Friday, February 22, 2002
Slippery slope to fame
By ERIC FRANCIS -- Calgary Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- Allison Forsyth is, far and away, Canada's best skier.
Yet in a country that once took great pride in the Crazy Canucks, she remains a relative unknown.
All that could change today when the 23-year-old Nanaimo, B.C., native suits up for the first Olympic giant slalom race of her career.
However, she insists any instant fame would mean little to her.
"I don't feel like I am a household name but if I became that during the Olympics, it would almost be artificial to me," said Forsyth, who lives in Canmore.
"I would be proud to ski well and medal -- it's obviously a dream of any racer to win an Olympic medal -- but I don't think it would make or break me.
"It's more of a marker to me. I've always said my main goals are on the World Cup. That's our Formula One, the big show.
"The Olympics is the one time you're totally in the public (eye)."
How she responds to the grandest of stages will be determined this morning when she starts in a two-run event in which she ranks fifth on the World Cup circuit.
Having reached the World Cup podium four times -- all silvers -- the nine-time Canadian champion has the potential to claim Canada's first alpine skiing medal in a technical event since Kathy Kreiner won giant-slalom gold in 1976 in Innsbruck.
With three top-five results so far this season -- including a podium at Copper Mountain to open the season -- she may yet strike again on a Deer Valley course she has long adored.
Part of the reason Forsyth is still a relative unknown is that she's a technical skier -- a discipline that has long been overshadowed in Canada by the speed freaks.
Canada's last four Olympic alpine skiing medals have all come in the downhill, the most recent being Edi Podivinsky's bronze in 1994.
The last woman to hit the Olympic podium was Kerrin Lee-Gartner in 1992.
"The Crazy Canucks put a stamp on the Canadian alpine ski team with their history of having a lot more strong downhillers than technical skiers," said team leader Joze Sparovec.
"I think Canada should be represented in all alpine events and, with good young skiers like J.P. Roy, Gen Simard and Allison, I believe we can start to see that happening.
"I've seen a lot the last two years from Allison to believe she can ski strong enough to podium (today)."
Encouraged by her past success skiing in the U.S., Forsyth will also have the knowledge of brother Ryan to draw from as he is the head coach of the University of Utah ski team.
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2002 Games Alpine Skiing Coverage
