olympic course, the top Canadian was Benjamin Thomsen finishing in 30th, the second best result by a Canadian over the weekend.
"I don't always score points here at Lake Louise, it's not really my track," Thomsen said. "It's a fun track, but I do struggle with it. In the end though 30th is good – it's a point, but I'm shooting for top tens.”
Thomsen, a native of Invermere, B.C., is currently battling through a left knee injury that has been causing him discomfort over the last few weeks.
With such a competitive field of racers Thomsen and the Canadian team will look to build off the momentum of Seger’s thrilling run at the next world cup in Beaver Creek in the U.S.
