Lake Louise: Hudec wins DH, American Sullivan 2nd
Canada’s Jan Hudec notched the first World Cup win of his career, and American Marco Sullivan finished second in the best showing of his career to lead a 1-2 North American finish on home snow Saturday in the World Cup men’s downhill at Lake Louise.
"I've been skiing fast in the last few weeks of the prep period and had some good training runs. I was ready to throw down a good one despite the tough conditions," Sullivan said. "My Nordicas [skis] were on fire today.
Hudec finished in an official time of 1 minute, 42.79 seconds to edge Sullivan by .24 seconds. Austria’s Andreas Buder was third — also the best finish of his career — 0.34 back. Italy’s Kurt Sulzenbacher finished fourth and Swiss Tobias Gruenenfelder fifth.
Americans Steven Nyman (15th), Bode Miller (20th) and Scott Macartney (29th) posted top-30 finishes in a solid showing.
CANADA'S Jan Hudec notched the first World Cup win of his career, and American Marco Sullivan finished second in the best showing of his career to lead a 1-2 North American finish on home snow Saturday in the World Cup men’s downhill at Lake Louise.
"I've been skiing fast in the last few weeks of the prep period and had some good training runs. I was ready to throw down a good one despite the tough conditions," Sullivan said. "My Nordicas [skis] were on fire today.
"I knew I was having a solid run but I wasn't sure where it would stack up because the conditions were so variable. I was almost two seconds ahead of No. 1. But, then when Hudec came down – Jan and I have raced together for years – and was first, I knew being two-tenths away from him would be good."
Hudec finished in an official time of 1 minute, 42.79 seconds to edge Sullivan by 0.24 seconds. Austria’s Andreas Buder was third, 0.34 back. Italy’s Kurt Sulzenbacher finished fourth and Swiss Tobias Gruenenfelder fifth.
"Fantastic," said U.S. speed coach Chris Brigham about the U.S. men's results. He said it was a tough day with flat light and "swirly winds" but he wasn't surprised by the racers' results. He said the American men have been skiing fast during the prep period and in training.
Steven Nyman (15th), Bode Miller (20th) and Scott Macartney (29th) also posted top-30 finishes in a solid showing for U.S. racers.
The top story, however, is Sullivan getting his first career podium after breaking both his heels during October's training camp in Chile.
"He bounced back pretty quick from that," Brigham said. "He was chomping at the bit to get back to skiing."
Injured in a downhill training crash early in the 2004 season, the podium was another huge step in Sullivan's comeback after two seasons of knee surgeries leading to the 2006 Olympics. A year ago, he was fourth in a downhill at Val Gardena, Italy, just one-hundredth of a second away from the podium. Saturday, Sullivan would not be denied.
"This [podium] was certainly worth the wait. It sets a good platform for me for the season," Sulllivan said. "I'm heading to Beaver Creek and I'm ready to keep it rolling.
"I told him in the finish this was a payback for last year in Norway when he skied so well in poor conditions and then they stopped and finally restarted, and he didn't ski as well. What goes around comes around. This was a nice payback for Marco," the coach said.
Sullivan was recuperating Saturday night. He said his heels are a bit sore, but they clearly aren't affecting his performance. He is starting 59th in Sunday's super G. "I am tired," he said. "Tough work going fast, just trying to relax and get ready for tomorrow."
U.S. Ski Teamer T.J. Lanning finished just out of the points in a tie for 32nd, improving 30 spots over his start number. "He's really psyched," Brigham said. Fellow American Erik Fisher DNFed but was skiing fast, Brigham said. Fisher lost control going over the last jump and is getting a medical check up, but Brigham said he is likely OK. Teammate Kevin Francis was disqualified after he missed a gate in the flat light.
