Kitzbuehel - Downhill Ski Sunday

The Streif. It is the daddy of all

downhills. The most feared, the most

revered. It is a fortress. The

biggest of spectacles. Never

underestimate it. Attack is the best

form of defence. It is make... Or

break. It pushes the body to the

absolute limits. Risk versus reward.

Anything less than 100%, and you are

beat. Who dares wins.

Instead of

banging out these cliches, shall we

actually see what happens on the

Streif?

Sounds like a great idea.

Hello and welcome to Kitzbuhel.

We're here for the most talked

about, most feared, most thrilling

race on the World Cup calendar.

There's a reason why those cliches

exist - years of racing

on the Streif has taught us

that they're all true.

So we're hoping you'll

forgive us for being a tad

excited about this one.

And if that's not enough for you,

later on we'll have highlights

of the women's racing from Cortina.

It's the biggest race

on the women's tour,

and they've got two downhills

for the price of one

after the cancelled race

from Val D'Isere before Christmas

was re-arranged for Friday.

First though it is the Hahnenkamm.

The race marks the return

of Aksel Lund Svindal to Kitzbuhel,

whose trouble on the Streif in 2016

resulted in two knee

surgeries and a lengthy

period on the sidelines.

Graham's been to meet

the big Norwegian.

It is one of those places, when you

drive into the valley before the

race you are excited because it's

Kitzbuhel but you know it's going to

be uncomfortable on the starting

gate, that is how it is. Kitzbuhel

is legendary for good reasons. When

you ski, you feel how difficult it

is because it's kind of like driving

in Monte Carlo with a Formula One

car. On the racetrack if you go out

maybe you go onto some sand, but

otherwise you hit the wall, and it

is like that in Kitzbuhel. It is

rare to just hit some gates. That

kind of shows why the intensity is

higher, right?

Do you ever get

dreams in the middle of the summer

racing it?

If I do, it is probably

more nightmares.

Aksel Lund Svindal

is ready to tackle the Streif...

How nervous will you be going back,

having not skied on that course

since you crashed there couple of

seasons ago?

Nervous for sure. This

is not going to be famous last words

or anything, I think I have good

mentality in the sense that when

something happens like that, I never

blamed it on bad luck or anything I

cannot control because that makes me

nervous but I always blame myself. A

lot of the other guys skied that

section and pulled it off. I tried

to skied it fast and I didn't pull

it off so I just have to make sure I

don't do that same mistake.

don't do that same mistake.

Svindal

is out to prove he is the number

one. He is second!

From results this

season, you would assume you are

back and skiing at 100% but it is

far from that, is it, with the knee?

In races it is 100% but the

preparations are different than they

have been in the past. I have raced

all the races but I haven't had two

days of training. That's between

races, the knee is swelling up and

some paint and that's what I've been

able to handle. It is not an ideal

situation but you know, I am an

experienced guy so still able to

pull it off.

A very insightful

interview.

You touched on it last week, Gra,

but Aksel is basically

saying he's not doing

the training runs properly.

Does that not put him

at a significant disadvantage?

It is definitely a disadvantage but

Svindal has such experience on these

downhill courses he can exist on

muscle memory, but it is very

wearing having a swollen knee so I

get the feeling he cannot do this

for ever.

Beat Feuz is in great

form, isn't he?

He was in the lead, three quarters

of a second up but ran wide in the

compression onto the Traverse and

then stacked it into the net so he

will have the mental block to get

over.

Looking at the World Cup

standings, Feuz and Svindal are

opening a gap between them and the

rest of the pack, will this mirrors

the standings?

Dominik Paris is the

only other race to record a victory

but this is Kitzbuhel, there are so

many people who want to win this. It

is more important than an Olympic

medal to some of them. The Italians

are flying as well on this course.

Who is going to win?

I'm going to go

with last year's winner, Dominik

Paris. If he can get his glide on,

he will be up there for sure.

It is

time to get the race under way, like

the fans we return every year and we

know that experience is vital and

mistakes can be catastrophic but

victory here is glorious. There is

nothing quite like the Hahnenkamm.

