... And the 2007 Birds of Prey downhill race was no exception. Austrian gold medalist Michael Walchhofer is certainly no stranger to the World Cup podium. American silver medalist Steven Nyman began etching his mark into the Beaver Creek history books last season (when he was third in downhill) and Swiss bronze medalist Didier Cuche was bound to land on the podium after all of his phenomenal training and combined runs on the downhill course this week.
The highlight of Thursday's race, however, was American Andrew Weibrecht. The 21-year-old who only started racing on the World Cup last spring raised eyebrows with his 14th-place finish in Thursday's super-combined race at Beaver Creek.
In Friday's downhill, he was one of the last racers on course, starting with bib No. 53. It was the time in the event when spectators begin talking to people around them rather than watching the race, and all results are pretty much considered final. After Weibrecht kicked out of the gate, however, a hush fell over the crowd, followed by some deserved gasps as the relatively unknown skier flew over rollers and around gates, gathering more and more speed. Then he shot through the finish line, edging racing icon Hermann Maier out of the 10th-place spot.
An incredulous Weibrecht had no idea how well he'd done until he heard the crowd going nuts and said that even if he does nothing else in his racing career, this day will serve as a milestone for the rest of his life. Nice going, Andrew. For full downhill results, visit the International Ski Federation Site here.
The World Cup super-G is scheduled for Saturday at the Beav, but the snow was spitting all day Friday and a very storm-like gray has settled over the valley, with forecasts of 6 inches or more overnight.
We know this doesn't bode well for World Cup racing, but at the same time ... we could use it. Sorry racers, but powder will always come first in our hearts.
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