American Bode Miller laid down a commanding performance during the third training run that only Swiss star Didier Cuche was able to get near. Miller was clean and smooth as he tore into the Streif during vastly improved conditions compared to yesterday’s training. After the fog came the sun, allowing many of the racers to attack the course, looking for faster lines in the final training run before Saturday’s Downhill race. While taking the piste very seriously in general, there were some that coasted in after the Zielsprung. Rolex Testimonee Hermann Maier joked that he had been testing out the conditions for the Super G after he made some fast sweeping turns just before crossing the finish. In general Maier was not that pleased with his run, especially “coming out of the Steilhang and also after the Hausberg,” as he came in 9th place.

Didier Cuche, who finished just 0.26 seconds behind Miller, was very happy despite having made a small mistake on his way down. “This was a strong run and I am very happy,” Cuche admitted.

Rising American star, Andrew Weibrecht, on only his second-ever run down the Streif, put in a very aggressive time before slowing down at the finish due to a superstition of keeping his fast run for race day. Weibrecht placed 13th and commented, “I tried to wrap up my skiing a little more and charge a little harder while being as safe as I could.” Weibrecht’s teammate, Ted Ligety was not so lucky as his ski popped off just seconds into the course after the compression following the Mausefalle: “It was pretty sketchy,” said Ligety. “It is a fast section coming through the compression, you just have to be patient, and there was a little hole I guess. One moment I was fine then I was ski-less and I had to look for an exit strategy as you cannot go down the hill so I tried to arc it back round and up the hill to slow myself down.”

The final training was marred by the horrific fall of Swiss superstar Daniel Albrecht approaching the finish. Albrecht had a storming run and approaching the Zielsprung was recorded at 138.2kmh, but as he went over the jump his weight went back. Albrecht’s condition is stable and he will be kept under observation at Innsbruck’s Neurological Clinic for the next two to three days.

January 22, 2009
Hahnenkamm-Race
Kitzbuehel, Austria
January 23 - 25, 2009