Under a sunny ski, but in freezing temperatures – (-9°Celsius at the finish line) – the speed specialists  disputed their first practice run.  The favourites managed to achieve the best time on the excellently prepared race course. Once again Michael Walchhofer, the winner of the last two Gardena Downhill races, was the fastest skier on the Saslong. He only just didn’t crack the two minute mark (2:00.55), whereas last year he won the race with 1:50.57 minutes.  The Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal finished 2nd in today’s practice run and Hans Olsson from Sweden finishd third.

Best local skier was Werner Heel from Passeier in South Tyrol. The winner of last year’s  Super-G   finished 7th with a deficit of 0,83seconds.  Didier Cuche finished 6th, one spot ahead of Heel, and this although Cuche began the Garden World Cup week with a broken rib.

Tomorrow the 2nd Downhill Training will begin at 12.15.