The weather might be a spoilsport on Friday. A winter storm has announced, in addition to strong gusts of wind, heavy snowfalls are forecast. Therefore, Colorado might have a scenario similar to Canada, where only two of the three races were possible. In any case, the drivers are prepared for a cancellation on Friday. “Every race we lose is bitter. Let’s see, nothing has been decided yet,” said Vincent Kriechmayr.
Matthias Mayer, who set the best time in practice on Thursday, was satisfied for the time being. “I thought to myself, if there really is that much snow, it won’t do any harm if you take a good ride,” says the Carinthian. Kriechmayr also took a lot of positive things from the training. “You can maybe drive better here and there, but if I manage to do something like that in the race, I’d be satisfied.”
Overseas departures
The women will ski downhill in Lake Louise (CAN) on Friday, the men in Beaver Creek (USA). In both competitions, the ÖSV starters have a good chance of getting top places.
Regarding the weather uncertainties, Daniel Hemetsberger – seventh in training on Thursday – was relaxed because “we can’t do anything regarding the weather. If it is, then we drive, and if it isn’t, then not,” says the 31-year-old from Upper Austria. And Otmar Striedinger, who had trained the fastest on Wednesday, added: “We downhillers are good at waiting anyway, we’ll pack the maps in our backpacks and while away the time.”
Austrians with good chances
Since 2013 there have only been wins for Switzerland or Norway in the Beaver Creek downhill. Austrian podium places were also rare, following the Walchhofer victory only Klaus Kröll (third in 2011), Hannes Reichelt (second in 2013), Vincent Kriechmayr (second in 2019) and Matthias Mayer (second in 2021) made it onto the podium.
Mayer (fourth place in Lake Louise), Kriechmayr and the second downhill in Lake Louise on Saturday, Daniel Hemetsberger, are once more the most promising ÖSV runners. Hemetsberger, who made his first two appearances last year, still has little experience on the raptor slope. However, with eighth place in the downhill, the Upper Austrian showed that he feels comfortable on the terrain, in the Super-G he came in 41st place. Last week he achieved his best career results in these disciplines, finishing second in the downhill and seventh in the super-G.
Hemetsberger is proud that the competition has him on the bill. “Of course I’m happy that they have me a little on the screen. But you also have to be realistic. Lake Louise was very good, but you have to do it once more first.” In the overall World Cup he is currently third behind Swiss Marco Odermatt, who is third in Lake Louise for his first downhill victory, and Kilde.
Odermatt promises full throttle
The Swiss confirmed his good form on Thursday in sixth place in training. “I know that I’m generally in a good mood. But I also know that I haven’t found the right remedy here on the downhill. In the race I will definitely step on the gas. But I think Matthias (Mayer, note) and Vincent (Kriechmayr, note) are always low-keys. They have shown that they are also in a very good mood,” explained Odermatt.
In any case, the Swiss doesn’t want to start in any weather on Friday. “If there’s a controversial race with delays, with unfair conditions, then I think it’s better to focus on Saturday and Sunday. Two races here are still enough for the athletes.”
