Italy bid to rule alpine skiing worlds after Paris' win

KITZBUEHEL, Austria (AFP) –

Italy’s Dominik Paris speeds down the slope to win the FIS World Cup men’s downhill race in Kitzbuehel, Austrian Alps, on January 26, 2013. Paris’ second victory of the season and career came on what is undoubtedly the toughest course on the World Cup circuit, and saw him leapfrog Norwegian rival Aksel Lund Svindal into first place atop the discipline standings.

The Italian men’s ski team will head into next month’s world championships in buoyant mood after speed king Dominik Paris won the vaunted downhill race in Kitzbuehel.

Paris’ second victory of the season and career came on what is undoubtedly the toughest course on the World Cup circuit, and saw him leapfrog Norwegian rival Aksel Lund Svindal into first place atop the discipline standings.

His previous victory, tied with Austrian Hannes Reichelt, came on home snow in the Bormio classic in December on a course also regarded as a difficult proposition.

When Paris failed to hit the mark, teammate Christof Innerhofer has been on hand to himself claim two downhill victories, in Beaver Creek and Wengen.

Innerhofer, the current world super-G champion, was denied a realistic shot at a podium finish here after he was harshly adjudged by the International Ski Federation (FIS) to have broken rules following a crash in training.

His penalty for re-affixing an errant ski and proceeding to the bottom after his tumble, despite FIS claiming a yellow flag had been waved, saw him start in the disadvangeous position of 46, skiing on a track well cut up by his forerunners.

However, the fact Paris and Innerhofer have claimed four downhill victories from a possible six this season (with Svindal winning in Lake Louise and Steve Nyman in Val Gardena) bodes very well for the February 4-17 world championships in the Austrian resort of Schladming.

Italy’s Christof Innerhofer, seen after competing in the FIS World Cup men’s downhill race in Kitzbuehel, Austrian Alps, on January 26, 2013. Innerhofer, the current world super-G champion, was denied a realistic shot at a podium finish after he was harshly adjudged by the International Ski Federation to have broken rules following a crash in training.

“We did some good work in the summer and autumn,” Paris said by way of explanation of the Italian duo’s outstanding set of results.

“We have a good atmosphere within the team, and if one of the guys wins, everyone’s motivated.

“We’ll carry on doing all we can, doing our best for the upcoming races and the world championships.”

Paris said, however, that he did not consider himself the best downhiller on the circuit.

“I don’t think I’m the strongest,” the modest Paris said of his standing atop the downhill rankings. “We’ll just tot everything up at the end of the season.

“Up until now, the season’s gone well, with two victories and some consistency in the results.

“I’ve worked very hard to get there. I’m in good physical shape and I trust my skis, which means I can take more risks.”

Italy’s medal showing at the last worlds in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 2011 saw Innerhofer not only winning the super-G but claiming super-combined silver and downhill bronze.

Peter Fill, a crash victim in the downhill here, claimed super-combined bronze and Manfred Moelgg a similarly-coloured medal in the slalom to help Italy to third place in the standings behind Austria and France.

It was their best showing since the Sierra Nevada worlds in 1996, and hopes will be high that Innerhofer, Paris and co. can go one better in Schladming.