L a t e s t  n e w s ..... Heel wins Super G in Val Gardena with Defago and Jaerbyn on the podium ... Paerson wins Super combined from Hosp and Suter ... Walchhofer retains King of the Hill in Downhill, Miller 2 and Osborne Paradis 3 ... Gut wins Super G in St Moritz from Suter and Fanchini

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

The 75th Running of the Lauberhorn takes place this weekend.  In an effort to spice up the proceedings FIS have introduced a Special Combined, full rules of the new race are available on the FIS website.  Finlay Mickel was a creditable 19th on the first training run.  Daron Rahlves who crashed so spectacularly in the Adelboden Giant Slalom pushed out of the start gate and that was his work done for the day.  Rahlves was complaining of being "very sore" after the fall that saw him crash heavily in the finish area at Adelboden.

With the Combined event bringing a lot of the slalom racers into the fray it was interesting to see the likes of Giorgio Rocca taking to the longest downhill on the World Cup circuit.

It will be interesting also seeing how the Austrian team reacts to the news of Hans Knauss failing the second drugs test!  More will be revealed over the coming days!

THE RACE REPORT.....

Mickel: Honoured to open the 75^th Lauberhorn, 18^th place the result

The Lauberhorn is one of the Classic races that every downhiller wants to win.  With the 75^th running of the race, Britain’s Finlay Mickel was honoured to be first out of the gate.  With this honour also came another factor that had to be overcome: “I was nervous going number 1!” Mickel admitted, “It was the first time I have done that in a World Cup race and at such a prestigious race as well!”

In bright clear sunshine, Britain’s top downhiller took to the course full of gusto and determined to do well.  This season Mickel has forced his way into the top 30 in the world with a string of top 30 results.  Rudi Huber, Racing Manager of Atomic skis commented: “With every performance he earns more respect and attention!” Last season Mickel failed to score a single world cup point and this year apart from Beaver Creak, Mickel has been in the top 30 at each race with a best of 13^th in Bormio, Italy on the course to be used for the World Championships in February.

The nerves of going number 1 showed but Mickel admitted he “was absolutely delighted to pull it back” after making a mess of the Hundschopf jump at the top of the run.  “I was confident for the lower section,” Mickel said before adding: “My fitness is my strength though I was having trouble before the S bend coming into the finish.”  Mickel finished ahead of previous winner of the Lauberhorn Switzerland’s Bruno Kernen.

Mickel is now skiing “in a confident manner with a string of top 20 results” behind him.  When asked by Channel 4’s Nick Fellows “could we expect a top 10 in Kitzbuehel next week?” Mickel grinned and responded “In front of 60,000 drunken Austrians? I would sure love to do it there!”

This result brings Mickel into 29th in the season long standings. 

1. Michael Walchhofer (Aut)                    2.27.05
2. Christoph Gruber (Aut)                        2.27.14
3. Bode Miller (USA)                              2.27.23
 

18 Finlay Mickel (GBR)                         2.29.18