Michael Walchhofer races to the fastest time in Friday's final downhill training run at Lake Louise. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

Austrian alpine skier Michael Walchhofer was the fastest man down the mountain on the final day of training for the opening event of the World Cup speed season at Lake Louise, Alta.

Walchhofer, who finished first in the World Cup downhill standings last season and had the second fastest time in the opening downhill training run at Lake Louise, blazed down the course Friday in a time of one minute 50.66 seconds.

"It's always important to have a good season start," Walchhofer told reporters after his run.

American Bode Miller, who was sixth in the opening training session Wednesday, finished second on Friday with a time of 1:51.25.

Calgary native John Kucera was fourth fastest in 1:51.63.

"I think I skied strong, solid everywhere. I addressed those issues I had in the first run, those sections, and I skied them much better," said Kucera, who finished 14th on Wednesday.

"I think for [Saturday] the biggest thing is going to be just to ski those new lines in a much more aggressive way. I think I can find a lot more time out there still."

Thursday's training run was cancelled due to heavy snowfall. The downhill race at Lake Louise will be held Saturday with the opening super-giant slalom of the season scheduled for Sunday.

Kucera won the super-giant slalom at Lake Louise in 2006 and finished second in the event here last year. He also became the first Canadian man to win the downhill event at the world championships last season, and says he feels confident heading into the weekend events.

"I feel good. I think things are heading in the right direction. I feel strong on my skis, I feel confident, I feel comfortable," he said. "The big things for me to find my time — they're not technical ski things, they're just maybe tactical mistakes here and there."

Switzerland's Didier Cuche, who posted the fastest time during the Wednesday session, placed eighth on Friday with a time of 1:52.37.

Robbie Dixon, the Whistler, B.C., resident who finished fourth on Wednesday, was well back on Friday. He put in a time of 1:53.92, good for 52nd place.

Dixon, the 28th skier to go down the hill Friday, said he had difficulty navigating the three-kilometre course after the beaming sun that lit up the terrain for the first dozen or so skiers suddenly disappeared.

"That's racing — that's out of your control and you've got to make the best of it. Unfortunately, I wasn't on the right side of the sunshine there," he said.

Manuel Osborne-Paradis also said he had some trouble seeing where he was going. The Whistler, B.C., resident was disqualified during his run for missing a gate.

"I think the light is the most crucial thing there is in ski racing. It changes a lot," he said.

"Some people had light, some people didn't. I was actually kind of happy with where I was because I had a little bit of light, I had a little bit of contrast around the gates but it wasn't as easy as just the sun being all over it."

Asked how he feels about his prospects for the weekend, as well as those of the team, Osborne-Paradis said he's confident: "I think we're right where we need to be as a whole team. I think we're good, we're still young."

Osborne-Paradis and Kucera are both 25 years old. Dixon is 24.

Erik Guay, an elder statesman at the ripe old age of 28, finished 21st Friday with a time of 1:52.91 and he was far from satisfied with his performance.

"I'm trying to build on what I have in place already. Still struggling a little bit. It wasn't a great run by any means," said the Mont-Tremblant, Que., resident.

"The intensity needs to get a little bit stronger as well. I need to find that race feel where I can really push it and attack it but my confidence isn't quite there to take those aggressive lines."

Like Osborne-Paradis, Guay said he's confident about the team's chances for the upcoming World Cup season.

"I'm excited about the team for sure. I look at some of the younger guys, like Robbie Dixon," he said. "I think he's going to be one to watch for this weekend."

Among other Canadians, Louis-Pierre Helie of Berthierville, Que., was tied for 19th in 1:52.90; Tyler Nella of Toronto was tied for 41st in 1:53.75; and Jan Hudec of Calgary was 53rd in 1:53.95.