ALPINE SKIING, WORLD CUP. After missing several Olympic medals in the speed events at Turin and Vancouver by only a few hundredths of a second, Erik Guay took a sweet revenge today at Garmisch-Partenkirchen winning his second Super-G race in a row and capturing the specialty World Cup title ahead of Austria's veteran Michael Walchhofer. Last week, he won a Super-G at Kvitfjell, in Norway. It's the fourth Canadian win of the season.

Erik Guay of Canada who takes the globe for the overall World Cup Super G competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super G on March 11, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 10, 2010 - Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

The 28-year-old skier from Mont Tremblant, Quebec finished ahead of Croatia's amazing Ivica Kostelic and Norway's very consistent Aksel Luind Svindal to become the first Canadian ever to collect the Super-G Crystal Globe. He is only the second since Steve Podborski's downhill triumph in 1982 to achieve such a remarkable performance.

Benjamin Raich came in 6th ahead of his great rival Carlo Janka (11th) and reduced his handicap on the Swiss to only 38 points.

Guay had nothing to lose.

Guay was only in 3rd position in the points standings with a delay of 69 points on Walchhofer prior that last competition and he knew what he had to do to clinch the title. "I had to go for it, I knew I had to win to have a real chance to get that cup even though I only had a small chance. Michael just needed a top-8 place today to remain out of reach," the smiling Canadian said afterwards.

"I fought as hard as possible and made many mistakes but I kept pushing all the time," he added. "It's really fantastic to get that cup now after my disappointing Olympics, I'm so happy," also commented Guay who finished twice 5th at Whistler Mountain in downhill and Super-G. He was 4th in Super-G at Sestriere in 2006.

"It was tough to lose a medal there by only a few hundredths of a second, I had my chance. The expectations on our shoulders were huge. This great success pays me back for all the hard work done since years. I felt much more comfortable after the Olympics, it definitely helped me to ski the way I can, aggressive yet also more relaxed than in Canada. This is also very important for our entire team."

Two years ago, Erik Guay celebrated his very first World Cup win in downhill on the same slope - and now he wrote skiing history with that Super-G globe. "It's an amazing moment, it's a perfect way to end the season for me. I'm excited that the coming World Championships are taking place here in a year."

Walchhofer missed a big chance.

Michael Walchhofer was of course very disappointed to have missed a great opportunity to add another World Cup title to his collection of trophies. "I only needed to be a little faster today to retain the lead, I'm really sorry that I didn't find my best rhythm again today," the former downhill World Champion said. "I just didn't ski well enough on this run, I blew it in several turns. In fact I felt uncomfortable since this morning and I was not confident enough for a more aggressive race, "added the tall Austrian who suffered a spectacular crash at Kitzbühel last January. In December, he was the only skier of the men's team able to win a Super-G race at Val d'Isère.

Walchhofer, who turns 35 in April, has not made-up his mind yet about the future of his career. His last major goal was an Olympic gold medal at Whistler Creek after clinching silver in 2006 at Sestriere, in Italy, but he finished way behind the podium in his two recent Olympic races. "I'll think about it later on this spring, I feel tired and worn out for the moment."

A good day for Benni Raich.

Even though no Austrian was able to reach the podium today, it has not been too bad a day for the former 'Ski Armada' with three skiers among the top-6 including former double Olympic Champion Benjamin Raich, who regained some points on Switzerland's Carlo Janka with that performance. Janka, the winner of the downhill on Wednesday, only took 11th place this time after a pretty rough ride down the Kandahar slope.

"I'm pretty happy, I think I achieved a solid down despite the very difficult course conditions," Raich explained afterwards. "It's a challenging run and I had a hard time finding my best rhythm on the fresh snow," the 32-year-old added. "The visibility was not so good either."

"My goal this morning was to have a strong run and if possible finish ahead of Carlo Janka. I gave what I had in me to be as fast as possible. I didn't achieve a great run yet, I could have skied better in many sections. Yet the most important is to stay in the race for the big globe and this is the case for the moment. Tomorrow's giant slalom will be crucial for both of us. Carlo is a very solid racer who is fighting very hard when it's really matter. I know I can score more points in the last slalom on Saturday so I'll keep on fighting until the end as I have been doing it also in recent seasons."

"I didn't watch the downhill yesterday as I have been training giant slalombut then the trainers informed me about Carlo's victory. I was a little surprised. I expected him to excel but not to win. He is a great champion with strong nerves. It's an exciting and also a fair final for both of us. The most important for each of us is to achieve his potential on race days. We don't ski against each other but against the clock."

Janka not too pleased.

Carlo Janka was not too satisfied with his run but he remains fully focused for the last remaining races. "I don't really know why it didn't go as well as I was hoping but I just didn't produce my best skiing today, I had a hard time finding a good balance on my skis and i made too many small mistakes," he said. "I had a hard time with the poor visibility which prevented me to move at my limits. In fact I had problems in a few turns, I was lucky to come through pretty OK."

"As I said the other day, I think the battle will go on until the last day. Benjamin Raich has been very consistent throughout all these years and knows how to handle the big race. I'm sure he will keep on fighting very hard until Saturday. He still can score a lot of points. I'm ready for a good race tomorrow, yet it will not be easy. Fortunately I have nothing to lose, I already had a great season so far."

Ligety aiming for a third cup.

In tomorrow's giant slalom race, Raich will also be fighting for a spot on the podium in the Giant Slalom standings. USA's Ted Ligety, 16th today, leads the standings ahead of Italy's Massimiliano Blardone and Austria's young star Marcel Hirscher. Ligety, a two-time winner in that classification, has a lead of 43 points on Blardone and 46 on Hirscher. A top-5 place would allow him to succefully defend his commanding position. Raich has been twice on the podium in Giant Slalom earlier this season and twice 6th at Kranjska Gora and at the Olympics. He will need a blistering performance tomorrow to regain the lead in the general standings prior the last slalom on Saturday. He has been five times 4th in slalom this winter but last season he straddled a gate at Are while cruising towards an almost guaranteed triumph against Aksel Lund Svindal. At the end of the day, the Tyrolian lost the big globe by only two points. Carlo Janka has not scored a slalom point yet.

PkL
FISalpine.com
11 March 2010

Ivica Kostelic of Croatia takes 2nd place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super G on March 11, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 10, 2010 - Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway takes 3rd place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super G on March 11, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 10, 2010 - Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Benjamin Raich of Austria competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super G on March 11, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 10, 2010 - Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Hannes Reichelt of Austria competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super G on March 11, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 10, 2010 - Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Marco Buechel of Liechtenstein celebrates his last race of his career during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super G on March 11, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 10, 2010 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Marco Buechel of Liechtenstein celebrates his last race of his career during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super G on March 11, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 10, 2010 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

Erik Guay of Canada takes the globe for the overall World Cup Super G during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super G on March 11, 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (March 10, 2010 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

  Tweet