Alpine skiing-Austrian Franz wins super-G in snowy Beaver Creek


Reuters | Updated: 02-12-2018 02:17 IST | Created: 02-12-2018 02:17 IST

Austrian Max Franz earned his first career super-G World Cup victory at Beaver Creek on Saturday, battling back from a shaky start to land atop the podium on a snowy day in Colorado.

Franz, who completed the treacherous, 4,891-foot Birds of Prey course in one minute 1.91 seconds, benefited from being the fifth skier down the slope on a day when falling snow slowed the course as the day wore on.

His run looked doomed at the top of the hill when he swung out wide on an early turn but he was able to maintain his speed and was flawless for the rest of his trip.

"Today I had luck on my side," said the 29-year-old, who notched up his second victory of the season after winning the downhill in Lake Louise, Canada, last weekend.

"The weather is not easy and the slope is very bumpy. But I am very happy," he said. "It is a great day."

Second place went to Mauro Caviezel of Switzerland, the 14th racer down the slope, who finished 0.33 seconds behind in heavy snow and much worse visibility than Franz enjoyed.

Norwegians Aksel Svindal and Aleksander Kilde and Italian Dominik Paris shared third place after they all finished 0.41 seconds off the leader.

The third-place finish was veteran Svindal's 15th career podium at Beaver Creek and the 35-year-old suggested after the race that he was getting close to calling it a day.

"I'm at the end of my career. The very end. The last chapter probably," said the two-time Olympic gold medalist.

"It could be anywhere from a few more days to maybe a year or two. We'll see," Svindal said.

"I'm old and I'm feeling maybe it is time to move on sooner or later. I'm pretty relaxed about it so what comes, comes." (Reporting by Rory Carroll)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Give Feedback