THE CANADIAN PRESS
LAKE LOUISE, Alta. — Julia Mancuso of the United States had the fastest time in Wednesday’s first day of training for this weekend’s opening women’s downhill race of the World Cup season while Canada’s Emily Brydon was left bruised and bleeding after a bizarre fall.
Brydon, of Fernie, B.C., had her ski tear apart soon after landing a jump on the 2.8-kilometre men’s Olympic downhill course. She was thrown face first into the rock-hard course, leaving her with a chin that looked like it had been scraped by sandpaper and a nose that oozed blood. But her sense of humour survived unscathed.
"Maybe I need a bigger rack to cushion the fall," Brydon said with a laugh.
Brydon’s ski was split in half from the tip right down to the bindings. It looked like a banana that had been peeled.
"I’ve never seen that before," she said. "I was in the compression and all of a sudden I had no ski and I went face first, thus the rosy chin.
"Usually when you fall the skis hit in weird ways and (breaks). I think it’s one of those things that is a freak thing."
The 27-year-old was asked what advice she’d give younger skiers who find themselves in the same situation.
"Lift your head," she said.
Kelly VanderBeek of Chilliwack, B.C., was the fastest Canadian in training, finishing fourth while Britt Janyk of Whistler, B.C., was fifth.
Mancuso, who had two downhill victories and a super-giant slalom win last season, was timed in one minute 51.25 seconds. A pair of Austrians finished behind her with Elisabeth Goergl second in 1:51.51 while Maria Holaus was third in 1:52.01.
VanderBeek, who earned the only podium finish of her career with a third in super-G here last year, was timed in 1:52.22 while Janyk was clocked in 1:52.38..
VanderBeek, who grew up in Kitchener, Ont., is skiing with a cast protecting a broken left wrist. The injury makes it difficult for her to have a good start.
"The biggest area where there’s the trouble is out of the start gate pushing, because you really want to use your wrists," she said. "It’s not a steep start here, it’s flat so you really have to push.
"I’ve got to the point now where I’m not losing any time."
Janyk, who had two fourth-place finishes in super-G last year, said today’s run was just to get the feel of the course again.
"You want to feel out the long skis again," she said. "Our goal as a team is to come out strong right from the first training run. We know this hill and we skied it a lot. We were forerunners for the guys last week so we have those first-run jitters out of the way. We’re ready to figure things out."
American Lindsey Vonn, who has won four races here and been second once, was 14th in training in 1:52.97.
"I come back with a lot of confidence," said Vonn, who changed her name from Kildow after getting married over the summer. "I don’t question myself. I know I’m fast here and just try and ski my best."
Vonn, the defending Lake Louise downhill champion, had an operation on her left knee over the summer.
"I’m back stronger than ever," she said. "I have no problems."
Another woman who loves racing at Lake Louise is Renate Goetschl. The Austrian has won five races here dating back to 1998.
"It’s good to come back here," she said. "It’s a nice course and it’s good for starting races here. I like it here."
The 32-year-old doubts if she will keep racing until the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
"I don’t think so, it’s too long," she said.
Goetschl hinted she may retire at the end of this season.
"We will see after this season what will happen," she said..
Two other Canadians, both from Calgary, were among the 67 finishers. Danielle Poleschuk was 35th in 1:54.93 while Sherry Lawrence was 43rd in 1:55.05.
The downhill will be held Saturday followed by a super-G Sunday..