|
LAKE LOUISE, Alta. Robert Turbin Jersey . -- Erik Guay took an important step towards the 2014 Winter Olympics on Saturday. The man who has come the closest to ending Canadas Olympic medal drought in mens skiing effectively booked his ticket to Sochi, Russia, in February. The 32-year-old from Mont-Tremblant, Que., finished eighth in the season-opening World Cup downhill in Lake Louise, Alta. That qualifies him for his third Winter Games. "Its a good thing to get it out of the way," Guay said. Dominik Paris of Italy won Saturdays race with Klaus Kroell of Austria coming second and Adrien Theaux of France third. Guay finished 1.08 seconds back of Paris, whose World Cup victory was the third of his career but first in Lake Louise. "I pushed very hard at the top and the middle section was very bumpy, so it was difficult to ski very good," Paris said. "I tried to go fast and strike the line down. At the finish, I skied very good." The men race a super-G on Sunday before heading to Beaver Creek, Colo., and the second stop on the circuit this season. Canadas last Olympic medal in skiing was Edi Podivinskys downhill bronze in 1994. Guay was fifth in both the downhill and super-G at the 2010 Winter Olympics and was fourth in super-G in 2006. He was just .03 seconds away from the super-G podium in 2010. The 2011 world downhill champion has been a consistent medal producer for Canada. At 19 World Cup career medals, Guay is one away from tying the all-time record held by Steve Podborski. So the Olympic qualification criteria of a pair of top-12 results or one top-five finish wasnt onerous for Guay to achieve. He was one of four Canadian men racing at Lake Louise who were already halfway to qualifying. Each had a top-12 they could carry over from 2012-13. But Guay was short on preparation for Lake Louise. Knee surgery in July kept him off snow until earlier this month. He was fastest in the first training run for Lake Louise, but dropped to 26th in the last training session. "I think its an absolutely respectable start to the season," Guay said. "A month ago I didnt even know if I was going to be able to race here. "Winning the training run threw a wrench into things because it sets your standards a little bit higher, but all things considered Im very satisfied with the day." Canada can enter a maximum of four men in downhill and super-G in Sochi. Slalom specialist Marie-Michele Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., is the only Canadian woman to have qualified for the Olympic ski team so far. Calgarys Jan Hudec, Vancouvers Manny Osborne-Paradis and Ben Thomsen of Whistler, B.C., were still looking for another top-12 to book their ticket to Sochi. Hudec was 22nd, Osborne-Paradis finished 28th and Thomsen placed 44th on Saturday. Snow flurries overnight meant the first few men down the hill -- Osborne-Paradis had the No. 4 start bib -- had to find speed in softer conditions. Visibility changed quickly from dim to bright and back to dim again for the first 30 men down the mountain. "I had good light," Kroell said. "In some places, it was in the sun. Its always the same in Lake Louise. Wednesday to Saturday, it always changes a little bit the light and the wind. "One time youre the lucky one and another youre not. Today, I think I was one of the lucky ones." Hudec, a downhill winner at Lake Louise in 2007, has undergone seven knee surgeries in his career and this is his first healthy start to a season in years. "Thats probably why Im frustrated because I feel a lot better now than I did last year," Hudec said. "I know I have what it takes to get in there. "Tomorrow its like a total regroup. Super-G is a different game, different race. Hopefully Ill have a better start number tomorrow and better weather and go for it." Conrad Pridy of Whistler was 32nd, Jeffrey Frisch of Mont-Tremblant, Que., placed 35th and Conrads brother Morgan finished 45th. OBrien Schofield Jersey . The story of the scoreless first period was Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward, as the Jets outshot the Hurricanes 13-6 and had a number of grade “A” scoring chances, the best off the stick of Bryan Little. Cortez Kennedy Jersey . The Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal sustained minor damage during the protests, but demonstrators stayed away on Sunday and officials said the stadium passed its first test, with only minor adjustments needed going forward.SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver has been arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run and reckless driving after he drove a car into a bicyclist and fled, police said. Culliver was driving a white Ford Mustang just before 10:30 a.m. Friday when he hit the cyclist Friday morning near downtown San Jose, city police spokesman Albert Morales said. The bicyclist wasnt seriously hurt, he said. A witness followed the Culliver, 25, who also drove into the car of the witness, Morales said, and that vehicle blocked the suspects car until police arrived and arrested Culliver. After searching the suspects car, the authorities found illegal brass knuckles and booked him into Santa Clara County Jail for felony hit and run, felony reckless driving with injury, felony possession of brass knuckles, misdemeanour hit and run and misdemeanour driving on a suspended license. Morales said he didnt know the name of Cullivers attorney. "The 49ers organization is aware of the recent matter involving Chris Culliver," San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said. "We will remain in contact with Chris and the local authorities as we continue to gather the facts regarding this situation. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will reserve further comment at this time." In 2013, Culliver caused controversy by expressing anti-gay sentimeents in the lead-up to the Super Bowl. Russell Okung Jersey. During Super Bowl media day at the Superdome in New Orleans that year, Culliver responded to questions from comedian Artie Lange by saying he wouldnt welcome a gay player in the locker room. He also said the 49ers didnt have any homosexual players and, if they did, those players should leave. He later apologized, facing a large group of Super Bowl media members for nearly an hour. Culliver underwent sensitivity training as well and began doing outreach work with The Trevor Project, an organization that provides crisis and suicide intervention to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. "I truly appreciate the staff at the Trevor Project for allowing me to grow and educating me on the issues affecting the LGBTQ community," Culliver later said in a statement to The Associated Press. "I have learned so much and made some really great friends. I will continue my commitment to the organization and to their youths and stand firm with hope that one day that all individuals regardless of sex, race, or creed will be treated with dignity and respect from all." Culliver, a third-round draft pick in 2011 out of South Carolina, made 47 tackles with two interceptions and a forced fumble during the 2012 season while starting six games for the Niners. They lost in the Super Bowl that season to Baltimore. cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' ' |
