BEAVER CREEK — In the early years of World Cup racing here, the highly regarded Birds of Prey downhill belonged to the Austrian “Power Team” led by superstar Hermann Maier. Then the Americans claimed the mountain with Daron Rahlves and Bode Miller trading downhill victories four years in a row.
Now it belongs to Norwegians Askel Lund Svindal and Kjetil Jansrud, both of whom are three-time Olympic medalists.
Svindal , and when Svindal was out with a torn Achilles tendon. Svindal won Friday and Jansrud was second, 0.30 of a second behind. It was Svindal’s third downhill victory here since 2008.
Svindal, who won the season-opening downhill last week at Lake Louise, Alberta, was fastest on the 27-second flat section at the top of the mountain where good gliding skills and extra weight are an advantage. Svindal, who weighs 220 pounds, had the fastest top split. Jansrud was second and American Steve Nyman — also a 220-pounder — was third-best at the top but finished 15th.
“He was fast up top like me, and then he just didn’t make any mistakes,” Nyman said of Svindal. “The guy is really, really strong and he just threw it down the hill.”
Jansrud was faster than Svindal below the Brink, which drops off the top flat into a series of highly technical turns at speeds in excess of 75 mph, but Svindal had too much of an advantage on the top.
“It was one of the fastest Beaver Creek downhills we’ve had in many years, so it was hard to stay ahead of things,” Jansrud said. “I had a good run (but) Aksel did something unbelievable up top.”
American Travis Ganong, who won a silver medal here at the world championships last February but finished 12th Friday, agreed.
“I think his wax technician crushed it,” Ganong said. “Steve Nyman’s the best starter and glider in the world and he got beat by three 10ths on the top. (Svindal’s) skis were running and he just found so much time there. That’s where he won the race.”
It’s no surprise to see Svindal or Jansrud winning in downhill. Svindal won the World Cup downhill title in 2013 and 2014. With him out most of last season, Jansrud won it.
Andrew Weibrecht was the top American, tying for fifth.
“Sometimes, you feel great and you’re slow,” Weibrecht said. “Sometimes you’re a little loose and reckless like I was, and you just keep it running and you’re fast. I’m terrible at guessing what my time would be in downhill. That run felt good. I was definitely hanging it out. A couple of times I didn’t know if maybe I gave away too much or risked too much.”
Weibrecht is a in super-G but has never been on a World Cup podium. The men race super-G Saturday. Friday marked his career best downhill result.
“Just nice to get a good, solid result at the beginning of the season,” Weibrecht said. “This is huge.”
John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or @johnmeyer
