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Tag: Kitzbühel
‘An incredible feeling to have it happen in Kitzbühel’: Crawford grabs maiden win as Canadians crash Swiss Downhill party
Meanwhile, Marco Odermatt’s (SUI/Stöckli) wait for victory in the Hahnenkamm continues. A day after powering to victory in the Super G, the man who has won just about everything else in Alpine skiing made a couple of small but critical mistakes in the Steilhang – the most technically demanding section down the Streif. That left the Wengen and Val Gardena winner 0.55 seconds behind Crawford, down in sixth position.
And after a difficult season so far, it was a case of so near yet so far for the hometown challenge. Roared on by the 50,000-plus crowd, Daniel Hemetsberger (AUT/Fischer) looked to have grabbed his first podium in three years, and Austria’s first in the Downhill all season. But Crawford’s brilliance dropped the Fischer skier into fourth, leaving a host of Austria’s most famous ski fans – led by Arnold Schwarzenegger – shaking their heads.
Crawford finally converts
Arnie though will no doubt be back, after an extraordinary day of high-speed racing. But despite a host of the world’s finest putting in compelling performances, it was Crawford, the reigning Super G world champion but never a World Cup winner in any discipline, who takes the headlines.
“It’s been a dream of mine to win the classics,” said Crawford, who arrived in Kitzbühel with three podiums but no victories in his 52 previous World Cup Downhill starts.
It was a historic day in Kitzbühel as Canadian skier Jack Crawford claimed his first World Cup victory in the men’s downhill event, stunning the competition and delighting fans around the world.Crawford’s win was particularly special as he became the first Canadian to win the prestigious downhill race in Kitzbühel in over 30 years. The 24-year-old put on a flawless performance on the notorious Streif course, navigating the treacherous terrain with precision and speed.
The victory was even more remarkable as it came amidst a strong showing from the Swiss team, who had dominated the event in recent years. Despite the stiff competition, Crawford held his nerve and crossed the finish line in a time of 1:55.58, securing the top spot on the podium.
For Crawford, the win was a dream come true and a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. Speaking after the race, he expressed his gratitude and joy at finally breaking through and claiming his first World Cup victory.
“It’s an incredible feeling to have it happen in Kitzbühel,” Crawford said. “This is a race that every skier dreams of winning, and to do it in front of such an amazing crowd is truly special.”
While Crawford’s victory was the highlight of the day, it was not without its share of drama as several Canadian skiers crashed out of the race. Despite the setbacks, Crawford’s win was a shining moment for Canadian skiing and a reminder of the talent and determination of the country’s athletes.
As the celebrations continued in Kitzbühel, Crawford’s win was a reminder of the thrill of victory and the unpredictable nature of downhill skiing. With the World Championships on the horizon, Crawford’s triumph has set the stage for an exciting season ahead.
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Kitzbühel, Crawford, maiden win, Canadians, Swiss Downhill party, ski racing, alpine skiing, World Cup, victory, triumph, competition, sports, snow sports, athlete, podium, mountain resort, downhill race.
#incredible #feeling #happen #Kitzbühel #Crawford #grabs #maiden #win #Canadians #crash #Swiss #Downhill #partyKitzbühel: Canada’s Jack Crawford earns first career win at holy grail of ski racing | Skiing
Canada’s James Crawford scorched to a maiden World Cup victory in the prestigious Kitzbühel downhill on Saturday in a race thankfully spared the spate of serious crashes that marred the super-G.
Crawford, with just four podium places to his name in seven seasons on the circuit, laid down a near-perfect run to clock 1min 53.64sec on the challenging 3.3km-long Streif course on the Hahnenkamm mountain overlooking the upmarket Austrian resort.
Switzerland’s Alexis Monney took second, at 0.08sec, with another Canadian, Cameron Alexander, rounding out the podium a further 0.14sec adrift.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Amazing stuff, supreme excellence!” boomed the slopeside commentator of Crawford’s run in front of tens of thousands of baying ski fans in warm, sunny conditions.
“Canadian cowboys! Oh my word, incredible run by Crawford, he’s the man to beat!”
Crawford, a surprise winner of world super-G gold in Courchevel in 2023 and Olympic combined bronze medallist in Beijing the year previously, held on to bag €100,000 ($104,800) for his victory and set himself up nicely ahead of the 4-16 February world championships in Saalbach.
In-form Swiss racer Marco Odermatt, who tops the overall and downhill standings, won Friday’s super-G, but could only finish sixth in the blue riband event, at 0.55sec, as just eight-tenths of a second separated the top 13 racers.
Starting with bib number 20, Crawford hit motorway-coasting speeds of 140kmh, negotiating sections that have an 85% gradient and 80m jumps, all the while battling crippling centrifugal forces.
The icy course, which has a stomach-churning vertiginous start that propels racers to 100km/h in five seconds, features falls, snakes and rolls through a wide variety of terrain.
For those reasons, victory in Kitzbühel is seen as the holy grail of alpine skiing, often compared to winning at Wimbledon or the Formula One race in Monaco.
There is no doubt that there is a voyeuristic, gladitorial draw for the estimated 90,000-strong crowd who flock in for the Kitzbühel weekend.
But while airhorns and whistles made for a deafening arena, flares lit and flags waving, there was none of the crash drama of Friday, which saw French veteran Alexis Pinturault among three evacuated by helicopter, with a serious knee injury.
The event draws a heady mix between champagne-drinking glitterati and young locals revelling in an alcohol-fuelled rite of passage.
Among onlookers on Saturday was former California governor and Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger and Swedish football great Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“This is amazing, it feels like a home stadium,” said Ibrahimovic, who played for a host of European clubs including Ajax, Juventus, AC and Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in a storied career.
“I wish I was a skier, but I can’t ski!”
The iconic ski resort of Kitzbühel, Austria, witnessed a historic moment as Canada’s Jack Crawford claimed his first career win at the prestigious Hahnenkamm downhill race. Known as the “holy grail of ski racing,” the Hahnenkamm is one of the most challenging and revered races on the World Cup circuit.Crawford, a rising star in the world of alpine skiing, put on a stellar performance on the treacherous Streif course, navigating the steep, icy slopes and daunting jumps with skill and precision. The Canadian skier’s victory marks a significant milestone in his career and solidifies his status as a force to be reckoned with in the competitive world of ski racing.
The win in Kitzbühel is not only a personal triumph for Crawford but also a proud moment for Canadian skiing, as he becomes the first Canadian male skier to win at the Hahnenkamm in over a decade. His achievement serves as inspiration for aspiring young skiers across the country and showcases the talent and potential of Canada’s ski racing program.
As Crawford celebrates his well-deserved victory, fans and spectators around the world are left in awe of his incredible skill and determination. With this win under his belt, the future looks bright for Jack Crawford as he continues to make a name for himself on the international stage. Congratulations to the new champion of Kitzbühel!
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