Alpine skiing-Kilde captures back-to-back World Cup downhill titles

(Reuters) – Aleksander Aamodt Kilde cruised to his second consecutive downhill World Cup title with a victory in Aspen, Colorado on Saturday in the penultimate race of the season.

Canadian James Crawford was 0.61 seconds behind the Norwegian as the Norwegian finished in 1:31.60. The third place finisher was Marco Odermatt, from Switzerland.

Vincent Kriechmayr, Austria was in with a good chance to win downhill but ended up fourth following a slow start.

“It is amazing to be a part of this fight with the top athletes in the world,” Kilde said.

“To be able to win the crystal globe is incredible. It is so fun and I just have to keep on pushing and try to do it next year again.”

Kilde was the winner of six of nine downhill races this season, en route for the fifth crystal globe in his career. Kilde is the first skier, male or female, to win six World Cup downhill races in one season.

According to the amiable 30 year-old, he feels at home in Aspen.

“I have been in Aspen since I was four,” He said.

“I have family here and they are always supporting. I really love them and them being here today is incredible. It could not have been much better honestly.”

After 20 years of racing, Steven Nyman was retiring after Saturday’s downhill. He has 15 World Cup podiums, three wins and three medals.

Travis Ganong, a fellow American, also retired following Saturday’s race. Ganong was 17th at Aspen after achieving six podiums in the World Cup and two wins.

(Reporting from Rory Carroll Los Angeles; Editing By Christian Radnedge