Cracking the code of Lake Louise course not easy, say Canada’s downhillers
LAKE LOUISE, Alta. — Some consider it easy, but Canada’s World Cup downhill course can make a fool of those who disrespect it.
At 3.1 kilometres long, with a vertical drop of 826 metres, the track in Lake Louise, Alta., has for almost two decades been the traditional opener to the downhill season for the world’s top racers.
“I always say Lake Louise is like walking on marbles,” Canada’s Manny Osborne-Paradis said. “It’s not the best skiing that wins. It’s always the person that makes the least amount of mistakes.”
Said teammate Erik Guay: “If your skis aren’t running, if you’re not a good glider, you have zero chance here in Lake Louise.