The FIS Speed Skiing World Cup concluded in Verbier (SUI) last week. Sanna Tidstrand (SWE) won the season's final competition on Thursday taking home the ladies' World Cup. It was her second consecutive title after she dominated the season's series by winning 7 out of 7 races. The margin to the second place was a record in itself! Karine Dubouchet (FRA) proved a worthy second place in the ladies' competition, and Tracie Sachs (USA) - five-time former WC champion - surprised the pundits by coming back from injury to take a podium place in each of the four competitions she entered, and finishing in 3rd place overall.

The mens' S1 competition was equally one-sided, with Italian Simone Origone maintaining his grip on all bar one of the six mens' World Cup races, the ‘Cervinia' being annulled because of poor weather. As a consequence, he became, once again, the clear World Cup champion to add to his World Championship victory earlier in the season. Second place in the S1 category was awarded to Philippe May (SUI), who demonstrated dogged perseverance, and consistency, in picking up four second places on his way. A number of other competitors caused surprise, principally Bastien Montes (FRA), who won the Salla race, and gave Philippe a very close run for his second ranks, and new-comer Finn-Arne Stavik (NOR), who only just skirted the podium in most events. Although Merijn Vunderink (NED) fell and injured himself in the final run of the final race, he still managed to come fifth overall.

There were disappointingly few ladies in the downhill category for this first full season, but the men fielded ever greater numbers, demonstrating how much support this entry-level event enjoys. However, for much of the season it was a ‘two-horse-race' between Gunther Foild of Austria and Marc Poncin from Great Britain, who were joined by newcomers Charles-Edward Queyras (FRA) and Brian Morris (USA) later in the competition, and Jan Magnusson (SWE) nearly upset the order when the circuit raced in Sweden. However, the final order saw Foidl take the title ahead of Poncin.

FIS