Are: Q&A with Canada's Manny Osborne-Paradis

Canada's Manuel Osborne-Paradis is in his third World Cup season and is competing in his second World Championships. “Manny,” who turns 23 on Thursday, is a racing in one event in Are — Saturday’s downhill. Ski Racing talked with Manny after his downhill training run on Wednesday.
CANADA'S MANUEL OSBORNE-PARADIS is in his third World Cup season and is competing in his second World Championships. “Manny,” who turns 23 on Thursday, is racing in one event in Are — Saturday’s downhill. Ski Racing talked with Manny after his downhill training run on Wednesday.
    A colorful character, Manny touched on his downhill philosophy, his favorite music and what it takes to get pumped up for a speed race.

Ski Racing: How was your run today?
Manny Osborne-Paradis: It was slow. I don’t mind. That’s more time to look at everything else. I’m excited to get down this and scare myself a little bit. It’s whoever tries to go the straightest and stick their nose in it is going to be the winner, for sure. It’s going to be that easy. Nobody here is prepared not to do that, it’s just whose coach reminds them that it’s the World Championships and they have to do it.
    I like the course. It’s not too hard, you know. If you aren’t pushing yourself, you won’t get there.

SR: What’s it been like waiting around for your race?
MP: If they didn’t have Internet here, I’d be out shopping for a rope for sure [laughs].

SR: What sites have you visited most?
MP: I’ve been doing a lot of e-mail for sure. But, Facebook.com, you have to go there and find out what your friends are up to.

SR: Since it’s been so boring, how do you get yourself mentally prepared to race?
MP: To tell the truth, this morning I wasn’t really in the mood to go racing. I was like, I’d rather just sleep in like I have the past few days. But, I’ve always kind of been pretty lethargic in the past in the first training runs.
    Now you have something to think about, you think about this turn and that turn. Now I have this whole new excitement and so it’s uplifting to finally be able to do something and actually race. Now I am stoked. …
    I’ve come all the way over here to Sweden to race in one event for two minutes, so I better muster up enough energy to really kick ass in those two minutes [laughs].

SR: So, how do you gear up? Lots of Red Bull? Hard rock? Please don’t say Metallica …
MP: Well I won’t now that I know you don’t like them. … [laugh].
    I like to listen to metal… there’s Linkin Park, Sepultura. It depends on mood, you know, all the way down to Jack Johnson.
I used to listen to music every day before a race and now I just do it on race day because I used to be pumped up every day and by race day I’m all tired.

SR: The Canadian men and women’s teams are doing well.
MP: For what we have done in the past, the past two decades and so, that was a good showing yesterday. Our team just isn’t happy until we get a medal and that’s a good mentality to have. We’re going to be sticking to that. There’s no reason we can’t get a medal.

SR: The championships are one of the last big ski racing events before the Olympics in your home country. Is it good preparation?
MP: The Olympics are better. This doesn’t compare to the Olympics. You can prepare all you want and go to all these World Cups and championships, but every Olympics has its own venue and its own maze to try and find your way around and everything. It’s pretty much the person that comes the most mentally ready to do their job will win.
    Ski racing is a big mental game more than anything. Half the good skiers aren’t in good shape anyway [laughs]. We’re just strong and stupid.