Lake Louise, Canada – After five inches of new snow canceled yesterday’s downhill training run here, the World Cup’s men speed specialists were back in action today (Nov. 27) with a second training run in preparation for tomorrow’s race.
 
After two days of overcast skies and intermittent snow flurries, the skies cleared this morning giving the field of 94 racers a chance for one last tune up before tomorrow’s first World Cup downhill of the year.
 
Austrian Michael Walchhofer, last season’s World Cup downhill title winner and 2003 victor here led the field with the day’s fastest time (1:50.66), followed by American Bode Miller (1:51.25, a two-time winner on this course). Italian Werner Heel had the third-fastest time (1:51.40).
 
“The feeling was very good and the training time the last months, but now I see that the feeling was correct and now I am also good with the international confidence,” said Walchhofer.
 
“It’s very important that you can show the other guys that you can be on every course and every time fast,” Walchhofer continued. “Tomorrow we will see, first it’s very important we have all the same conditions all the same light and wind, then I think it looks very good.”
 
The skies were clear at starting time (11 a.m.), but clouds began to roll in hurting the later starters’ visibility.
 
Downhill world champion, Canadian John Kucera, made the local fans cheer with the fourth-fastest time of the day (1:51.63).
 
“I think I skied strong, solid everywhere. I addressed those issues I had in the first run in those sections and I skied them much better,” said Kucera. “I think for tomorrow the biggest thing is just going to be skiing those new lines in a much more aggressive way.  I think I can find a lot more time out there, obviously I’m still a ways out so I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
 
Wednesday’s quickest skier, Swiss Didier Cuche held strong on the course with the eighth-fastest time (1:52.62). 
 
American and World Cup first-timer Travis Ganong continued to turn heads, pulling in today’s 13th-fastest time (1:52.68) despite a start position of 79th, becoming the second fastest U.S. skier behind Miller. “It’s amazing, I’ve wanted to be on the World Cup forever and to get a chance to do it and be right in there with the guys is surprising to say the least. I had no idea that I was skiing that well,” said Ganong. “Tomorrow it’s going to be relaxing, I’m mean I worked hard, I’m there, I’ll just see what happens and have fun. I’m looking forward to just kicking out of the starting gate and do my first World Cup.” He finished 28th on the first training day.
 
Teammate Erik Fisher was the third racer down the course, throwing down a 1:52.70 time that held on for the 14th-fastest time of the day.
 
Canadians Manuel Osborne-Paradis and Erik Guay proved they know their way around the course, finishing 18th and 20th, respectively.
 
After Thursday’s cancellation volunteer course workers worked nearly around the clock over the last 48 hours to ensure today’s required training came off with out a hitch.
 
The first World Cup downhill race of the year will be held tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 28. A World Cup super G will be held the following day. – Eric Williams

Images: Michael Walchhofer flies to the day’s fastest time in Lake Louise.
Bode Miller, second fastest today, looks ready after starting his training late. (Gepa)

OFFICIAL RESULTS – THIRD TRAINING