Aksel Lund Svindal is the world’s new Straight Downhill Ski Racing Champ.
On Sunday, February 11, in Are, Sweden, the Norwegian phenomenon left his adversaries far behind in the fastest race there is. Second-place finisher Canadian Jan Houdec only came in a long 72 hundredths of a second later, while hometown boy Patrik Jaerbin only succeeded in reaching the 3d step on the winners’ stand 97 hundredths of a second behind.
The author of a perfect race, Aksel Lund Svindal loves speed and therefore gives great attention to protection. Wearing Made in Dainese helmet, mask, and protections, this Dainese Team athlete left little hope indeed for anyone else in pursuit of the coveted title, even under the challenging climatic conditions that prevailed. Like so much of this Swedish World Ski Cup Competition, the straight downhill race was heavily compromised by the weather and started late due to a bank of fog halfway down the hill that held everyone up for a few minutes. By the time the end of the race rolled around, a brilliant sun was shining for the first 45-second section of the run while banks of fog came and went in the middle, precisely where the big and decisive curves all lay, and visibility was also precarious before the Finish Line, thanks to a dull, milky light that prevented the skiers from getting a good view of the bottom.