John Kucera
Encyclopedia
John Kucera is a World Cup alpine ski racer
, a member of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team
. He races in all five alpine disciplines, focusing on the speed events of downhill and Super-G
. He is the current world champion in the downhill, but has been sidelined due to injury since November 2009. Kucera's parents immigrated to Canada from Czechoslovakia
in 1980.
Kucera made his World Cup debut at age 20 in November 2004
, on home snow in Lake Louise, Alberta
. Two years later, Lake Louise was the site of his first World Cup victory, a Super-G
race in November 2006
. Three weeks later he made another World Cup podium with a third place finish in the Super-G at Val Gardena, Italy
. His next podium came two years later, a second place in the Super-G at Lake Louise.
He won the gold medal in the downhill
at the 2009 World Championships at Val d'Isère
, France
, to become the first Canadian man to win the event at the World Championships.
On November 28, 2009, Kucera finished sixth in the first downhill of the 2010 season
at Lake Louise, but fractured his left leg in the Super-G the following day. A compound fracture through his left calf, he missed the rest of the 2010
World Cup season and the 2010 Winter Olympics
at Whistler.
Kucera returned to the snow a year later in late 2010, but will likely miss the entire 2011 season
as well. As part of his recovery, he has been a forerunner for a number of races in North America and Europe.
As the son of Czech
immigrants, Kucera is fluent in Czech
and races on Atomic
skis. His surname is pronounced kuw-cze-rah.
John hosts the Matt and Eric show on JACK FM Calgary on Monday July 5, 2010.
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
, a member of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team
Alpine Canada
Alpine Canada Alpin is the governing body for alpine ski racing in Canada. Alpine Canada represents coaches, officials, supporters and athletes, including the elite racers of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, Canada's Ski Cross Team and the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team...
. He races in all five alpine disciplines, focusing on the speed events of downhill and Super-G
Super Giant Slalom skiing
The Super Giant Slalom is an Alpine skiing discipline. It is usually referred to as Super G and is a "speed" event, along with the faster Downhill event; the Giant Slalom and Slalom events are known as the "technical" disciplines.-History:...
. He is the current world champion in the downhill, but has been sidelined due to injury since November 2009. Kucera's parents immigrated to Canada from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
in 1980.
Kucera made his World Cup debut at age 20 in November 2004
2005 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 39th World Cup season began in October 2004 in Sölden, Austria, and concluded in March 2005 at the World Cup finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The overall winners were Bode Miller of the U.S. and Anja Pärson of Sweden....
, on home snow in Lake Louise, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. Two years later, Lake Louise was the site of his first World Cup victory, a Super-G
Super Giant Slalom skiing
The Super Giant Slalom is an Alpine skiing discipline. It is usually referred to as Super G and is a "speed" event, along with the faster Downhill event; the Giant Slalom and Slalom events are known as the "technical" disciplines.-History:...
race in November 2006
2007 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 41st World Cup season was scheduled to begin on October 28, 2006, but cancellation of the opening races in Sölden delayed the season's start by two weeks. A very poor snowpack in the Alps, along with stormy weather in January, caused numerous races to be moved and rescheduled throughout the...
. Three weeks later he made another World Cup podium with a third place finish in the Super-G at Val Gardena, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. His next podium came two years later, a second place in the Super-G at Lake Louise.
He won the gold medal in the downhill
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2009 - Men's downhill
Complete results for Men's Downhill competition at the 2009 World Championships. It was run on February 7, the fourth race of the championships.-References:* - official results* - Worlds: Canadian Kucera claims downhill - 07-Feb-2009...
at the 2009 World Championships at Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère is a commune of the Tarentaise Valley, in the Savoie department in south-eastern France. It lies from the border with Italy. It is on the border of the Vanoise National Park created in 1963. The Face de Bellevarde was the scene of the men's downhill race as part of the 1992 Winter...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, to become the first Canadian man to win the event at the World Championships.
On November 28, 2009, Kucera finished sixth in the first downhill of the 2010 season
2010 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 44th World Cup season began on October 24, 2009, in Sölden, Austria, and concluded on March 14, 2010, at the World Cup finals in Garmisch, Germany....
at Lake Louise, but fractured his left leg in the Super-G the following day. A compound fracture through his left calf, he missed the rest of the 2010
2010 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 44th World Cup season began on October 24, 2009, in Sölden, Austria, and concluded on March 14, 2010, at the World Cup finals in Garmisch, Germany....
World Cup season and the 2010 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held at Whistler Creekside in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. The ten events were scheduled for February 13–27, 2010; weather delayed the first event, the men's downhill, two days until Monday, February 15....
at Whistler.
Kucera returned to the snow a year later in late 2010, but will likely miss the entire 2011 season
2011 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 45th FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season began on 23 October 2010, in Sölden, Austria, and concluded on 20 March 2011, at the World Cup finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.Being an odd-numbered year, the biennial World Championships took place in February...
as well. As part of his recovery, he has been a forerunner for a number of races in North America and Europe.
As the son of Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
immigrants, Kucera is fluent in Czech
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
and races on Atomic
Atomic Skis
Atomic is an Austrian company which manufactures and sells skiing equipment .-Background:...
skis. His surname is pronounced kuw-cze-rah.
John hosts the Matt and Eric show on JACK FM Calgary on Monday July 5, 2010.
World Cup podiums
| Season | Date | Location | Race | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 2007 Alpine Skiing World Cup The 41st World Cup season was scheduled to begin on October 28, 2006, but cancellation of the opening races in Sölden delayed the season's start by two weeks. A very poor snowpack in the Alps, along with stormy weather in January, caused numerous races to be moved and rescheduled throughout the... |
26 Nov 2006 |  Lake Louise, CanadaCanada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
Super-G Super Giant Slalom skiing The Super Giant Slalom is an Alpine skiing discipline. It is usually referred to as Super G and is a "speed" event, along with the faster Downhill event; the Giant Slalom and Slalom events are known as the "technical" disciplines.-History:... |
1st |
| 15 Dec 2006 |  Val Gardena, ItalyItaly Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Super-G | 3rd | |
| 2009 2009 Alpine Skiing World Cup The 43rd World Cup season began in late October 2008 in Sölden, Austria, and concluded in mid-March 2009, at the World Cup finals in Åre, Sweden.Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway won the overall title by two points over Benjamin Raich of Austria. Svindal returned from a season-ending injury in December... |
30 Nov 2008 | Lake Louise, Canada |
Super-G | 2nd |
External links
- FIS-ski.com - World Cup season standings - John Kucera
- Ski-db.com - results - John Kucera
- Can Ski.org - athlete profiles - John Kucera
- Eurosport.com - John Kucera