The toughest course in the world!

Oh, that's horrible! What run!

Plunging down.

Plunging down. The greatest race of

all!

all!

Over a metre of new snow has

fallen over the last few days but

hundredths of course workers have

been here scraping it off, down to

this, sheet ice.

Hard on the lest ski as you come

through the first turn. -- the left

ski. Straight down into the

compression. Through the

compression, setting up for the

carousel. You can either ride on the

bank like that

bank like that or stick your ski

into the turn. Stay high on the

line. Do everything you can to stay

out of that net. Now you are out

onto the gliding section which gives

you a chance to catch your breath.

New snow on the course, just cut the

speed down ever so slightly. As you

go over the rise. It is rough and

bumpy again down here. Heading

towards this rough area.

towards this rough area. This turn

here is so crucial to carry the

speed in the mid part of the course.

Now I suspect Aksel Lund Svindal

might be a little nervous coming

into this section, and he's not the

only one because it is the Hausberg.

Over the jump, down and into the

compression. Hard on that right ski.

Over the role, taking a high line on

this bumpy Traverse. Last jump!

Flying towards it now. Oh my word,

it is fast down here. Great speed

off that last jump. Wow! My word! It

has frozen solid on the lower part

of the course and the speed is

really, really high. It is going to

be a test again! Over to Matt

Chilton for the commentary.

COMMENTATOR: Downhill day in

Kitzbuhel is the most important

skiing event of the year in Austria.

45,000 people have gathered for the

greatest occasion in winter sport,

man versus the Streif. An Austrian

will open the race for 2018.

Reichelt is away. Hard on the right

foot. 91 kilometres per hour, a

flight of 38 metres. 105 kilometres

per hour his exit speed with the

carousel turn, one of the hardest

turns in World Cup ski racing.

Stands hard on that left ski, this

is where Miller wrote the

advertising banner several years

ago. Now we will find Reichelt

further down the course. Smooth

flight. Around the minute mark,

still a lot of skiing below. Flies

and lands gently off there, now

comes into Hausberg, the big

inflatable arch. Has to get the

flight correct, has to land solidly

and give himself a high line.

Heading on to the famous bumpy

Traverse. Reichelt was a winner here

back in 2014, then he injured

himself and wasn't able to head to

the Olympics in Sochi. That was a

little scruffy on the landing. On

the big Traverse, lower than he

might like but keeping control.

There is a long there, a little

airborne. One final jump to go. Look

at the scenes here in Kitzbuhel.

Reichelt has won this race on home

snow before.

snow before. I think that is a very

good run from him.

Innerhoffer. Fell last weekend. He

covers a distance of 38 metres

airborne. He is ahead of Reichelt.

Airborne...

Airborne... Nicely done, off into

the forest. Half a second up, and

intermediate number too and

Innerhoffer is not far away from

Reichelt's time. Has to get the good

line into the big jump with that

awkward landing. One of the most

feared elements anywhere in the

world of ski

world of ski racing, the Hausberg

cantor, and the big Traverse that

follows. These are smooth turns.

follows. These are smooth turns. He

is low in the line, recovers but is

going to be in trouble on the

Traverse. So high, clattered the

control gate. Now he's in real

bother. He's done the double, he has

fallen again in Kitzbuhel.

A perfect run on the top part of the

course. He likes it hard and icy but

on the lower section he just went

for it. Came over the Hausberg, got

late in the line. He actually hit

the gate he was so high. Left it too

late, then his outside ski went up

into the air, we call that a Ninja

kick but thankfully he's OK. This is

the best downhiller of the season so

far, Aksel Lund Svindal, the veteran

Norwegian wearing the red beard, the

leader in the downhill standings.

Hot on the heels of Reichelt. He has

never won the Kitzbuhel downhill but

did win the super-G. The super-G on

Friday was a peculiar affair, ending

at the Hausberg cantor. He's

desperate for downhill success. To

make him one of the all-time greats.

