ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. BEAVER CREEK, USA – ‘Winnerhofer’ is back! Christian Innerhofer finally finds that perfect run and lands at the top of Friday’s downhill podium in Beaver Creek. With a time of 1 minute, 41.69 seconds, the Italian snapped the victory from today’s favorite Aksel Lund Svindal. The Norwegians still had plenty to celebrate – Svindal finished second, 0.23 seconds behind Innerhofer. In third place, Svindal’s teammate Kjetil Jansrud lands his first podium of the season finishing 0.50 seconds off the best time.

Innerhofer might easily have been the only skier today who was way more nervous after than before his race.

“I was so relaxed on the start today,” an all but relaxed Innerhofer said while standing at the leaderbox. “Somehow I made it feel like a training run today and all I told myself at the start was – Go full gas!”

Innerhofer tried to mask his nervousness by keeping his usual big grin on his face, but with each racer that came down the course you could see that he could barely breath when there was someone skiing a split close to his time. Until the very end he kept checking the start list with his coaches and predicting who might be the guys to watch for.

“Until the very end I couldn’t believe this was happening, it’s so unbelievable! Especially knowing that I have been struggling with some injuries this summer. I was definitely more nervous once I crossed the finish line than I was when leaving the start gate.”

It’s Innerhofer’s eight podium and fourth win, that is not counting his outstanding series at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen World Championships in 2011 where he won a whole set of medals – Gold in super G, silver in Super Combined and bronze in Downhill.

“I thought I had no chance against Svindal, but when he didn’t beat me it became a bit more real that I could win today!”

Svindal on the other hand was the favorite in today’s race – after winning both speed races in Lake Louise expectations were high, and the Norwegian surely didn’t disappoint.

“I was a little late on some points but it’s hard to call hat a mistake as in race you push hard and things like that can happen. I had to change my skiing a little half the way down as I could tell I wasn’t carrying the speed I wanted so the lower section I tried to adapt. Today was about taking risks but also putting a good run the whole way down. The course is beautiful, maybe a bit rougher in the mid section but still a pleasure to ski. It’s a second place for me here today and I am really happy about.”

Defending champion Bode Miller was in Beaver Creek this year only as a spectator, and even though it’s always fun to race against the home favorite – Svindal is focusing on the competition on the course.

“Miller is for sure one of the big names on the Tour and he would have been one of the best guys out here today, but Kroell won last year’s title so currently Bode is not the one I am worried about.”

Jansrud never found his perfect run in the tree training runs but today he seemed to be in a different place with his skiing.

 “I made minor changes to my setup and that seems to have worked – I think there are a few sections where I could have skied better but I am very happy. For me it’s a huge change from the training runs, and a good change! I didn’t expect t be on the podium in Downhill so soon so this is a great day for me. I was sure Aksel was going to win today but a few mistakes cost him too much time but with the two of us on the podium today I think it only confirms we have done good things this autumn and in the preparation period! Today is a great boost to my confidence for the Super G and Giant Slalom in the next days!”

by Ana Jelusic
FISalpine.com
Friday 30 November 2012

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