Kelly VanderBeek (Kitchener, ON) was quickly able to move beyond some negative memories to post the fastest time in training prior to Sunday’s FIS Alpine World Cup ladies downhill in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, AUT.
Vanderbeek, who has previously crashed in the upper section on the Weltcupstrecke Zauchensee piste, finished today’s opening training run in one minute 51.21 seconds to record the fastest time.
“The last time I skied that section I crashed actually, so I was a little bit nervous going through it. I am happy with how I dealt with that,” said Vanderbeek, who has two career World Cup DH podium results.
The last time VanderBeek had the fastest time in a training run was at the Olympic Winter Games in Turin, ITA in 2006. She went on to finish fourth in the super G and 24th in the downhill in Turin.
VanderBeek was not particularly impressed with today’s run, admitting there are still things to improve.
“I just felt like I had fairly normal first training run and then I found out that I had the best time. So it’s a nice indication that when I ski normal, fairly relaxed and confident then I am fast on this hill,” Vanderbeek said.
As for the other Canadians in the training, Britt Janyk (Whistler, BC) placed 30th with Emily Brydon (Fernie, BC) 32nd and Emilie Desforges (Montréal, QC) 34th.
The ladies event in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee gets underway on Saturday with a super combined.
