First Super-G win for Peter Fill at Kvitfjell
Aug 31, 2018·Alpine Skiing
The last regular speed week-end came to an end today at Kvitfjell (NOR), with the Super-G on the Olympiabakken course. Three experienced skiers took the spots on the podium, with Peter Fill earning the win, ahead of Hannes Reichelt and Erik Guay.
With 34 years and a very prolific career including a Kitzbuehel win and a crystal globe in downhill, Italy’s Peter Fill finally claimed his first win in his other strong discipline, the Super-G. This performance reflects his very good and constant season, that could end with another cup standings win if he makes up the 33 points that separate him from Jansrud in the downhill ranking.
"It was a long wait for me to get the first super-G win, but I'm really happy. I made a great run, no mistakes and everywhere a good line and good speed. It was perfect for me today. The whole form for the season was good, but now, in the first downhill here in Kvitfjell, I was really bad, no speed and a lot of mistakes but yesterday and today was great. I hope now to bring my performance to Aspen. It's a really important race there."
The second place went to Austria’s Hannes Reichelt, also an experienced athlete on the World Cup Tour, as the Super-G World Champion from Vail / Beaver Creek 2015 just grabbed his 40th career podium.
"I think I had a lot of luck with the sun. The first start numbers had the bad light and I think after ten or something then weather was changing and we had some sun. That was luck, good that I had luck because two days ago I had some wind and that was the reason why I wasn't so fast in downhill. The second key was skiing aggressive, especially in parts where I did a good line. On the start I was saying, 'Ok, just ski like I inspect.' I had done my inspection and didn't hear too much on the radio, that was the key."
The current World Champion of the discipline also managed to climb on the podium and took third place today in Kvitfjell.
"It's been great, you know. It's been a good weekend, fourth and sixth in the downhill, but it's always fun to leave a race series with a bit of hardware. I'm happy with the way I skied today and I'm excited to get back home to my girls. I don't feel particularly old; I think that things are going better now. I'm happy physically and technically and I'll keep charging. I think I keep improving like a fine wine."
The battle for the Super-G crystal globe is now over, as local Kjetil Jansrud was able to secure the globe thanks to his 7th place. His three consecutive wins at the beginning of the season in Val d’Isère, Val Gardena and Santa Caterina were decisive for Jansrud. Whatever happens in the last race in Aspen, Jansrud will collect his third career crystal globe, after he claimed both the downhill and super-g globe in 2015/16.
Kranjska Gora (SLO) is the next stop on the men’s World Cup Tour, with a Giant Slalom and a Slalom to be held on 4th and 5th of March.
