Mattia Casse surprises in final Kitzbuehel training run

By Published On: January 21st, 2016Comments Off on Mattia Casse surprises in final Kitzbuehel training run

KITZBUEHEL, Austria – It was a training day like any other on Thursday, as racers continued to familiarize themselves with the course. After the top 30 athletes complete their runs, the only people remaining in the finish area were team staff, FIS officials, and just a few members of the media. Italian Mattia Casse wearing bib 47 in the final training run down the Streif managed to set the fastest time, clocking in at 1:56.85 seconds and besting the time set earlier by his teammate Christof Innerhofer.

In fact, the Jumbotron at the finish was no longer displaying video of the athletes’ runs by the time Casse had his start, but split times were available. Green light after green light flashed as the Italian made his way down the course and crossed the line to the surprise of everyone who stuck after the top-seeded racers.

“It’s OK, good run, no mistakes,” Casse explained. “When I saw the green light, I was very, very happy. It’s incredible. The confidence is focused for tomorrow, for the super G and combined, and after these races, focused for the downhill.”

Needless to say, the video feed resumed after that.

Innerhofer, running bib 6, looked to have set an untouchable time after holding an incredibly tight line through the Hausbergkante and across the infamous traverse above the finish, carrying tremendous speed across the line.

“I did a really straight line there,” Innerhofer said of his daredevil skiing on the lower section. “I take some risk because I want to see if this line works, if it’s possible to do this or not. I see that this is the right line, a good line, and I will try to do the same for Saturday.”

The Americans were led by Steven Nyman who finished a solid fifth, 1.16 seconds behind Casse’s pace.

“Today, for the most part, I was really happy with the way I skied and stepped up,” Nyman explained. “I’ve got to maintain the focus through the super G. I know I can do well here. It’s usually a fast set, that’s more my style of super G, and then bring it into the downhill on Saturday.”

American downhill legend Daron Rahlves is on hand as a forerunner and mentor for the American team. The 2003 Hahnenkamm champion hopes to impart some experience and wisdom to the boys in blue come race day.

“Being back here is a pleasure. I’m pretty honored to get back on the hill,” Rahlves said. “I’m just trying to help out with some lines I’ve learned over the years. Hopefully I can pass on some good experience and these guys can get after it to get ready for Saturday and tomorrow’s super G.”

“He’s good, he’s won here and has a great knowledge of the course,” Nyman added. “He’s super fired up. He’s a great coach when you get down to the bottom.”

Austrian Florian Scheiber crashed hard into the netting after his right ski released while navigating the entrance to the bottom traverse. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he was diagnosed with a torn ACL and meniscus damage in the right knee, ending his season.

Racing action in Kitzbuehel kicks off tomorrow with the super G and alpine combined, which is scheduled for an 11:45 a.m. CET start time. The downhill will be held on Saturday and the slalom on Sunday.


