KVITFJELL, Norway (March 12, 2016) – After a short delay, the fog cleared in Norway to leave a bluebird sky and perfect track for Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) to take his third Audi FIS Ski World Cup downhill podium in three races, finishing third.
"I skied really well and I’m happy with how I’m feeling on my skis and my movement and the continued podiums," said Nyman after the race. "Three in a row, that’s kind of cool!"
Even with a bobble at the top, Nyman quickly made up time, nailing an aggressive line to take first from the early leader Canadian Manuel Osborne-Paradis. But it wasn’t quite enough to keep the lead, with Dominik Paris of Italy squeaking out his second downhill win in two races and 24-year-old Frenchman Valentin Giraud Moine surprising the fans to take second.
Travis Ganong skis to eighth place. (Getty Imags-Cornelius Poppe)
"It’s funny. Every race day I’ve been really nervous. I have to settle myself down and focus on the necessities," said Nyman. "I know everything is working right—I know my body is right; I just have to perform."
Behind Nyman, Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA) cracked the top 10 in his first race back after taking a few weeks off to nurse a nagging knee injury from earlier this season, taking eighth. Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) started his 105 World Cup downhill to take 18th. Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) was 20th and Tommy Biesemeyer (Keene, NY) 36th.
Steven Nyman skis to the podium.
Up next, the men race super G Sunday before heading to St. Moritz for World Cup Finals.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Steven Nyman took third place – his third downhill podium in three races (second in Chamonix and third at Jeongseon's Olympic test event).
- It was Nyman’s ninth career podium result. Prior to 2015-16, Nyman had only podiumed at Beaver Creek and Val Gardena (three times at each venue).
- Dominik Paris is the first Italian man to win back-to-back downhills since 1997.
- Home crowd favorite Kjetil Jansrud of Norway was fast on top, but couldn’t hold the speed down the track and finished tied for fifth with Switzerland's Beat Feuz.
- The men race super G Sunday at Kvitfjell.
QUOTES
Steven Nyman
It’s funny. Every race day I’ve been really nervous. I have to settle myself down and focus on the necessities. I know everything is working right—I know my body is right; I just have to perform. I had a pretty good run. On the first big swinger turn on top—I kind of skipped out a little and it wasn’t that good. I felt myself lose a lot of speed and I think that’s where I lost the race. I lost a lot of time on the bottom, but I thought I skied it pretty well, so it’ll be interesting to look at that.
I skied really well and I’m happy with how I’m feeling on my skis and my movement and the continued podiums. Three in a row, that’s kind of cool! For me, I have higher expectations. I learned a lot this year and I’ll take that into next season and really establish myself at the beginning, which is what I’m used to doing. I usually don't have the best end of season, but so far, I’ve had a really good end of season. Mix those together and maybe I can make a push for the title next year.
Travis Ganong returns to the World Cup to take eighth.
BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAMING (times EST)
Saturday, Mar. 12
1:30 p.m. – Men’s downhill, Kvitfjell - Universal HD
Sunday, Mar. 13
6:15 a.m. - Men’s super G, Kvitfjell - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
2:30 p.m. - Men’s super G, Kvitfjell - Universal HD
RESULTS
Men's downhill