Ski Racers Try to Go Slow for a Day

Everyone will be out to win today’s Olympic downhill at Sestriere Borgata, no doubt, but that wasn’t the case in Saturday’s final training run.

In fact, some of the top ski racers were trying to figure out ways to lose.

Daron Rahlves, for instance, was upset that he went too fast, finishing tied for 10th, meaning he will start at No. 20.

“If it was perfect, I’d like to be starting like five or something like that,” he said.

“It’s one of those things -- I try to get all serious and figure it out and come down here and screw it up.”

Here’s the skinny: Today’s start will be in inverse order of the top 30 finishes in the final training run, with some adjustments for skiers who finished in the top group but won’t be skiing today.

For example, Marco Sullivan of the United States finished 18th but didn’t earn one of America’s four start slots.

The contenders, looking for start positions in the top 10, when they figure conditions will be at their premium, jockeyed for positions 20 through 30. You don’t want to go too slow, though, or else you get stuck with a start spot outside the top 30 -- not desirable.

The Austrians seem to have this slowing down all figured out. Michael Walchhofer, the World Cup leader in downhill, finished a dreadful 24th, which earned him a top-10 bib today.

Fritz Strobl, the defending downhill champion, starts fourth.

Is it any wonder the Austrians have won more Olympic medals in downhill, 16, than any country?

Confused?

Don’t worry.

Today, everyone will be trying to go fast.