Men's Downhill
Daron Rahlves Believes
Daron Rahlves, who had not scored in the top-15 before this season, realized an absolutely incredible goal by winning the men's downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway. Rahlves was relaxed and confident before, relaxed and aggressive during, and relaxed and happy after his win on the very same course that brought Olympic gold to Tommy Moe in February, 1994.

	Daron Rahlves

The 26-year-old American had the perfect attitude as he achieved his most outstanding performance thus far. He finished ahead of established speed veterans Switzerland's Didier Cuche by 9/100 of a second and Hermann "The Herminator" Maier by 26/100. Kyle Rasmussen was the last US man to win a World Cup race on the treacherous and windy "Olympiabakke" piste back in March 1995.

Today's race was one of the most dramatic downhill races of the season — and not only because the Austrian team was not able to dominate in its usual powerful way — one after the other, the favorites took over the lead.

Kristian Ghedina was first, but he was passed by Hermann Maier only a few minutes later. Maier the reigning downhill champion, achieved one of his foremost performances by clocking a new best time after two disappointing training sessions. He was so surprised that he could only shake his head in disbelief while looking at his time on the board after crossing the finish. In beating Ghedina, who dominated the last training run, Maier was almost sure to clinch his first downhill World Cup title — not bad for a skier who discovered downhill only three years ago.

"I felt comfortable on my way down even in that tough turn where the wind almost blew me out of the course. I made many mistakes as the other skiers I guess, but I never gave up..." — Daron Rahlves (USA)

But Maier could only enjoy his leading position for a few minutes before a determined Didier Cuche crossed the finish. Cuche had not reached the podium in downhill since the World Cup Finals at Crans Montana in March 1998. Two weeks ago, Cuche was 2nd in a super G in St. Anton. He was a winner at Kitzbühel in January 1998 and a silver medalist in super G in the 1998 Olympics, but he would have to wait before celebrating what appeared to be his newest success.

"There are still some top-guns at the start and the racing conditions are changing too fast to be sure of anything for the moment," Cuche told those who came to congratulate him in the finish area. In fact, he was quite nervous and tense while waiting. "Let's see if Daron Rahlves can confirm his great times from the training runs," he added.

Right he was — starting with bib No. 24, Rahlves cruised like a rocket on the challenging downhill which had to be shortened by 15 seconds because of heavy snowfalls during the night. The start of the competition also had to be delayed three hours. But the course was difficult as usual with its numerous bumps and ruts, its jumps, and its narrow turns.

	Hermann Maier

"I felt it could be my day," said Rahlves. "It was up in the air — I like this course a lot and I felt really sure of myself after my strong training runs," he explained to the journalists while being congratulated by athletes from the other teams.

After clocking the fastest time at the first part of the course, Rahlves kept pushing himself forward, even when he was almost blown out of the course in a tricky right turn situated just before the second time check.

"It was windy and the course was rough but I was incredibly relaxed and confident," Rahlves explained. "I felt comfortable on my way down even in that tough turn where the wind almost blew me out of the course. I made as many mistakes as the other skiers I guess, but I never gave up. It was my day. I'm so happy."

In a reckless and dynamic run, he showed bravado in taking more risks in the last "S" leading to the huge jump before the arrival schuss. Rahlves was able to maintain the momentum he set early in his run and ski almost as fast as established and powerful speed specialists such as Cuche, Maier and Fritz Strobl through the lower part of the course.

Rahlves lifted his arms up in the air when he saw that he set a new best time beating Cuche's mark by the length of a ski. Five years after finishing 4th here in a super G, his best result on the World Cup tour before now, the skier from California won his first-ever World Cup race in front of some of the finest skiers on the tour. He was more than happy and not so surprised.

— Patrick Lang, MountainZone.com European Correspondent