Thirty-one athletes were named to the Canadian Alpine Ski Team on May 19  as Alpine Canada continues its preparations for the 2011-2012 World Cup season.

The team, headlined by world downhill champion Erik Guay and featuring 20 men and 11 women, includes a core group of proven World Cup racers as well as a major injection of young talent.

“This is a strong team that we believe can compete with the very best in the world,” said Canadian Alpine Ski Team athletic director Robert Rousselle. “We had a challenging season last year due to injuries but our athletes still delivered some strong performances, highlighted by Erik Guay’s historic gold medal at the world championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.”

Guay, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., is joined on the men’s speed team by a group that includes fellow Canadian Cowboys Jan Hudec, of Calgary, Alta., three-time World Cup winner Manuel Osborne-Paradis and 2009 world downhill champion John Kucera, also of Calgary. Osborne-Paradis and Kucera are returning from injury, as are veterans Robbie Dixon, of Whistler, B.C., and François Bourque, of New Richmond, Que. – another Canadian Cowboy.

Canadian Cowboy is the term given to men’s team ski racers who have finished in the top three at a World Cup, world championship or Olympic race.

The men’s team benefits from the addition of some young talent this season, with Ben Thomsen, of Invermere, B.C., following up a promising 2010-11 World Cup campaign by being named to the team.

Keith Bradford

Director, Communications, Alpine Canada Alpin