The men’s downhill final could not be run due to track and weather conditions. The Finnish alpine skiing star had clear tunes for spring.
It should have been Sunday Elian Lehto the day he counts for the first time in the World Cup finals. The great Finnish success of the alpine skiing season had earlier in the winter cleared a place for the climax of the men’s downhill.
However, the 23-year-old calculator’s dream was shattered this time, as the competition was canceled due to bad weather conditions. According to Lehto, the decision was regrettable but understandable.
Among other things, the strong wind and the track, which was in poor condition, played tricks.
– It would have been great to count. Too bad it turned out that way. However, there would have been no chance, because the track was already in such bad shape during the inspection.
According to Lehto, the track was driven too soft.
– It was just sugar and balls all over the hill. Even if the weather had been perfect, it would have been impossible to race.
Levi’s trip
Lehto made Finnish history this season by reaching 11th place in the World Cup men’s downhill twice in Kitzbühel, Austria. No Finnish man has been able to do better in the World Cup downhill.
Riitta Ollikka was tenth in women’s downhill 51 years ago.
He also reached the best of his career in super-G, being 18th in Norway’s Kvitfjell.
– It’s a really good feeling. For next year, the number on the world list is 25. Let’s do duun and be better next season, says Lehto.
Lehto heads to Levi next.
– I’ll take oxygen for a couple of weeks and then I’ll go to Levi for a count. Hard work until May Day. We’ll probably go to the beach somewhere.
For regular trampers, Levi’s trip means a fun and light holiday trip. Not for Lehto.
– Everyone knows that Levi is a pretty brutal place. There is training, training and training. On the other hand, in a slightly different sense than many others, Lehto carved.
Men’s World Cup final scores:
1) Marco Odermatt, Switzerland 1947
2) Loic Meillard, Switzerland 1,073
3) Manuel Feller, Austria 952
Final points of the Skydiving Cup:
1) Marco Odermatt, Switzerland 552
2) Cyprien Sarrazin, France 510
3) Dominik Paris, Italy 342
…
25) Elian Lehto, Finland 73