Svindal scorches to Val Gardena super-G win

VAL GARDENA, Italy: Norwegian veteran Aksel Lund Svindal scorched to victory in Friday’s World Cup super-G in Val Gardena on a great day’s ski racing for the “Attacking Vikings”.

The 35-year-old, a two-time overall World Cup champion (2007, 2009) and Olympic gold medallist in the super-G (2010) and downhill (2018), clocked 1min 28.65sec, starting with bib number 13.

It was Svindal’s 36th victory on the circuit and 17th in the super-G. It was also his seventh victory (five super-G, two downhills) on the Saslong course nestled high in the southern Tyrol Dolomites of Northern Italy.

“One happy crew in Italy!! Feels great with the first win of the season,” Svindal posted on Instagram.

Italian Christof Innerhofer, 33, was edged into second by 0.05sec as racers topped speeds of 115kph (71mph) in clear conditions in temperatures of -9 degrees Centigrade (16F).