Cuche comes second in super-G

Swiss skier Didier Cuche has been pipped by Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal in the first of eight World Cup super-G races.

Svindal finished in 1 minute, 23.47 seconds, 0.23 seconds ahead of the 37-year-old Swiss at the Canadian resort of Lake Louise.

“If you want to win speed races, you’re probably going to have to beat Didier Cuche in a lot of races this year,” said Svindal, also the Lake Louise winner in 2005 and 2007.

The super-G, also called the super giant slalom, is one of two “speed” disciplines, along with the downhill. It has fewer gates set farther apart than those used in a giant slalom, which together with the slalom are known as the “technical” disciplines.

Cuche won the season-opening downhill on Saturday and tops the overall standings after three of 45 races, ahead of Svindal and Ted Ligety.

“If somebody had told me before I came here I would be first and second, I would never have believed them,” Cuche said.

Adrien Théaux of France was third in 1:24.11. Bode Miller was ninth in 1:24.84 to top the US finishers.

Falling snow and gusting wind at the top of the course reduced visibility, so organisers lowered the super-G start to what is traditionally the women’s start hut.