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Skiiing: Success for Svindal

Last updated: 5th December 2008

Aksel Lund Svindal: Victorious in the downhill at Beaver Creek

Aksel Lund Svindal soared at the Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek to win the men's World Cup downhill race.

The Norwegian triumphed in a time of one minute, 43.85 seconds in Colorado to join Switzerland's Daniel Albrecht at the top of the overall standings.

Marco Buechel of Liechtenstein was just 0.06 back in second place while Canada's Erik Guay took third.

Austrian Hermman Maier, victorious in the Super-G at Lake Louise last weekend, was more than a minute off the pace whilst reigning World Cup downhill champion Didier Cuche could only finish 15th.

Success for Svindal was particularly sweet having suffered a nasty crash in a practice run at the same course last year.

Then the reigning champion, the 25-year-old's season was ended early when he suffered a broken nose, cuts to his face, a deep gash in his left thigh and the loss of several teeth.

"It's not revenge," Svindal said. "It's not the same conditions. I'm not the same person. Normally when I win, I jump in the air but this is really very special."