Erik Guay: Dad, Downhiller, Champion

This past February in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Canadian Erik Guay became the oldest World Champion in the history of alpine racing when he took men’s super-G gold at the tender age of 35. Then, four days later, the Canadian Cowboy backed up his gold-medal performance with a silver in downhill. Like a fine wine, Guay seems to be getting better with age.

“The ‘oldest’ World Champion title came as a complete surprise, I didn’t even know that was on the table,” Guay shares in a recent interview with the International Ski Federation (FIS). “I think it’s in your head. So as long as you are fit and healthy and have the skills, nothing should stop you from winning, young or old. Having Manny (Osborne-Paradis) on the podium (in third) was pretty sweet; we’ve only shared the podium one other time in Val d’Isere, and it makes for a very fun team celebration.”

Guay’s impressive haul at World Champs was no flash in the pan either as he managed to finish no worse than sixth in every downhill of the 2017 season – minus a stomach-turning crash in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, that forced him to sit out the second downhill of that series.

“It was a great season, and I’m proud of the consistency I displayed,” he says. “It was part of my plan to establish myself back among the top five in the world, and despite missing the two races in Garmisch, I was able to do that. We had solid on-snow prep last summer as well as a very good summer of dryland training. I just felt like I was where I needed to be to ski fast.”

“There is a certain amount of risk management if you want to stay healthy and be consistent, but you also have to be ready to put it on the line when the time is right,” he adds. “It worked in St. Moritz, but it was an epic fail in Garmisch. Course knowledge through experience also plays a part. I think that’s why we often see established veterans win Kitzbuehel.”

Rather unfortunately, Guay has become well acquainted with the surgeon’s scalpel over the years as he has recovered from numerous injuries throughout his career, including sitting out the entire 2015 season with a knee injury, even contemplating retirement before deciding to return to the World Cup.

“It’s never easy to deal with injuries, and for me after so many injuries and with a family at home, I had to ask myself some tough questions,” admits Guay. “Can I commit? Do I want to ski? Can I put in the effort? The answer was yes. I feel really great physically. Since my last surgery, with the help of my trainer and osteotherapist, I was able to build myself back to be a better, stronger, and more solid athlete. I feel better now than I have in the last 10 years.”

Guay soaring in Kitzbuehel, Austria. Image Credit: Harald Steiner/GEPA

A devoted father of three girls with another child on the way, the life of a World Cup dad certainly has its challenges when his family is often half way around the world during the competition season. However, Guay does find solace in the fact that the memories made now will be cherished by his family long after he decides to hang up his race skis for good.

“It’s not always easy,” he says. “I used to love traveling across the world to ski. Now I feel I often can’t wait to get home to see the girls. But I know my days are numbered and before long I will be home full time, so for now, I’m putting in my biggest effort to keep the focus on my ski career.”

With 25 World Cup podiums to his name, Guay has the most top-three finishes of any Canadian skier. Although it’s nice to be mentioned alongside the likes of Nancy Greene, Steve Podborski, and Ken Read, Guay has his sights set on making some more elite lists before he rides off into the sunset with Olympic gold and the Hahnenkamm downhill solidly in his crosshairs this coming winter.

“It’s special to be among Canada’s elite skiers. But to be honest, it was never a goal of mine to break records in Canada,” he says. “After all, we are competing against the world.”