— USSA contributed to this report
Lake Louise Men's World Cup downhill results
Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time | FIS Points |
1 | 5 | 102271 | HUDEC Jan | 1981 | CAN | 1:42.79 | 0.00 |
2 | 2 | 533131 | SULLIVAN Marco | 1980 | USA | 1:43.03 | 3.15 |
3 | 29 | 50695 | BUDER Andreas | 1979 | AUT | 1:43.13 | 4.47 |
4 | 7 | 291641 | SULZENBACHER Kurt | 1976 | ITA | 1:43.29 | 6.57 |
5 | 6 | 510747 | GRUENENFELDER Tobias | 1977 | SUI | 1:43.30 | 6.70 |
6 | 4 | 292514 | HEEL Werner | 1982 | ITA | 1:43.31 | 6.83 |
7 | 41 | 102873 | KUCERA John | 1984 | CAN | 1:43.33 | 7.09 |
8 | 35 | 192746 | THEAUX Adrien | 1984 | FRA | 1:43.39 | 7.88 |
9 | 33 | 50858 | STREITBERGER Georg | 1981 | AUT | 1:43.40 | 8.01 |
10 | 11 | 50451 | GRUBER Christoph | 1976 | AUT | 1:43.43 | 8.41 |
11 | 34 | 51215 | BAUMANN Romed | 1986 | AUT | 1:43.44 | 8.54 |
12 | 18 | 350032 | BUECHEL Marco | 1971 | LIE | 1:43.50 | 9.32 |
12 | 13 | 560332 | JERMAN Andrej | 1978 | SLO | 1:43.50 | 9.32 |
14 | 20 | 50041 | WALCHHOFER Michael | 1975 | AUT | 1:43.51 | 9.46 |
15 | 9 | 533866 | NYMAN Steven | 1982 | USA | 1:43.60 | 10.64 |
16 | 12 | 50423 | MAIER Hermann | 1972 | AUT | 1:43.62 | 10.90 |
17 | 22 | 421328 | SVINDAL Aksel Lund | 1982 | NOR | 1:43.68 | 11.69 |
17 | 21 | 510030 | CUCHE Didier | 1974 | SUI | 1:43.68 | 11.69 |
17 | 17 | 102263 | GUAY Erik | 1981 | CAN | 1:43.68 | 11. 69 |
20 | 16 | 532431 | MILLER Bode | 1977 | USA | 1:43.75 | 12.61 |
21 | 8 | 51005 | SCHEIBER Mario | 1983 | AUT | 1:43.82 | 13.53 |
22 | 25 | 510727 | DEFAGO Didier | 1977 | SUI | 1:43.87 | 14.18 |
23 | 48 | 421400 | MYHRE Lars Elton | 1984 | NOR | 1:43.99 | 15.76 |
24 | 24 | 191591 | BERTRAND Yannick | 1980 | FRA | 1:44.00 | 15.89 |
25 | 38 | 291399 | GIRARDI Walter | 1976 | ITA | 1:44.07 | 16.81 |
26 | 30 | 191740 | CLAREY Johan | 1981 | FRA | 1:44.09 | 17.07 |
27 | 43 | 192932 | FAYED Guillermo | 1985 | FRA | 1:44.21 | 18.65 |
27 | 15 | 191116 | DALCIN Pierre-Emmanuel | 1977 | FRA | 1:44.21 | 18.65 |
29 | 3 | 532490 | MACARTNEY Scott | 1978 | USA | 1:44.25 | 19.18 |
30 | 26 | 50753 | KROELL Klaus | 1980 | AUT | 1:44.27 | 19.44 |
31 | 32 | 560447 | SPORN Andrej | 1981 | SLO | 1:44.29 | 19.70 |
32 | 63 | 380260 | KOSTELIC Ivica | 1979 | CRO | 1:44.34 | 20.36 |
32 | 62 | 534567 | LANNING Thomas (tj) | 1984 | USA | 1:44.34 | 20.36 |
34 | 42 | 102814 | BOURQUE Fr ancois |
1984 | CAN | 1:44.37 | 20.75 |
34 | 14 | 510767 | HOFFMANN Ambrosi | 1977 | SUI | 1:44.37 | 20.75 |
36 | 58 | 293006 | INNERHOFER Christof | 1984 | ITA | 1:44.44 | 21.67 |
37 | 51 | 510498 | ZUEGER Cornel | 1981 | SUI | 1:44.59 | 23.64 |
38 | 59 | 510207 | HARI Konrad | 1978 | SUI | 1:44.73 | 25.48 |
39 | 44 | 190930 | DENERIAZ Antoine | 1976 | FRA | 1:44.79 | 26.27 |
40 | 10 | 102899 | OSBORNE-PARADIS Manuel | 1984 | CAN | 1:44.80 | 26.40 |
41 | 46 | 191911 | NOCENTI Cyril | 1982 | FRA | 1:44.81 | 26.53 |
42 | 19 | 292455 | FILL Peter | 1982 | ITA | 1:44.90 | 27.71 |
43 | 65 | 510307 | BRAND Olivier | 1980 | SUI | 1:44.91 | 27.84 |
44 | 57 | 150398 | BANK Ondrej | 1980 | CZE | 1:44.93 | 28.11 |
45 | 1 | 510890 | ZURBRIGGEN Silvan | 1981 | SUI | 1:45.00 | 29.03 |
46 | 28 | 50625 | RAICH Benjamin | 1978 | AUT | 1:45.06 | 29.81 |
47 | 61 | 201542 | STRODL Peter | 1982 | GER | 1:45.13 | 30.73 |
48 | 36 | 191964 | POISSON David | 1982 | FRA | 1:45.15 | 31.00 |
49 | 37 | 501076 | OLSSON Hans | 1984 | SWE | 1:45.16 | 31.13 |
50 | 40 | 510165 | HOFER Beni | 1978 | SUI | 1:45.19 | 31.52 |
51 | 52 | 40171 | BRANCH Craig | 1977 | AUS | 1:45.37 | 33.88 |
52 | 60 | 501026 | RAINER Niklas | 1983 | SWE | 1:45.41 | 34.41 |
53 | 31 | 50833 | GRUGGER Hans | 1981 | AUT | 1:45.46 | 35.07 |
54 | 49 | 191462 | PAQUIN Pierre | 1979 | FRA | 1:45.51 | 35.72 |
55 | 56 | 293141 | VARETTONI Silvano | 1984 | ITA | 1:45.52 | 35.85 |
