The Aspen run was once firmly in Swiss hands

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Graubünden downhill champion Dani Mahrer experienced many good things in Aspen, but also one particularly ugly moment. “I will never forget how my Austrian colleague Helmuth Höflehner ripped the skis apart on the descent. After he fell, it looked like he was trying to brake with his head in the slush. His face looked awful afterwards!”

Downhill skiing at the posh Colorado ski area was an integral part of the World Cup calendar in the 1980s and 1990s before being replaced by the “Birds of Prey” at Beaver Creek. Now she’s back in the program as FIS President Johan Eliasch has endured a second North American tour after the traditional Lake Louise and Beaver Creek races.

Last Swiss victory in 1992

The Swiss have designed the “Aspen Downhill Run” in a special way. Peter Müller has won here four times (double downhill in 1982, 1985 and 1986). Pirmin Zurbriggen triumphed in 1987, Karl Alpiger in 1988 and Franz Heinzer in 1991. And in 1992 it was Dani Mahrer who was responsible for the last Swiss victory in Aspen.

The now 61-year-old is as happy as a little boy that this track is experiencing its World Cup revival this week. “This is a really cool descent,” enthuses Mahrer, detailing this route: “After a completely flat start section of about 40 seconds at 3,400 meters above sea level, there is a transition to the steep “Aztec” with many long bends.

Swiss back on the road soon

Total action is guaranteed here for about forty seconds. After the compression it goes into the “Summerway” where you can grab another ten seconds before you get going again in the last six tight corners to the finish.”

Stefan Rogentin and Marco Odermatt quickly became friends with the new descent during the first practice. Rogentin loses 44 hundredths of the best time to Andreas Sander (De), superstar Marco Odermatt is only three hundredths slower than his teammate. Debutant Franjo von Allmen is also doing very well, 1.31 seconds behind.

Source : Blick