GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Jan. 30, 2016) – A bruised and banged up Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA) led five Americans into the top 30, with a sixth-place finish, in the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Saturday on the Kandahar downhill track.
“I wasn’t really sure I was going to be able to ski this week with my knee - I had a bone bruise after Kitzbuehel,” said Ganong, who skied to his best result ever on the Kandahar downhill track. “I’m just really happy that I pushed through and raced today because it’s an awesome result.”
Steven Nyman finished 10th in Garmisch. (Getty/Agence Zoom-Alexis Boichard)
Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde stepped in for injured teammate Aksel Lund Svindal, who blew his knee last week in Kitzbuehel, and came out of the 30th start position to win his first career World Cup downhill. Slovenia’s Bostjan Kline was second, and Switzerland’s Beat Feuz was third.
For the Americans, Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) was 10th; Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) tied for 17th; Jared Goldberg (Holladay, UT) was 20th; and Wiley Maple (Aspen, CO) cracked the top 30 in downhill for the first time this season in 23rd. Tommy Biesemeyer (Keene, NY), Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, CA) and Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) all DNFed.
Andrew Weibrecht tied for 17th. (Getty/Agence Zoom-Alexis Boichard)
“Today (the Kandahar downhill track) surprised us,” Nyman said. “The first training run, it was really soft and warm, but it bound up and got frozen and was brutal. It’s an endurance track. Even though it’s only about two minutes, it’s bumpy and dark the whole way down. And it turns, a lot. It’s a non-stop fight.”
Up next, the men race giant slalom Sunday in Garmisch.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Travis Ganong took sixth, his fourth top 10 of the season.
- It was Ganong’s best result in Garmisch, having never finished in the top 20 the three previous times he raced the venue.
- Steven Nyman was 10th; Andrew Weibrecht took 17th Jared Goldberg 20th; and Wiley Maple 23rd.
- It was Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde’s second World Cup podium and first World Cup win, taking the baton from teammate Aksel Lund Svindal who blew his knee last week.
- Bostjan Kline took second, his first top 10 result on the World Cup tour.
- Italy’s Matteo Marsaglia came out of the 52nd start position to post a career-best downhill result, tying with Ganong, in sixth place.
- Next up, the men stay in Garmisch to race giant slalom.
QUOTES
Travis Ganong
I wasn’t really sure I was going to be able to ski this week with my knee - I had a bone bruise after Kitzbuehel. I had an MRI and took a bunch of days off, but I didn’t know what was going to be possible. On the training run here I just really took it easy and it didn’t feel great. I figured out a way to numb (the knee) up and make it feel good enough to push on.
When it comes to a race, anything can happen. As long as you push on your skis and stick to your plan and stay on line, anything can happen. I’m just really happy that I pushed through and raced today because it’s an awesome result.
Steven Nyman
What I really like about Garmisch is the history - there’s a rich history here. The race is cool - there are a lot of variations, the two tracks next to each other. You can create a bunch of different scenarios. Last night, it was cool going to sleep staring up this valley and staring at the Zugspitze. I was like ‘Wow. This is awesome.’
Every time I get in the start (in Garmisch) I stand there looking at the mountains - just saying, ‘Wow. I’m lucky.’ And I said that today. I pushed out and went. It seems so relaxed, but it does relax me to say something like that - instead of getting all fired up for downhill.
Today it surprised us. The first training run, it was really soft and warm, but it bound up and got frozen and was brutal. It’s an endurance track. Even though it’s only about two minutes, it’s bumpy and dark the whole way down. And it turns, a lot. It’s a non-stop fight.
Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)
Sunday, Jan. 31
7:30 a.m. - Men's giant slalom, Garmisch - LIVE - NBCSN
7:30 a.m. - Men's giant slalom, Garmisch - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
RESULTS
Men’s Downhill