56 | 55 | 102947 | SINE Gareth | 1985 | CAN | 1:45.57 | 36.51 |
57 | 23 | 290998 | STAUDACHER Patrick | 1980 | ITA | 1:45.67 | 37.82 |
58 | 66 | 102961 | DIXON Robbie | 1985 | CAN | 1:45.68 | 37.96 |
59 | 64 | 420911 | SOLBAKKEN Bjarne | 1977 | NOR | 1:45.72 | 38.48 |
60 | 50 | 291389 | FISCHNALLER Roland | 1975 | ITA | 1:45.82 | 39.79 |
61 | 45 | 201606 | KEPPLER Stephan | 1983 | GER | 1:46.05 | 42.82 |
62 | 68 | 201987 | STRODL Andreas | 1987 | GER | 1:46.26 | 45.57 |
63 | 69 | 501324 | OLSSON Matts | 1988 | SWE | 1:46.66 | 50.83 |
64 | 54 | 292291 | THANEI Stefan | 1981 | ITA | 1:46.91 | 54.11 |
65 | 70 | 410252 | BRIDGWATER Mark | 1985 | NZE | 1:47.55 | 62.52 |
Did not start 1st run:
MICKEL Finlay (GBR)
Did not finish 1st run:
FRANCIS Kevin (USA), FISHER Erik (USA), PERKO Rok (SLO), BOTTOLLIER-LASQUIN Marc (FRA)
THE SCOOP
By Hank McKee
Equipment
Men's Downhill, Lake Louise, Nov. 24, 2007
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Hudec, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
2 Sullivan, Nordica/Nordica/Marker
3 Buder, Head/Lange/Tyrolia
4 Sulzenbacher, Fischer/Lange/Fischer
5 Gruenenfelder, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
6 Heel, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
7 Kucera, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
8 Theaux, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
9 Streitberger, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
10 Gruber, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
Men's Downhill, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, Nov. 24, 2007. … It is the third of 41 events on the men's 2007-08 World Cup schedule. … It is the first of 10 scheduled downhills. … It is the 62nd World Cup event at Lake Louise. … the 39th downhill. … Winning margin is .24 of a second. … Top 20 skiers are with a second of the winning time. … Top 38 within two seconds…. It is the first career win for Jan Hudec, his previous best a fifth at Garmisch Feb. 24, 2007. … Of 11 career scoring results, it is his fifth at Lake Louise, having placed as high as eighth previously (Nov. 27, 2004). It is the first DH win for a Canadian at Lake Louise. … John Kucera won a super G at the site Nov. 26, 2006. … Erik Guay was the last Canadian DH winner, winning last season at Garmisch, but prior to that the last Canadian DH win had been Cary Mullen at Aspen in 1994.
It is the first career World Cup podium for Marco Sullivan. … His previous best had been fourth in DH at Val Gardena Dec. 16, 2006. … He is the eighth American to claim a podium placing at Lake Louise.
It is just the second career podium for Andreas Buder. … He was also third at Garmisch Jan. 28, 2006. … It is the first podium of the season for an Austrian male. …
Seventh is the fourth best career result for John Kucera… and his career best result in DH the others coming in super G and GS. … His only career win was at Lake Louise in SG last November. … Fifteenth matches the tenth best career result for Steven Nyman, and is his second best ever at Lake Louise. … It matches his seventh best in result in DH. … Seventeenth matches the 37th best result of Erik Guay's career. … It matches his sixth best result at Lake Louise and his third best in DH at Lake Louise. … Twentieth is the third best DH result at Lake Louise for Bode Miller. … He won in DH at the site, Nov. 27, 2004 and was seventh Nov. 30, 2002. … He was 29th a season ago. … It is the 23rd career scoring result for Scott Macartney.
Kalle Palander of Finland (did not race) maintains the lead of the World Cup overall standings 140-134 over Aksel Svindal (17th in race). Race winner Jan Hudec is in a three way tie for third in the overall standings with Manfred Moelgg (did not race) of Italy and Marc Gini (did not race) of Switzerland with 100pts.