Tricky bumps, steady snowfall and low light all played havoc on Saturday's field of speed skiers who took to Val d'Isere's arduous Face de Bellevarde course. Racers battled to carve turns on the highly technical super-G course, often sliding their skis while trying to remain on course.

Austria's Michael Walchhofer was one of the few skiers who managed to survive the demanding conditions, picking up his first victory of the season. For the 12-year veteran, it was only his second career super-G win. His time of 1:20.78 was 0.28 seconds faster than Ted Ligety of the United States.

"For sure, I'm happy, especially on this hill," said Walchhofer about the win. "It's a very technical super-G, little more of a GS. It's a big surprise to me. It was good skiing on a difficult slope."

Conditions were so demanding that only 36 of the 68 starters actually managed to complete their runs.

"It's never fun skiing with bad light on this special hill," said the Austrian winner about the 1770-meter long course. "I don't think any racer feels good skiing it. It's a hard fight from the start to the finish, but I think maybe the secret is that you really have to fight to the end."

It was the second victory in as many days by the suddenly rejuvenated Austrian ski team.

"It takes a lot of the pressure off," Walchhofer continues. "The Swiss skied so well in North America and we didn't ski so bad but we missed the big victories there - not just us but also the Austrian fans and press."

For the American Ligety, the second place result was his first-ever super-G podium. Skiing fourth out of the gate, he posted a time of 1:21.06, which held up until Walchhofer came down 13 skiers later.

"I thought when guys were coming down two seconds out that I'd have a chance," said Ligety about a possible victory. "Walchhofer has a lot of experience in all conditions and has won on all kinds of hills. I made a bunch of mistakes, but survived and am psyched to be second."

The highly turny and technical course played to the American's favor as he battled through the challenging conditions on the Face de Bellevarde piste.

"I just tried hard to stay ahead of the line, but the whole way I was sliding a lot until I tried to arch the bottom of each turn," he said. "It was just so tough because you couldn't see the bumps up there and it was snowing. It's a steep and tight hill anyways, so it wasn't easy."

Italy's Werner Heel managed to claim the third spot finishing 0.75 behind Walchhofer. It was the 27-year-old Italian's second top three result this season and sixth career World Cup podium.

"I'm really happy with my performance today," said Heel after the race. "It's not a course I like so much. I'm satisfied with the results and I can go into the next race with a good positive energy."

Heel will attempt to defend his super-G victory from last season in Val Gardena next Friday as the tour shifts to the Italian Dolomites.

Numerous other top skiers conceded to the daunting hill after less than average performances. The treacherous conditions even managed to alter the goals of some of the world's premier racers.

"It wasn't easy - it was very bad," said yesterday's super combined winner, Benjamin Raich about his fifth place showing. "It's not easy to go down this very bumpy and steep slope under these conditions. For me, my goal was to be in the finish safely and I did that."

Switzerland's Carlo Janka was one of many racers that succumbed to the upper section of the steep piste. He and plenty of others found themselves off course and finished for the day within the first 30 seconds.

Janka's teammates Didier Cuche and Didier Defago fared slightly better. Cuche, last year's World Champion on the same hill never found his rhythm and ended up tied for ninth with Bode Miller. Defago finished 12th, 1.83 seconds behind Walchhofer.

"Seeing was not easy at all today," said Defago. "It's a difficult track when you can see so without being able to see it's that much more difficult. You have to have a good attack position in the first 30 seconds with a lot of turns there."

Aksel Lund Svindal, last year's World Championship super-G bronze medalist had to settle for seventh place after also having trouble early in his race.

"It was a tough run for sure - I didn't ski so well," said the 26-year-old Norwegian. "I hooked my hand on something up top so it was a crappy start and I pretty much didn't feel good after that. It was a tough struggle, but that's the way it is. Sometimes you have good races and other days you have less good races. Today was one of those less good races."

For Walchhofer, it was his 42nd career podium, but only seventh in super-G. The suddenly red-hot Austrian skiers try to make it three for three in tomorrow's giant slalom.

By Brian Pinelli
FISalpine.com
Saturday 12 December 2009
Val d'Isère, France