Two Darren Hill wins this season. He

would give those up for success

today. He has won 14 downhill races

in total.

in total. Svindal gets set for the

cantor, this is far he crashed at

the end of his season with knee

damage two years ago. He might be

paying the price were that caution

as he comes onto the big Traverse.

The Austrians are happy, his lead is

safe. Svindal will not win in 2018.

He may have to return for another go

next year. How close can he go? It

is good enough for second,

provisionally.

provisionally. Down the area he was

quite good. Just went wide going on

to the jump and as he went over the

jump, he took a split from the gas.

Beat Feuz is something of a star in

Switzerland. He is picking up awards

and mixing with the likes of Roger

Federer, can he take victory today?

Beat Feuz from Switzerland. Can he

do Kitzbuhel double?

46 metres of flight. He has got to

grips with the Streif this year.

Eating up the ground here. He is a

massive unit, Beat Feuz. Dabbles

with the netting but gets away with

it and as we pick him up further

down the chorus, he is travelling at

86 kilometres per hour.

86 kilometres per hour. Beat Feuz

was in danger of having his leg

amputated. He had a terrible run of

injuries, blood poisoning was the

culprit. Look at him now. All

courses for that Kitzbuhel double

potentially. He is closing in. The

Swiss would love to get one over on

the Austrians on the most famous

Austrian mountain of all. Beat Feuz

swings in towards the Hausberg

cantor. That is how to do it. The

line on the Traverse is high, it is

perfect, he has got the green light.

This speed is good. A massive jump,

took it in his stride. Now the final

roller, Beat Feuz for Switzerland,

high, elegant, and first in

Kitzbuhel. Beat Feuz is on for it

the Kitzbuhel double. He really

attacked it. He complained that the

jobs are going too far but on that

run he went for it, 46 metres, nails

the top part of the course. Lost a

little bit of time on the glide but

picked it up brilliantly on the

lower part of the course. Next

Austrian to take his chance

Austrian to take his chance Vincent

Kriechmayr. Kriechmayr sets out to

attempt to conquer Kitzbuhel. That

is good. That is vast. Long flight,

40 metres, look at the speed and

commitment from Kriechmayr and the

green light is on. He has an

advantage of a quarter of a second.

As he approaches the Steihang, needs

to stand hard on the left foot and

avoid any contact. He got away with

it and heads into the forest, has a

lead of three tenths of a second.

Kriechmayr gliding nicely. A chance

to refuel.

to refuel. The Austrians wait and

they have seen that, half a second.

Now the noise levels start to rise

at the foot as Kriechmayr starts to

exert control over his Kitzbuhel

downhill run. It is getting better

for Kriechmayr. .79 in front. He has

got to hold it together here. Get as

close as he dares to these red

control gates. Keep up this speed,

still really positive, .64,. He has

got to get the line right on the way

in towards the big jump that takes

them the Traverse. The landing has

to be soft and high, Kriechmayr,

that is all he has got left. Onto

the Traverse, a little lower than is

ideal. Has he got the strength to

claw this bag, outside of the blue

racing line, that might have cost

him the chance to lead. Vincent

Kriechmayr and Austria goes for the

line in the fog.

When those green

lights were going on for Vincent

Kriechmayr, the Austrian crowd were

going wild.

But they know that when

you come onto that Traverse you need

to be high and up by the gate so you

can carry this speed. He was about

ten metres low and off-line and that

is where he lost the race. In the

start-up is Thomas Dressen. Of the

piste he loves the great outdoors.

Can he cascade down the Streif and

make a big splash with victory in

Kitzbuhel? Number 19 Thomas Dressen

from Germany. He is on his way in

Kitzbuhel. Crashed out of this

competition 12 months ago. Finished

third in Beaver Creek in December.

That is one of the other really

tough World Cup downhill races in

Colorado. Then level with Beat Feuz

at the early intermediate guideline

times, he comes diving down towards

the Steihang. He races for Germany

but he grew up training in Austria.

