WHISTLER, B.C. — Morgan Pridy added a national men’s downhill title to a growing resume, winning the Canadian championships Saturday by more than half a second.
The 23-year-old from Whistler, B.C., who was 10th at last month’s Sochi Olympics, took top honours in the absence of three-time World Cup winner Manuel Osborne-Paradis, who withdrew with a back injury, World Cup podium record holder Erik Guay and Olympic bronze medallist Jan Hudec.
“It’s super cool to have a national championship title,” Pridy said. “I got a little bit of luck with the conditions — a couple of course holds here and there and the fog coming in and out — but it all worked out. I’m super happy.”
Tyler Werry of Calgary was second, while Ben Thomsen of Invermere, B.C., was third.
Pridy, the younger brother of fellow national team racer Conrad, was identified by his teammates and coaches as one to watch going into the 2013-14 season. He had two top-30 World Cup finishes to help him make Canada’s team for Sochi. He finished 10th in the super-G in his Olympic debut.
“I really needed this. It’s a nice weight off my shoulders going into the off-season,” said Pridy, who needed points from the national championships to set himself up for 2014-15. “We have a chance to score FIS results here, which is great.
“I would have liked to have raced Johnny (Kucera), Manny, Erik and Jan for the title but that’s how it works out and I’m pretty pleased with the result, for sure.”