ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. CHAMONIX, FRANCE – Morning fog near the lower section of the La Verte track lifted and racers competed in sunlight from top-to-bottom during the downhill half of today’s super combined.

Switzerland’s Beat Feuz was the quickest of the morning on the 3370-meter piste being the only racer to break two minutes while clocking a time of 1:59.97.

Ivica Kostelic, winner of both combined races so far this season in Wengen and Kitzbuehel, made a costly mistake on the upper section of the course and ultimately finished 24th, 2:50 behind Feuz.

2009 World Championship super combined gold medalist, Aksel Lund Svindal found the speed he was looking for and posted the second fastest time of the morning session, just 0.08 seconds behind the Swiss and most importantly well ahead of Kostelic.

“I’m also here a lot for the downhill portion, the training runs and yesterday’s downhill weren’t as good as I wanted, so I’m still working to find the speed that Cuche has,” said Svindal in between runs regarding his super combined objectives. “And for sure I’m a little closer today.”

In addition to the World Championship triumph in Val d’Isere two seasons ago, the Norwegian has one super combined victory to his credit, coming in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in 2007.

“For sure, I’m going to ski for the podium, that’s the second part. But the first part was also testing and my set-up so I can find the speed in downhill,” said Svindal.

Italians Christof Innerhofer, Peter Fill and yesterday’s second-place downhill finisher, Dominik Paris are among the contenders, all finishing in the top ten.

The second half slalom of today’s super combined is scheduled for 14:00 CET.

Brian Pinelli
FISalpine.com
Sunday 30 January 2011