Saturday February 25th, 2017: Finally, a Norwegian victory in the classic Downhill race in Kvitfjell
Before the race on Saturday started, there had not been a Norwegian alpine racer on the top of the podium in the Downhill since 1997. That year it was Lasse Kjus from the reserve/ladies start. And today, Jansrud made his move, this time from the top start.
By Svein Mundal
Already in January FIS appointed the Kvitfjell organizer a third race (cancelled Downhill race in Lake Louise, CAN). Thus, the planned training on Friday was replaced with a race.
The organizer had a rough start with the preparing of the slopes. A lot of heavy snow fell both the night before Tuesday and during Wednesday. And with only Thursday as an official training day, a lot was at stake. Considering the challenges due to the snow, the organizer was definitely undermanned outside on the slope. This became especially apparent on Thursday morning when there was still some work left to be done. But the mandatory training was carried out under satisfactory conditions. But FIS were not content, which was loudly declared on the team captains’ meeting on Thursday afternoon.
In the morning hours on Friday the organization was fully deployed. The weather was playing along nicely, and this was a great start before three amazing days of competition. And the feedback from the teams and FIS in the team captains’ meeting on Friday and Saturday was outstanding.
Kjetil Jansrud arrived in Kvitfjell with a very good season behind him, consisting of 4 victories, 2 in Downhill and 2 in Super-G, as well as a silver medal from the Alpine World Championship in St. Moritz (SUI). With his 3. place on Friday and win on Saturday in Kvitfjell he had already claimed the Crystal Globe in Downhill before the following World Cup finals. Aksel Lund Svindal was injured and did not compete. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde came in number 4 in the Super-G on Sunday, only a few hundredths from the podium. Kjetil ended up number seven.
Also worth mentioning, of course, is the surprising winner on Friday, Bostjan Kline (SLO), in addition to Peter Fill, the winner of the Super-G on Sunday and number 2 on Saturday.
For the first time the event was arranged in week 8, the great winter vacation week. This was a good move for attracting a big audience, especially cabin owners in the area. And the spectators did not disappoint. A new audience record on Friday (approx. 3 000) and Saturday (approx. 8 000), with a total of 15 000 spectators over three days. And approx. 2000 of these were placed along the slopes.
Results:
DH1: Bostjan Kline(SLO), Matthias Mayer (AUT), Kjetil Jansrud (NOR)
DH2: Kjetil Jansrud (NOR), Peter Fill (ITA), Beat Feuz (SUI)
SG: Peter Fill (ITA), Hannes Reichelt (AUT), Erik Guay (CAN)
