Val Gardena, Italy – Do you believe in Steven? The veteran Utah downhiller put a mark on his comeback on Saturday, returning to the site of his 2006 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup win to do it again on a weather shortened course.

Steven Nyman came out of the 39th start position to steal a victory on the foggy, snowy Saslong Classic on Saturday after hours of delays. It was his second career win and fourth podium, the last coming in 2007 at Beaver Creek. He missed all of last season with a torn left Achilles tendon.

“It’s just a journey – it’s always been  journey. I’ve always believed I had the speed. I hope to prove it through the year. But I guess no points to 100 points isn’t that consistent,” Nyman said. “I’m just happy to feel good again. My body’s feeling good. I had the flu, but battled that off. I had rib issues the first few races because I put it into the fence while training in Copper. The Achilles last year, the knees years before that and the back –  this is the best gift I could have.”

Solvenia’s Rok Perko and Erik Guay of Canada completed the podium in second and third, respectively. But those men faced more challenging weather conditions.

“Weather was a huge factor but hats off to Erik (Guay) and (Kjetil) Jansrud who ran in the snow and the fog,” Nyman added. “When I heard Rok (Perko) coming into the lead I said, ‘right on, it’s on, it’s open!'”

Guay’s third-place finish was Canada’s first alpine podium of the 2012-13 Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season and Guay’s 18^th career World Cup top-three result. His teammate Manuel Osborne-Paradis, of Vancouver, British Columbia, finished seventh.

“I’m pumped that from top to bottom I was attacking and skiing well. I did pretty much everything I had to do,” said Guay. “I definitely feel like I was one of the better skiers out there today. I had a little bit tougher conditions but (the late starters) took advantage of their start position well.”

Travis Ganong had a career best tenth while Marco Sullivan, who was third in the season opening downhill in Lake Louise, finished 18^th. Both are from Squaw Valley, Calif.

“I told Travis on the podium, ‘dude, you’re next.’ The kid has so much speed,” Nyman concluded. “Our team’s good. We have to get that confidence back. Having Andi (Evers) here is great. he’s an amazing coach. He has this quiet confidence about him. He teaches us what we need to do.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Audi FIS Alpine World Cup
Val Gardena, Italy – Dec. 15, 2012
Men’s Downhill