L a t e s t  n e w s ..... Vonn stuns slalom specialists to win in Levi with Pieitiae Holmer second and Maria Riesch in third.... Grange wins mens race from Miller and Kostelic .... Chemmy Alcott suffers clean break of ankle in training in North America, expected to be out till New Year .... Lindsey Vonn injures left knee in training Super G in Copper Mountain, no lay off details announced

'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams' (Eleanor Roosevelt).

Steve Nyman (USA) won the second training run at the season opening speed event in Lake Louise.  The American, starting 4, finished ahead of Austrian Christoph Gruber and Sweden's  Patrik Jaerbyn.  The Austrian's had another four racers in the top ten including current Overall World Cup Champion and winner of the Slalom in Levi, Benni Raich.

Britain's Finlay Mickel placed in 34th, just under three seconds out, with Noel Baxter taking part in his first World Cup downhill finishing the training run in 68th spot, seven seconds off the pace set by Nyman.  Baxter will decide after the third training run on Friday whether to race or not. 

Fritz Strobl, Marco Buechel, Bode Miller and Hansi Grugger, all winners last year finished 11 - 14th place.  Defending World Cup downhill champion was 6th. Hermann Maier and Erik Guay, the local favourite, finished down in 28th and 29th spots. Jan Hudec, another Canadian racer started in 70th spot and came in a very commendable 27th.

The first training run was won by Christoph Gruber, Kurt Sulzenbacher second, Didier Cuche third with Miller in fourth. Mickel placed 54th and Baxter 72nd.

The first training run is a chance for the racers to learn the line and no real significance is attached to the opening throw of the dice.  Training run 3 is more important as a guide as it shows whether the course is quicker for the early racers or later racers and also who is running fast.

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