He is sponsored by an Austrian ski

resort where his father died

tragically in a ski lift accident in

2005. One of eight people who

perished after a helicopter dropped

a concrete block on top of a cable

car. The most horrific day in the

mountains. Now Thomas Dressen is

moving along nicely. Good gliding

through the forest. No German has

won World Cup downhill for 13 years,

the last man to win in Kitzbuhel won

in 1979. His son is racing later in

the competition. He is watching

today. He was from West Germany and

1979, that is how long it has been.

Thomas Dressen holding it together,

he has got sunshine to show the way,

he has a window in the weather and

he can take more chances. He has got

a tenth of a second on the Traverse,

he has still got the green light.

Last section now, Thomas Dressen

from Germany, skiing to make a

little bit of history in Kitzbuhel.

He tucks in for the line, Thomas

Dressen takes first position! By two

tenths of a second. So unfortunate

for a Thomas Dressen because the sun

has come out, because he was ranked

tenth in the world, 19 was the

number was left that no one wanted,

but this has counted, he took his

opportunities, skied brilliantly at

the top and as he came on to the

final Traverse he was high and that

was the difference between his run

and his competitor, he could carry

it to the finish and what a way to

come into the finish. In the lead,

incredible.

incredible. Another German now this

is Andreas Sander encouraged out of

the start by the German team.

the start by the German team. 43

metres, long flight for Andreas

Sander and he is not far behind his

team-mates, the Germans mean

business here today.

business here today. The investment

into the German ski team is

beginning to bring dividends. Off he

goes into the woods and hot on the

heels of his team-mate, that is a

massive jump into the sunshine off

the counter. The weather was good

for Thomas Dressen and it is good

for his team-mate as well he has

flattened the control gate, that has

probably cost him the lead but he

may still register a personal best.

Andreas Sander is theirs and the

Germans are on fire. Andreas Sander

into fifth place. This race is far

from over. If the track starts to

speed up as well we could see the

biggest surprise in Kitzbuhel

history.

history. This is Marc Gisin from

Switzerland, his sister is the

women's Olympic downhill champion.

He shared the -- she shared the gold

medal in Sochi. Marc Gisin is

returning from injury and returning

from form. He has still got sunshine

to help show the way. Down the

Streif and he has made a good start.

The Swiss had the late for a long

time courtesy of Beat Feuz. Could

Marc Gisin give the Swiss another

chance at victory in Kitzbuhel?

Here's a little scruffy there. Hands

down on the snow as he gets thrown

around on the big Traverse. Stands

on the left ski and takes the little

roller. And now tucks in for the

line. I don't think he will win it,

but it could be Olympic selection

for Marc Gisin. That was an

impressive run for Marc Gisin

because the sun which came out for a

Thomas Dressen has now gone back in

again. Marc Gisin really fast,

attacked the whole run from start to

finish. It was a disappointing day

for the defending champion who had

an uncharacteristically scrappy run

which left in 11th position. On the

podium with him 12 ago was the

Frenchman and he had a less

accessible day as he fell victim to

trouble on the Streif. Also losing

the battle was American Jared

Goldberg.

Goldberg. Finally on a day of

surprises, the relatively unknown

Frenchman nipped in to finish in

seventh place. Confirmation of an

unforgettable day for Thomas

Dressen. He is their champion in

Kitzbuhel.

Kitzbuhel. They say you need

experience to win in Kitzbuhel but

last year, you did not even make the

finish here.

That is what they told

me. You need a lot of experience. I

watched someone, he is a real role

model to me. I thought it was not a

bad run and I tried to do the same

as he did. When I looked out of the

start gate, I thought it looked

really good and I tried to push from

the top to the bottom.

While the fastest men in the world

have been competing in Kitzbuhel,

the women's World Cup

is in Cortina, Italy.

Chemmy Alcott has been there for us

to endulge in a feast of racing.

