Twenty-eight years ago, Banff’s Paul Stutz made those impressionable first tracks down the bunny hill at Mount Norquay.
Who knew that inaugural run would spark such a ski career?
Today, Stutz is still training at Norquay, preparing for a full season on the alpine world cup circuit and what could be his last shot at an Olympic appearance in Sochi.
Stutz, 30, earned the world cup spot by winning the NorAm title last season thanks to a flurry of top results at the end of the season. A go-for-broke, all-or-nothing athlete, Stutz traveled the globe this summer in search of snow, working on improving his consistency on the lower part of his runs. He dropped 15 pounds to increase his speed and is now racing at his lightest weight in years.
“I’ve had an excellent preparation phase through summer and fall. I skied Oregon, Mount Hood, Argentina; it’s shown me my summer training has paid off,” Stutz said.
The slalom specialist heads to Finland for the first world cup of the season in 10 days. Alpine Canada has a complex selection criteria to choose its 22-person Olympic team and Stutz knows in order to earn a spot, he’ll have to ski better than ever before.
“The Olympic criteria is one top five finish or two top twelves (on the world cup). In Finland, I should start in the early thirties, which is good. I definitely know what’s expected. We know what to do,” Stutz said.
He is still skiing as an independent racer, which means he’s paying for his season completely out of his own pocket, but he trained alongside the Canadian team during several training camps. Stutz said this season will cost him “six figures” but he doesn’t want to leave any chance for regret going into an Olympic year.
“We have a great crew with the guys coming up. We balance each other well. I think my experience in racing will pay off.”
He’s seen it all in his race career and raced in Russia extensively, including a memorable race in Siberia next to a nuclear reactor. That experience means he’ll be unfazed by whatever’s thrown at him this year.
“In every race, you’ll never know what you’re going to get. It changes every time with weather, snow conditions… you have to have faith you’ll have a good track in front of you,” Stutz said.
As for the Olympics, Stutz was a forerunner at the Vancouver Whistler games. Like most Alpine racers, the world cup is his primary focus, but fulfilling an Olympic dream would be a sweet victory.
“World cup is definitely the premier circuit. It’s typically on more challenging, harder hills. But we all know for Canadians, the Olympics are the big event and we have to embrace it. It’s something I’ve always had as a goal. It’s huge for me,” Stutz said.
He’d like to peak for the games, but knows earning a ticket could be his biggest challenge this year. His best world cup slalom result ever was a 20th place finish at Beaver Creek in 2006. He had a pair of 25th place finishes in Austria in January 2011, but hasn’t had a strong result on the world cup since.
“The team had some challenges last season, but it benefits everyone by putting a bit of pressure on,” Stutz said.
He’ll have seven guaranteed world cup starts this season, with six of those falling before the Olympics. He’s still unsure if this will be his last attempt.
“At my age, I just turned 30, I still feel good and strong. As long as the body stays in one piece and it makes sense, I want to keep racing,” Stutz said.
Away from the ski hill, Stutz got engaged over the summer and is planning a wedding on top of his busy schedule. He’s also continuing to fundraise, and will hold an event on Nov. 21 at the Gerry Thomas Gallery in Calgary.
“I can’t be going into the Olympics with any regrets. I’m still searching for the right corporate sponsor and have a helmet and jacket spot left,” Stutz said.
