The final training run for Saturday’s men’s World Championship downhill was not a race anyone really wanted to win.

Maybe Adrien Theaux –  the fastest on the day – did, but few of the top contenders put in complete runs. On a course that has been drawing considerable criticism for its roughness, many actually seemed to be enjoying their time on the hill.

Clouds came in overnight preventing what all week has been a routine drop of temperatures to well below freezing. The result was a softer course, one easy to get a ski into.

Didier Cuche survived a near crash, pulling himself up out of the back seat with a herculean effort, and later stood up out of any semblance of a tuck well above the finish, crossing the finish with the second fastest time.

Aksel Lund Svindal also took a journey well wide of the normal track and stood even earlier than Cuche, but finished third.

Michael Walchhofer stood. Christof Innerhofer stood. Klaus Kroell stood. Werner Heel stood. Bode Miller appeared to be on cruise control from the mid-point down at least (the early part of his run was not shown on the big screen in the finish) and his finish tuck consisted of bringing his hands to his chest with virtually no bend at the waist.

The only question is which course will the racers face in the actual race: Jeykll or Hyde?

Canadian Erik Guay placed fourth on the day and said he expects the conditions to be somewhere between the icy, bumpy, complaint drawing course of Thursday’s training run and the softer surface delivered today (Feb. 11).

“It’s tough because you get a lot of criticism for them putting so much water onto the hill and making it so challenging, but they’re trying to prepare for days like today. If it wasn’t prepared with so much water today would be slop, impossible to race. You have to understand the balance I guess. It was challenging yesterday, but today was pretty good and I think if they put some product down and tomorrow will be challenging, somewhere in between.”

While Bode finished a couple of seconds out in 25th that likely saved him some face time with the media and the U.S. got two placings better than his, eighth from Travis Ganong and 15th from Steven Nyman.

Ganong said he had at least stayed on course today after what he called “a little sightseeing,” well off the beaten path of the course on Thursday.

“I knew where I was going this time, and the snow has softened up a little bit which suits my style a lot more, I can be subtle on the edges and pushing where I want to. I have some confidence now.”

Ganong said he thought he had found a key to the upper portion of the course. “Today off the top section I found a way to really juice those last couple of turns on the steep coming onto the flat and that’s the key to that whole top section. … the rest of the way is all about flying. I was being light on my feet and skipping over the terrain. It’s a lot smoother in the air than it is on the ground.”

For Nyman, who will race in his second World Championship Saturday despite having been named to four title teams, was relieved the course was “so much easier on the body. I actually had some fun today.”

He said, “The snow is still really dense so I think it will hold up pretty well and with it being soft (this afternoon) I think they can slip it out, patch the (rough) spots up and it will be a good race tomorrow. … If it doesn’t rain.”

He, too, said the training run had been useful. “There’s still some things I can clean up,” but said his plan was to give it everything he’s got. “That’s what World Championships are all about it.”

Theaux, the fastest skier on the day, summarized his strategy: “It is better to be first today than 28th.”

Photo of Travis Ganong from 1st training run by Gepa