This is one of the toughest

challenges on the women's World Cup

circuit. Set in the inspiring

Dolomites, the athlete start by

launching themselves towards the top

section of the course, which is

relatively easy but then they have

to tackle this ball away, really

difficult left footed double. The

toughest and most challenging part

of this course is this. The racers

enter with a relatively serene 30

mph before launching up to 75 mph in

a matter of seconds. This year it is

even tougher with double airtime. On

the exit, you have a jump. The exit

of this double it is imperative that

the athletes, tied to set themselves

up for the technical session

following. It is also where Lindsey

Vonn crashed twice in the races here

one year ago. We call this the money

gate, because of the two rain coming

into it, the athletes cannot see the

gate, they have to make the switch

in the air are blind. As if the

challenge was not difficult enough,

the girls had to do it twice in two

days this weekend.

A little over the tales of their

skis but she gets away with it.

Floats that jump away. Chasing the

time of the current leader,

Schmidhoffer of Austria. Building

all the way. The finale to come,

this man-made jump celebrating

Cortina's hosting of the 2021 World

Championships, Goggia is into the

lead.

She comes in with a second

lead. She doesn't normally like this

run but that was super clean and

superfast.

The incredible Mikaela

Shiffrin from Colorado, still in her

early 20s. The Olympic and world

slalom champion has developed into a

downhill skier. She was in front of

Goggia. Mikaela Shiffrin is flying.

She has got the quickest speed of

the race so far. 131.3 kilometres

per hour as she stands on the right

ski for this huge sweeping turn. 101

through the second speed trap,

trailing Goggia by 7.4. It's looking

like it might be good enough for a

top three finish for Mikaela

Shiffrin. Second for the moment. The

great Lindsey Vonn, wearing number

13 today. Familiar fiddling with the

hands around the ski pole handles.

78 World Cup winds in her

78 World Cup winds in her career. --

wins. 135 kilometres per hour, a

little wild there. It is an unusual

racing line, let's see if it pays

dividends for Lindsey Vonn. She's

absolutely charging.

absolutely charging. 56.97. Her

mistake has cost her a little bit of

time but it is still green for the

American. Some mistakes have crept

into Lindsey Vonn's downhill. Goggia

leading for Italy, Mikaela Shiffrin

second for the USA, Lindsey Vonn has

completed her run and goes into

second. She has missed the win. Two

Americans on the podium now.

She

nailed the top section of that

course, then huge mistakes getting

caught on the back on the inside ski

and a really good fight to stay

inside the course but it through her

race away and she came into second.

I'm really happy with what I've

achieved as a result, not so happy

with my ski performance but still I

attacked in style and we got it.

Mancuso Has made the difficult

decision to retire after struggling

with a hip injury for the last few

years.

After 36 podiums and four

Olympic medals, how did you decide

today was it?

It was really hard but

skiing has been a huge part of my

life, I love it but unfortunately

with an injury it has held me back

but everything else is great. It's

been an incredible journey, I love

travelling, I love the experiences I

have made and I will continue just

to be involved in the future as best

I can and figure out where the next

journey will take me.

Goggia

claiming her first ever home victory

today making it back to back wins in

downhill. Setting us up beautifully

for another battle tomorrow. Yet

again, Cortina delivers four-day two

of racing. Goggia attributed her win

to the tough piste.

Wearing the red bib, and what a

beautiful day in Cortina on this

Saturday. Her team-mate leading the

way at this stage.

way at this stage. Goggia is in

trouble. What a recovery! Her airbag

has inflated. Skiers wear these

protective airbags within their

suits. She's all right.

suits. She's all right. Weirather

from fantastic ski racing pedigree,

both of her parents were World Cup

winners and her mother was an

Olympic medallist as well. She races

for Lipton

-- Liechtenstein. Weirather, putting

down a fantastic run. 1.2 seconds

clear of the leader at the base of

the mountain. All she has to do is

stay on her feet, and Weirather will

lead the way in Cortina. Nearly a

second and a half quicker. Lindsey

Vonn was second on Friday,

determined to go one better in this

Saturday downhill. The way she goes.

