Walchhofer fastest in downhill training, Nyman fourth, Miller 20th

By Published On: December 16th, 2009Comments Off on Walchhofer fastest in downhill training, Nyman fourth, Miller 20th

Steven NymanThe men of the World Cup were up to speed again today (Dec. 16) with downhill training on the famed Saslong course in Val Gardena, Italy.

Today’s training run, in preparation for competition Saturday Dec. 19, saw Austrian Michael Walchhofer grab the fastest time of 2:00.55. Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal looked like his old self (an October leg bruise slowed him down a bit in the season’s early events) with the second-fastest time (2:00.83). Swede Hans Olsson (2:01.10) was third fastest, followed by American Steven Nyman (2:01.31) in fourth to lead the U.S. Team.

Nyman recently rejoined his teammates on the World Cup tour after getting some extra miles on his skis in a pair of Lake Louise NorAm races, which he won. The Provo, Utah native underwent double knee surgery this summer and now looks to return to form on the course where he captured his first World Cup win in 2006. 

“He did a good job, skied solid top to bottom,” said U.S. men’s head coach Sasha Rearick of Nyman’s return to the tour. “He has a few things to clean up but seemed confident and relaxed. It was good to see.”

Fellow American Bode Miller, who wasn’t sure he’d be ready to race today after spraining his ankle playing volleyball last Saturday, was back in his boots to grab 20th place in the training.

“Bode was able to go. We weren’t sure till this morning,” said Rearick of Miller. “I don’t know if he was comfortable but he was able to tough it out. He really wanted to ski here.”

Rearick was also complimentary of Marco Sullivan, who he said skied sections well on a course that is skiing very similar to the way it has in years past. “The track is smooth,” said Rearick. “It looks fun to ski.” 

Swiss power house Didier Cuche, who was also listed as unlikely for racing this weekend after breaking a rib in Val d’Isere, gave it a go today and apparently felt pretty good as he pulled in the sixth-fastest time of the day.

There will be another downhill training run in Val Gardena tomorrow before a super G on Friday. The downhill will be Saturday Dec. 19.

