Lake Louise (AB), Canada – Italy’s Dominik Paris took the win Saturday in the men’s World Cup downhill in Lake Louise, Canada, with a time of 1:49.90. Paris barely edged Austria’s Klaus Kroell by 0.03 seconds, with France’s Adrian Theaux in third at 1:50.01. Canada’s Erik Guay and the U.S. Ski Team’s Bode Miller both took the occasion to mark their return to World Cup ski racing, finishing eighth and 16^th, respectively.

The weather in Lake Louise looked far from promising early Saturday morning, when what started as a light snowfall picked up in intensity and a thick layer of clouds lingered on the race course, but by the time the jury met at the bottom of the course following their inspection, it was clear that conditions were quickly improving and by the time the first racer, Peter Fill, left the starting gate it was clear that organizers could run a full-length race.

Paris showed that he was in no way affected by the changing conditions.

“I am very happy but it has been a difficult run for me,” Paris said in the finish area.“The middle section of the course was really bumpy but I am glad I figured out a way to keep pushing. It’s a great way to start the season and now all I can hope is that I keep skiing like this in the next races and once  the Olympics in February come around we will see how things go.”

One man focused on Sochi on Saturday was Canada’s Erik Guay. The 32-year-old from Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, returned from injury to finish eighth in Saturday’s downhill and all but punch his ticket to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The 2011 world downhill champion is the first Canadian man to meet the alpine criteria for nomination to Canada’s Olympic team, which is two top-12 finishes, one of which could be from last season. Guay had two podiums last year, including a memorable second-place finish in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

“I’m really satisfied with the result, and also to have qualified for Sochi in the first race of the season,” said Guay, who has 19 career World Cup podiums and a super G Crystal Globe but is still seeking his first Olympic medal. “Now I can move on to other things and work on progressing my skiing.”

Another racer to continue to build upon his return from injury on Saturday was Franconia, N.H.’s Bode Miller. The two-time World Cup overall champion posted the top U.S. Ski Team result in 16^th after a year’s absence from the World Cup circuit. Miller has now scored two top-twenty finishes in a row, including Saturday and the Soelden World Cup giant slalom in late October won by teammate Ted Ligety.

“Bode’s result was okay,” acknowledged U.S. Ski Team head coach Sasha Rearick. “He made some mistakes in a few critical spots and that cost him some time. In general though, I’m happy with the progression he’s made after missing all of last season.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
Lake Louise (AB), Canada – Nov. 30, 2013
Men’s Downhill