Most people have no idea who he is. This doesn’t seem to bother Daron Rahlves each time he crosses the downhill or giant slalom finish lines with times on the level of past gold medalists. On the slopes, his intensity is unmatched. Off the slopes, he’s as cool as the icy powder all his competitors seem to be eating in his wake.
"I'm definitely flying under the radar a little bit," Rahlves told freelance writer Andrew Hood after his victory. "That's fine with me. I'm happy with the respect I get."
Those are humble words from the little man who taught the Austrians, typically kings of the slope, how to dance on snow in 2003. The Austrian home mountain is a mighty pile of rock and ice known as Kitzbuehel. It serves as the site of the Hahnenkamm course, largely considered the toughest—and most dangerous—downhill course in the world.
Rahlves became the first American to win on the Hahnenkamm in 2003 and then schooled the Austrians again in 2004 with his win on the Super G at Kitzbuehel.
"That's my biggest win of all time," Rahlves explained. "Kitzbuehel is the ultimate race for us. You are forever a legend if you win that race."
Kitz is the crown of ski racing. It’s the Kentucky Derby, the Superbowl and World Series all wrapped up into a few moments on the mountain. After Kitz, the slopes at Sestriere should be a cakewalk. He’s won there before as well, and with this 2006 Winter Olympics looming as his last Olympic appearance, he may seem easygoing, but he’s focusing all of his energies on a single state of mind going into the run in Turin.
Bode Miller, one of his USA teammates and constant rival, found this out recently at the Birds of Prey Downhill. Miller is expected to finish high, possibly in the gold spot at Turin, but lost to Rahlves Dec. 2. The next day, Bode recovered and put Rahlves in the No. 2 spot on the Giant Slalom at Birds of Prey. Look for the two to shine like starlight over the Turin snow as their competitiveness is expected to showcase the very best in ski racing.
Standing like a 225-lb. guardian at the gates to Turin is Michael Walchhofer, Austria’s cherished son and current World Cup champion. He’s looking to put both Miller and Rahlves in the silver and bronze spots in Turin.
But Rahlves is training to beat everyone in this appearance. He wants to go out faster than anyone else on the slope, so he’ll face the rest of the talented U.S. Ski Team, the Austrians, and the dangerous Canadian team in Italy hoping that his turns are a little sharper and a little cleaner, and that the icy winds push him down the mountain faster than anyone else.
No comments:
Post a Comment