Images by Gepa

By Eric Williams

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Total Time
 1  14  50041 WALCHHOFER Michael  1975  AUT   2:00.55
 2  20  421328 SVINDAL Aksel Lund  1982  NOR   2:00.83
 3  8  501076 OLSSON Hans  1984  SWE   2:01.10
 4  6  533866 NYMAN Steven  1982  USA   2:01.31
 5  3  51005 SCHEIBER Mario  1983  AUT   2:01.35
 6  12  510030 CUCHE Didier  1974  SUI   2:01.37
 7  18  292514 HEEL Werner  1982  ITA   2:01.38
 8  15  510727 DEFAGO Didier  1977  SUI   2:01.45
 9  17  102899 OSBORNE-PARADIS Manuel  1984  CAN   2:01.48
 10  19  510767 HOFFMANN Ambrosi  1977  SUI   2:01.53
 11  13  102263 GUAY Erik  1981  CAN   2:01.61
 12  16  50753 KROELL Klaus  1980  AUT   2:01.73
 13  9  350032 BUECHEL Marco  1971  LIE   2:01.74
 14  10  192746 THEAUX Adrien  1984  FRA   2:01.83
 15  44  192932 FAYED Guillermo  1985  FRA   2:01.87
 16  30  500150 JAERBYN Patrik  1969  SWE   2:01.89
 17  42  561067 PERKO Rok  1985  SLO   2:01.94
 18  21  560332 JERMAN Andrej  1978  SLO   2:01.96
 19  26  510747 GRUENENFELDER Tobias  1977  SUI   2:01.97
 20  5  532431 MILLER Bode  1977  USA   2:02.00
 21  2  290998 STAUDACHER Patrick  1980  ITA   2:02.01
 22  33  50833 GRUGGER Hans  1981  AUT   2:02.19
 23  7  533131 SULLIVAN Marco  1980  USA   2:02.29
 24  40  510498 ZUEGER Cornel  1981  SUI   2:02.46
 25  37  191591 BERTRAND Yannick  1980  FRA   2:02.52
 26  11  293006 INNERHOFER Christof  1984  ITA   2:02.57
 27  38  511139 KUENG Patrick  1984  SUI   2:02.65
 28  31  560447 SPORN Andrej  1981  SLO   2:02.73
 29  23  191964 POISSON David  1982  FRA   2:02.94
 30  48  511039 KREUZER Ralf  1983  SUI   2:03.01
 30  27  191740 CLAREY Johan  1981  FRA   2:03.01
 32  55  201987 STRODL Andreas  1987  GER   2:03.10
 33  36  292291 THANEI Stefan  1981  ITA   2:03.18
 34  22  51215 BAUMANN Romed  1986  AUT   2:03.29
 35  46  150421 ZAHROBSKY Petr  1980  CZE   2:03.31
 36  32  532490 MACARTNEY Scott  1978  USA   2:03.39
 37  29  50695 BUDER Andreas  1979  AUT   2:03.41
 38  4  50858 STREITBERGER Georg  1981  AUT   2:03.48
 39  43  201542 STRODL Peter  1982  GER   2:03.50
 40  25  534939 FISHER Erik  1985  USA   2:03.58
 41  34  102271 HUDEC Jan  1981  CAN   2:03.60
 42  1  102961 DIXON Robbie  1985  CAN   2:03.65
 43  59  380292 ZRNCIC-DIM Natko  1986  CRO   2:03.67
 44  65  421483 JANSRUD Kjetil  1985  NOR   2:03.72
 45  28  50451 GRUBER Christoph  1976  AUT   2:03.85
 46  62  561085 KRIZAJ Andrej  1986  SLO   2:04.00
 47  58  294277 KLOTZ Siegmar  1987  ITA   2:04.01
 48  70  103512 FRISCH Jeffrey  1984  CAN   2:04.11
 49  45  291459 PARIS Dominik  1989  ITA   2:04.20
 50  72  191778 PICHOT Sebastien  1981  FRA   2:04.31
 51  50  51327 PUCHNER Joachim  1987  AUT   2:04.53
 52  61  40171 BRANCH Craig  1977  AUS   2:04.58
 53  67  501230 ERICSSON Daniel  1987  SWE   2:04.59
 54  57  51232 HERZOG Mario  1986  AUT   2:04.60
 54  39  561087 MARKIC Gasper  1986  SLO   2:04.60
 56  60  291034 PLANK Andy  1989  ITA   2:04.61
 57  64  193034 BOUILLOT Alexandre  1985  FRA   2:04.69
 58  47  511529 GISIN Marc  1988  SUI   2:04.76
 59  54  201900 WAGNER Hannes  1986  GER   2:04.83
 60  49  193212 DURAND Jeremie  1986  FRA   2:05.14
 61  35  201606 KEPPLER Stephan  1983  GER   2:05.26
 62  52  533762 TRANSUE Jeremy  1983  USA   2:05.48
 63  66  220695 CRAWFORD Douglas  1987  GBR   2:05.97
 64  68  53837 KRAMER Manuel  1989  AUT   2:06.24
 65  71  421954 LYSDAHL Espen  1990  NOR   2:06.44
 66  63  293141 VARETTONI Silvano  1984  ITA   2:06.78
 67  24  530939 WEIBRECHT Andrew  1986  USA   2:07.08
 68  51  294911 PATSCHEIDER Hagen  1988  ITA   2:07.25
 69  56  511383 FEUZ Beat  1987  SUI   2:08.18
 70  73  480997 TARANENKO Mikhail  1988  RUS   2:08.20
 71  74  60159 VAN BUYNDER Frederik  1988  BEL   2:10.81
Did not start 1st run
   69  561216 KLINE Bostjan  1991  SLO   
   53  103090 HELIE Louis-Pierre  1986  CAN   
Did not finish 1st run
   41  201811 STECHERT Tobias  1985  GER   

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