Three weeks after striking super-G gold at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, Jack Crawford raced to downhill silver on March 4 in the latest World Cup event to grace Aspen, Colo.
This is the third World Cup downhill podium in Crawford’s burgeoning career, with all of them coming this season.
Under overcast skies and in front of an energetic crowd lining the course, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC) contender started 12th and put the pedal down to reach the line in one minute and 32.21 seconds. He was bookended on the podium by elite talent: Norwegian sensation Aleksander Aamodt Kilde won gold with a dominant effort (1:31.60), and defending Olympic giant slalom king Marco Odermatt of Switzerland earned bronze (1:32.23).
With six downhill victories in nine starts, Kilde has clinched his fifth career Crystal Globe after winning two World Championship silver medals this February in France.
Meanwhile, Crawford slides into tenth in the overall World Cup standings and fifth in downhill rankings.
“It felt pretty sweet to stand on the podium again,” said Crawford in a press release. “Coming into today, I didn’t feel like I was skiing my best after the World Championships. Think I was a little drained after the big event. I managed to get up to race pace today, and this result shows me that I’m back to my 100 per-cent.”
“The World Championships win helped to alleviate some stress for me,” he added. “It was important for me to win on the world stage this season, and so accomplishing that has helped me feel confident and to enjoy the process coming into races.”
Results roundup
Three other Canadian men scored World Cup points on Saturday in Aspen, including downhill World Championships bronze medalist Cameron Alexander (North Vancouver) who finished 22nd, Jeffrey Read (Canmore, Alta.) in 28th and Broderick Thompson (Whistler) in 30th. Another North Vancouverite, Kyle Alexander, rounded out Canada's contingent in 55th.
Not with the team is Brodie Seger, who is rehabilitating a torn ACL and lateral meniscus after suffering the season-ending injury at the World Championships.