78 World Cup wins to her name, will

79 come today? The early signs are

promising, four tenths faster than

Weirather at the intermediate. And

Weirather's lead may well be about

to end. She hammers towards the

finishing line, on her way

potentially to World Cup win number

79. Off the final jump, and home.

Yes, she has got it. Nearly one

second. Lindsey Vonn in a different

class, leading in Cortina.

Capitalising on the amazing

conditions, full of confidence,

skiing flawlessly from top to

bottom. On the limit with the inside

hand down but a fantastic run there.

Number 14, the American Jacqueline

Wiles who was struggling for

financial support to race on the

World Cup. So Lindsey Vonn made her

first ambassador of the Lindsey Vonn

foundation. On course potentially

for a podium place. She's in

trouble, she's got them sideways,

then aerial! Somehow she stayed on

the track. What a run from

Jacqueline Wiles! It is still fast.

It has been fun to watch, she will

be relieved when it finishes. So

Lindsey Vonn leading the way here in

Cortina as Jacqueline Wiles comes

off the final jump and on the podium

again she's third!

Was that the

perfect run?

It was pretty solid. I

was happy with the way I skied, more

clean than yesterday. Just really

happy with my performance. I have

really good self confidence now and

I'm in a perfect place going into

the Olympics.

Are you gutted in the

little way that Goggia didn't finish

and you couldn't have a clean

battle?

Yes, we are really

competitive and she knows what's

coming but she knew I would be

charging today. I think she pushed

the limits and that's what happens

with ski racing. I almost pushed it

too far yesterday but she will be

tough for the rest of the season and

especially the Olympics.

Another

epic weekend of racing here from

Cortina. Goggia yesterday taking her

first ever home victory, and today

Lindsey Vonn one step closer to

those record books.

Kristofferson took his first win of

the season, beating Marcel Hirscher

into second. It is that time of year

when the ski racing comes thick and

fast. On Tuesday, Ski Sunday Extra

has live coverage of this famous

night slalom from Schladming. It is

loud, brash, and a race that always

delivers. Watch it live on the red

button, online and on your connected

TV. Lizzy Yarnold narrowly missed

out on a medal as she finished

fourth. It was her best result since

her bronze medal last November. Now

it is time for ski social.

After last week's feature

on Chase, the snowboarder

with additional needs,

we've had a couple of amazing videos

sent our way to further prove

that the slopes are for everyone.

This is Oscar, aged 9,

catching a ride with Stefan

from the Swiss ski school

in Saenenmoser - the shreaks

of delight tell you everything

you need to know.

I've had a go on one of those.

It is so much fun.

And Rachel has sent in a video

of her incredible 10-year-old

daughter Eilidh, who's completely

blind but has been skiing,

following a voice amplifier

and her guide Jamie.

We absolutely love this.

Please keep sending your

pictures and videos in.

There's always a great variety

of terrain, styles and skill,

and we welcome everyone

on Ski Social.

Use the hashtag Ski Sunday.

And don't be shy or embarrassed -

we're just as likely

to show a fail or fall,

especially if you can get back up

again like Ben here.

Keep your questions coming too -

we always get a few

after you've done a course run.

Mike wants to know if you get

more than one go at it,

and Sarah's been asking why you do

it with a handheld camera

instead of a helmet cam?

A helmet mount would make things

easier

A helmet mount would make things

easier because I could use two poles

but it would make uncomfortable

viewing back home. For the forward

facing camera I use this stabiliser

which keeps the camera steady. The

ski tip camera shows how bumpy it

is, this uses duct tape because

otherwise it would come flying off

like it did ten years ago. To answer

Mike's question, I only get one go

at it before the race starts.

What's

interesting to me is watching

Graham's testosterone and adrenaline

levels going from normal to beast

mode. Thankfully they return to

normal, whatever that is, when he

takes the downhill skis off.

There

will be no need for those skis next

week because we are in Schladming.

In front of 50,000 screaming fans.

We will be tasked with following all

of the action as the chaos unfolds.

Yep, it's certainly a unique

challenge for us all,

but we wouldn't have

it any other way.

See you then.

COMMENTATOR: The noise is

astonishing!