Olympic silver medallist Ivica Kostelic of Croatia won a World Cup super-combi with a nearly perfect slalom run in Austria while Calgary's John Kucera placed 13th.
Kostelic finished in two minutes, 8.09 seconds — 1.08 seconds ahead of Romed Baumann of Austria. Pierrick Bourgeat of France was third, 1.51 seconds back.
Ivica Kostelic of Croatia won Sunday's World Cup super-combi race in Austria.
(Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
This was Kostelic's eighth World Cup title and first in three years. It was also his first Top 3 finish in a combined event.
Kostelic, a technical specialist, finished seventh in the morning's super-G and then sped down the slalom in 49.03 — 0.83 faster than his nearest rival — to win his first points of the season.
Kucera's result — he crossed the line in 2:11.10 — led the Canadians, who placed four skiers in the top 30. Francois Bourque of New Richmond, Que., finished 18th, Ryan Semple of Montreal wound up 22nd and Michael Janyk of Whistler, B.C., was 26th.
"We consistently have good performances since the start of the season," said Canadian head coach Paul Kristofic. "Some guys had a good super-G, some a good slalom."
American Bode Miller was in front by 0.43 seconds at the first split time of the super-G after a typically aggressive start. But he clipped a gate with his hand in the midsection, causing him to lose his footing and crash.
The super-combi — which consists of a speed event and a one-run slalom staged the same day — was introduced two seasons ago. The traditional combination adds the times of a downhill and a classic two-leg slalom, run on different days.
Niklas Rainer of Sweden, who led after the opening run, finished seventh — his best career result.
Aksel Lund Svindal, who won the season-opening super-combi in Beaver Creek, Colo., after coming back from 20th place, was favoured to win on the Gasselhoehe track. He was 19th after the super-G, but finished sixth.
Last season's overall champion, Benjamin Raich, made several mistakes and wound up 10th.
Race stewards were struggling to groom the course after a day of rain in the valleys and a light layer of fresh snow overnight on the mountain tops. The course was last used on the World Cup circuit in 1979.
Three World Cup events have been cancelled because of unseasonably warm weather across Europe. Reiteralm was designated to replace a race in Val d'Isere, France.
