Ganong 10th in Snowy Bormio Downhill
BORMIO, Italy (Dec. 29) - Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA) closed the 2013 calendar with another positive stride toward his first Olympic Winter Games with a tie for 10th in a rugged Bormio downhill to lead the U.S. Ski Team. Starting second, Ganong powered though snow at the top of the notroious Stelvio and then through rattling bumps in the middle section to post his best Audi FIS Alpine World Cup finish of the season. Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal, who skied in relatively clear conditions, skied a flawless line to win the race for the 25th World Cup victory of his career. Universal Sports Network will broadast the legendary Stelvio downhill at 11 a.m. ET.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA) tied for 10th in the rugged Bormio downhill for his best Audi FIS Alpine World Cup finish of the season.
- Ganong, who had a career-best seventh in Bormio last season, hopes to make his first Olympic Team when the U.S. squad is named on Jan. 26.
- Running second, Ganong powered through tough visibility at the top section and skied tactically through the bumpy middle.
- Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway skied flawlessly through relatively clear conditions to earn the 25th World Cup victory of his career.
- Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) also landed in the points for the U.S. Ski Team with 22nd.
- Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) was rocked hard through the middle section and bounced low on the traverse to finish outside the top 30.
- Miller will be featured in a unique introspective show today at 1 p.m. ET on NBC during "U.S. Ski Team 36."
- Austrian Hannes Reichelt was second with Canadian Erik Guay third for his second straight downhill podium.
- Universal Sports will broadcast the race at 11 a.m. ET.
- The men's tour will remain in Bormio for a slalom on Jan. 6. The race was moved from Zagreb due to lack of snow at the Croatian resort.
QUOTES
Travis Ganong
The conditions are always changing. I can’t seem to get on the right side of it. Today I skied perfect and it was snowing so hard I was plowing through snow the whole way. Now it’s definitely nicer. I feel like if I had started later today I could have had a better shot. For where I started I’m so happy with my skiing. I stuck to my plan, really pushed hard, had no mistakes and the skiing felt good, it was fun.
I think we’re more relaxed now. It’s the middle part of the season. We have a bunch of races under our belts now. We’re strong, we’re fit. We know we’re skiing fast in training against all these other guys, it’s just a matter of figuring out race day.
I love these tougher, longer, bumpier, gnarlier downhills. That’s kind of my forte. It’s not just a drag race. It’s more turning and deciphering the terrain and being smart and figuring out ways you can find time. The next few races fit right into that too: Wengen, Kitzbuhel, Garmisch. Sochi is very tough too. Sochi is very similar to Bormio.
RESULTS
Official Results
