ALPINE:

Walchhofer blitzes Lake Louise for downhill win, Hudec 11th

Nov. 27, 2010      ♦ Photos: From top, Jan Hudec in action (Paul Morrison) and in the finish corral (Gordie Bowles); Michael Walchhofer (PM); bottom left, Aksel Lund Svindal (GB); bottom right, Erik Guay (GB)

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta — Michael Walchhofer broke the Austrian men's slump with a victory in the first World Cup downhill race of the season Saturday.

Walchhofer, competing in his last World Cup season, won the race in a blistering time of 1 minute, 47.78 seconds. It was the first downhill win for an Austrian man since March 2009, and also came on the course where Walchhofer won his first downhill in 2003.

"It couldn't be better,'' said the 35-year-old from Altenmarkt, who earned the 12th downhill win of his career. "I hope it's not the last victory of my career.

"I felt good, but not perfect before the race. That I can be so fast today, it gives me a lot of self-confidence for the next races."

It was a good day for the Austrian team, who placed three skiers in the top six. Mario Scheiber of Austria tied for second with Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway in a time of 1:48.33.

"I had a good feeling in the first practices and I had a good feeling today," said Scheiber. "Last year we had no victories and no Olympic medals. This year is a perfect start for our team."

Jan Hudec of Calgary gave the hometown crowd something to cheer about when he finished 11th in a time of 1:49.31.

"It's almost impossible to describe. I was going up the chair this morning and I knew I could have a good run. I was thinking about what it would mean to get close to the podium,” said Hudec.

"It's been a challenge. I am blessed that I could ski today. It was one of the best runs I have ever had," he said. "I owe so many people thanks for being able to ski. The list is too big."

Hudec, who has undergone six knee operations in his career and is currently battling a bad back, leaned over in the finish area and pumped his fists after starting 42nd.

"Words can't describe it," said Hudec, who was greeted by his 4-year-old son in the finish area. "It was an inspired run. Short of a miracle, I don't know what else it was."

Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Invermere, B.C., was 13th in 1:49.33, Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., 24th in 1:50.00, Robbie Dixon of North Vancouver, B.C., 31st in 1:50.26. Other Canuck finishers were Ben Thomsen in 44th, Louis-Pierre Helie 47th and Dustin Cook 61st.

"Being near the top 10 is really not that bad,” Osborne-Paradis said. “If I can stay around the top 10 all the time, I am bound to jump on the podium here and there. It's all about skiing hard and those races that you don't make mistakes you end up on the podium.”

Austria's Klaus Kroell was sixth in 1:48.89. Bode Miller was the top American, placing eighth in 1:49.04.

The race was held on the 3.1-kilometre Men's Olympic Downhill Run. After a week of cold temperature and gusting winds, which cancelled one training run, it was warm and blue skies for race day.

The members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team wore unique red race suits during Saturday's downhill, paying tribute to the iconic suit worn by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  S-Magazine

— The Canadian Press and Alpine Canada contributed to this report

♦ Action photos below, from top: Erik Guay, Bode Miller, Robbie Dixon, Mario Scheiber (Paul Morrison)

Lake Louise men's World Cup downhill results