Weibrecht, Marshall answer the tough questions heading into world juniors

Weibrecht, Marshall answer the tough questions heading into world juniorsQuebec City, Canada, hosts this year’s FIS World Junior Championships, which commence on Feb. 28 with men’s and women’s downhill training at Le Massif, and end with a Nations Cup team dual on March 8.

At the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York, Ski Racing recently caught up with two of the top American medal hopes, Andrew Weibrecht and Chelsea Marshall. Marshall, 19, and Weibrecht, 20, are already veterans of previous World Junior Championships and members of the U.S. Ski Team. They lead a strong American contingent into Quebec City, and Ski Racing asked each four hard-hitting questions on the eve of the competitions.

Four questions for Andrew Weibrecht

Ski Racing: You recently earned your first career NorAm podium at a super G in Big Mountain, Montana. Does this help you feel like you’ve got a shot to win the super G at Le Massif?

Weibrecht: It has given me a lot of confidence going into the world juniors. If nothing else, it’s given me the peace of mind that I can be totally competitive with the top juniors in the world.

Ski Racing: At the Olympic Games, snowboarder Shaun White used his Torino halfpipe gold medal press conference to try and solicit a date from figure skater Sasha Cohen. Which of your female teammates would you most like to impress with a gold medal performance at these World Junior Championships?

Weibrecht: (laughs) That’s a tough call. I don’t think that most of my teammates would be awestruck if I won a gold medal… Some of them are racing and winning Olympic medals.

Ski Racing: We understand that you have rabid female fans throughout the world, and we’d never compromise your privacy by revealing personal contact information, but we couldn’t help but notice that within your email address is ‘uniballer.’ Is this a nod to Ted Kaczynski, or what?

Weibrecht: Yeah well me and Ted used to be pen pals… No, just kidding. I made that up about five years ago… I couldn’t think of a name and I saw a uniball pen on the table, and that looked about as good as any option.

Ski Racing: Poutine is a Quebecoise culinary delight, as I’m sure you know. Will this be on the American team’s menu before races?

Weibrecht: Ya know, I don’t really think that cheese curds and gravy are really my thing.

Four Questions for Chelsea Marshall:

Ski Racing: You were successful in NorAms at Mont-Sainte-Anne earlier this winter. Is Sainte-Anne the kind of hill where recent experience gives you, and your fellow Canadian and American competitors, an advantage over the rest of the world?

Marshall: I do believe we have an advantage over other countries. [Having had] the opportunity to train and race on the hill will help our team out… knowing where to ski smart, and where we can gain speed to carry onto the flatter parts of the course. I think you also gain confidence when you have raced on a hill before and done well… You know you can go out there and do it again.

Ski Racing: French Canadians are famously hospitable and pro-American. Can you (briefly) describe your most pleasant experience at the hands of French Canadian hospitality?

Marshall: (missing the sarcasm)There is not one that stands out in particular. The atmosphere of racing is really great in Canada.

Ski Racing: Speaking of French… former World Cup Champion Luc Alphand won this year’s Dakar Rally (a 15,000 kilometer cross country rally car race.) If you win a race at these World Junior Championships, will you use the success to launch a career in NASCAR?

Marshall: Well, I have to say I am a pretty good driver. This summer, the very first day I got my drivers license, I did get my first speeding ticket. So I like to drive fast… What ski racer doesn’t? Getting paid to drive fast?? Sounds great to me.

Ski Racing: What’s your favorite thing about Canada and/or Quebec?

Marshall: I am not sure I do have a favorite thing about Canada.. That’s a tough one.. I like western Canada. The scenery is so beautiful. Mike Myers is from Canada.. He’s pretty funny.

Complete FIS World Junior Championships competition schedule

March 3
Men’s downhill, Le Massif, Quebec
Women’s downhill, Le Massif, Quebec
March 4
Men’s super G, Le Massif, Quebec
women’s slalom, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec
March 5
Men’s slalom, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec
Women’s super G, Le Massif, Quebec
March 6
Men’s giant slalom, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec
March 7
Women’s giant slalom, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec
March 8
Nations Cup team competition