Official Results

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Total Time Diff.
 1  47  990081 CASSE Mattia 1990 ITA  1:56.85
 2  6  293006 INNERHOFER Christof 1984 ITA  1:57.19  +0.34
 3  19  53980 KRIECHMAYR Vincent 1991 AUT  1:57.88  +1.03
 4  15  192746 THEAUX Adrien 1984 FRA  1:57.92  +1.07
 5  12  533866 NYMAN Steven 1982 USA  1:58.01  +1.16
 6  22  422139 KILDE Aleksander Aamodt 1992 NOR  1:58.14  +1.29
 6  20  421328 SVINDAL Aksel Lund 1982 NOR  1:58.14  +1.29
 8  37  194542 GIRAUD MOINE Valentin 1992 FRA  1:58.16  +1.31
 9  30  191964 POISSON David 1982 FRA  1:58.18  +1.33
 10  11  292455 FILL Peter 1982 ITA  1:58.24  +1.39
 11  16  421483 JANSRUD Kjetil 1985 NOR  1:58.26  +1.41
 12  18  50742 REICHELT Hannes 1980 AUT  1:58.39  +1.54
 13  51  293550 MARSAGLIA Matteo 1985 ITA  1:58.44  +1.59
 13  9  191740 CLAREY Johan 1981 FRA  1:58.44  +1.59
 15  33  53933 SCHWEIGER Patrick 1990 AUT  1:58.48  +1.63
 16  8  102263 GUAY Erik 1981 CAN  1:58.54  +1.69
 17  25  194167 MUZATON Maxence 1990 FRA  1:58.57  +1.72
 18  43  294277 KLOTZ Siegmar 1987 ITA  1:58.65  +1.80
 19  14  530874 GANONG Travis 1988 USA  1:58.68  +1.83
 20  26  200379 SANDER Andreas 1989 GER  1:58.75  +1.90
 21  2  103271 THOMSEN Benjamin 1987 CAN  1:58.76  +1.91
 22  49  930024 MAPLE Wiley 1990 USA  1:58.79  +1.94
 23  61  192504 MERMILLOD BLONDIN Thomas 1984 FRA  1:58.81  +1.96
 24  41  194298 GIEZENDANNER Blaise 1991 FRA  1:58.85  +2.00
 25  23  511529 GISIN Marc 1988 SUI  1:58.89  +2.04
 26  34  53981 KROELL Johannes 1991 AUT  1:58.92  +2.07
 27  10  51215 BAUMANN Romed 1986 AUT  1:59.03  +2.18
 28  17  192932 FAYED Guillermo 1985 FRA  1:59.06  +2.21
 29  5  50753 KROELL Klaus 1980 AUT  1:59.09  +2.24
 30  21  291459 PARIS Dominik 1989 ITA  1:59.18  +2.33
 31  31  560447 SPORN Andrej 1981 SLO  1:59.22  +2.37
 32  28  50858 STREITBERGER Georg 1981 AUT  1:59.25  +2.40
 33  13  511313 JANKA Carlo 1986 SUI  1:59.28  +2.43
 34  7  511383 FEUZ Beat 1987 SUI  1:59.39  +2.54
 35  27  54005 STRIEDINGER Otmar 1991 AUT  1:59.73  +2.88
 36  46  380292 ZRNCIC DIM Natko 1986 CRO  1:59.99  +3.14
 37  35  511981 WEBER Ralph 1993 SUI  2:00.01  +3.16
 38  48  202196 BRANDNER Klaus 1990 GER  2:00.07  +3.22
 39  40  934643 GOLDBERG Jared 1991 USA  2:00.16  +3.31
 40  24  530939 WEIBRECHT Andrew 1986 USA  2:00.25  +3.40
 41  3  533131 SULLIVAN Marco 1980 USA  2:00.34  +3.49
 42  62  103612 PRIDY Morgan 1990 CAN  2:00.45  +3.60
 43  45  180570 ROMAR Andreas 1989 FIN  2:00.51  +3.66
 44  39  561216 KLINE Bostjan 1991 SLO  2:00.64  +3.79
 45  36  293141 VARETTONI Silvano 1984 ITA  2:00.81  +3.96
 46  29  292514 HEEL Werner 1982 ITA  2:00.83  +3.98
 47  57  110324 VON APPEN Henrik 1994 CHI  2:00.86  +4.01
 48  44  561255 CATER Martin 1992 SLO  2:00.87  +4.02
 49  54  511808 SCHMED Fernando 1991 SUI  2:01.10  +4.25
 50  53  54009 WALDER Christian 1991 AUT  2:01.17  +4.32
 51  4  102899 OSBORNE-PARADIS Manuel 1984 CAN  2:01.42  +4.57
 52  67  54080 NEUMAYER Christopher 1992 AUT  2:01.97  +5.12
 53  42  103512 FRISCH Jeffrey 1984 CAN  2:02.02  +5.17
 54  60  6290393 CAZZANIGA Davide 1992 ITA  2:02.19  +5.34
 55  52  294904 PANGRAZZI Paolo 1988 ITA  2:02.40  +5.55
 55  50  511847 MANI Nils 1992 SUI  2:02.40  +5.55
 57  64  561310 HROBAT Miha 1995 SLO  2:02.43  +5.58
 58  72  700879 ZAMPA Andreas 1993 SVK  2:02.64  +5.79
 59  59  6290985 BUZZI Emanuele 1994 ITA  2:03.23  +6.38
 60  63  104096 THOMPSON Broderick 1994 CAN  2:03.37  +6.52
 61  66  670052 KHUBER Martin 1992 KAZ  2:04.65  +7.80
 62  68  6290845 BOSCA Guglielmo 1993 ITA  2:05.86  +9.01
 63  71  291318 TONETTI Riccardo 1989 ITA  2:05.97  +9.12
 64  65  380341 ULLRICH Max 1994 CRO  2:15.05  +18.20
 65  56  6530104 BENNETT Bryce 1992 USA  20:17.18  +18:20.33
Did not start 1st run
 70  511896 MURISIER Justin 1992 SUI
 69  511852 CAVIEZEL Gino 1992 SUI
 58  511638 TUMLER Thomas 1989 SUI
 38  561217 KOSI Klemen 1991 SLO
 1  150398 BANK Ondrej 1980 CZE
Did not finish 1st run
 55  51332 SCHEIBER Florian 1987 AUT
 32  103762 WERRY Tyler 1991 CAN

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About the Author: Sean Higgins

A Lake Tahoe native and University of Vermont graduate, Higgins was a member of the Catamounts' 2012 NCAA title winning squad and earned first team All-American honors in 2013. Prior to coming to Ski Racing Media, he coached U14s for the Squaw Valley Ski Team.