Quick Facts

Born: February 8th 1984, Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver

First Tracks: Age 3, Whistler Mountain

Ski Club: Whistler Mountain Ski Club

Mom: Jane

Hobbies: Surfing, Golfing, Mountain Biking

Advice to You: “If it hurts, you’re still alive..”

Manny’s Mission Statement

When I was a kid my teachers used to tell me I’d never get by on good looks and fast talking – I like to think I proved them wrong – but in the end I guess it’s been my love of going fast on skis that’s pulled me through life.

My family tells me I was a fuel-injected kid right from the get-go. Whether I was racing my Grandpa down the mountain in Whistler or ripping down my old street in Deep Cove on an old BMX bike aimed at a ramp with the Pacific Ocean as a landing strip – the feeling of speed and that amazing sensation of being on the edge has always been my drug of choice.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally nuts. I think long and hard about every risk I take and calculate what I have to do to go faster and faster every time I put myself in a potentially dangerous situation – like ripping down an icy race course at 140 clicks.

I’ve been doing pretty well so far in the sport I’ve loved since I was three, but I’ve got a long way – to go – and getting there takes a lot of hard work and dedication ski racing is not as easy as it looks!

My philosophy is to blur the lines between work and play – to create a blend that mixes the two into one universal path – too much of one without the other is wrong in my books.

To put it plainly – my goal is to be the fastest downhill skier in the world.

I don’t know if this is my destiny – but I’m going to put every ounce of energy I have into making it my reality – after all destiny is a term for people who are afraid of taking control of their own future – and I’m not one of those people. .

I know I can ski fast – but I also know I can ski faster – and I’m going to do everything humanly possible to make this happen! For me – the fast lane is the only lane!

Short Bio

Manuel (‘Manny’) Osborne-Paradis was born on February 8, 1984 at the Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, B.C. where his Grandfather was Chief of Surgery. He grew up on the North Shore of Vancouver and began skiing on Whistler mountain at age 3. He attended school at Dorothy Lynus Elementary, and Seycove Secondary School in Deep Cove. At the age of 15 he moved to Invermere, B.C. to ski with the BC Provincial Ski Team. He finished Grades 11 and 12 at David Thompson Secondary School in Invermere and fell in love with the mountain town.

Manny, as he is known by friends and fans alike, made the Canadian National Alpine Ski Team in 2004 and began competing on the World Cup Circuit. He competed for Canada at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy and placed 13th. His first world cup podium was at the Bombardier Winterstart Downhill at Lake Louise on November 26, 2006, he finished in second place which brought his Step Dad Bill to tears.

The first world cup victory of Manuel’s career was on March 6, 2009 at Kvitfjell, Norway when he won the downhill. He followed his win with a 3rd place in the downhill the next day. To date, Manny has 6 world cup podiums. He is well-known for his fun-loving personality and ability to befriend just about anyone! His hobbies include surfing, mountain biking and golf. He loves to be outdoors and enjoys spending as much time as he can with family and friends.

Giving back to the community is a big part of Manuel’s life. He created the ‘Get up and Go’ bursary that was awarded to hardworking young ski racers in British Columbia each season. In April of 2008 he took the bursary one step further and turned it into a 4 day all expenses paid ski camp for 10 up and coming young ski racers in BC. Along with his teammate, Mike Janyk, the two gave time and financial support to make the camp a hit with the lucky racers and the media. The ‘Cowboys Camp’ as it is called, ran for the second year in 2009.