Svindal wins downhill

Aksel Lund Svindal finally won the classic Val Gardena, Italy, downhill for the first time in his career Saturday in a World Cup race that may be better remembered for a safety air bag inflating in the crash of Olympic champion Matthias Mayer. Svindal clocked 1 minute, 54.80 seconds down the Saslong course for a 0.43 advantage over Guillermo Fayed of France. Svindal’s Norwegian teammate Kjetil Jansrud finished third, 0.46 behind. Mayer lost control and spun around, flying down the hill backward, and landed hard on his right side. Manufacturer Dainese said it was the first time an air bag was inflated during a race and International Ski Federation technical expert Gunter Hujara said that the device may have saved Mayer from a spinal injury.

Swiss skier Lara Gut beat countryman Fabienne Suter by 16 seconds to win a World Cup downhill race Saturday, while American Lindsey Vonn crashed while chasing a record-equaling victory. Gut beat Vonn by just .01 seconds to win Friday’s super-combined race. This was her 15th career victory and 23rd podium. Gut, who also won a giant slalom last month in Aspen, Colo., pumped her fist with joy after crossing the line. Canadian skier Larisa Yarkiw finished third for her second career podium after second place in downhill at the Italian resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo in January. Chasing a fifth World Cup title, Vonn still holds the overall lead but Gut is now only two points behind. Vonn was looking to tie Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Proell’s record of 36 downhill victories.