Invermere’s Ben Thomsen today placed sixth at Kitzbuehel for his best World Cup Skiing downhill result in six seasons.

A weather-related change in schedule saw the legendary Kitzbuehel downhill moved to Friday, and Canadian Alpine Ski Team racers Ben Thomsen, Brodie Seger, and Jack Crawford gave the nation plenty to cheer about as they charged down the Streif, Alpine Canada Alpin reported.

Thomsen was the eighth racer out of the start gate, and laid down a lightning run of one minute, 57.88 seconds – 69 hundredths off the podium. Thomsen ended the day in sixth – his best World Cup downhill result since standing on the podium in 2012, and best-ever finish at Kitzbuehel.

“I’m really happy, but it is a little bit of a bittersweet moment. I was shooting for the podium today, (and) it didn’t quite happen,” said Thomsen after letting the day’s results sink in. “It was close, the skiing was there (but) the competition is also there too. It’s really competitive on the men’s circuit right now.”

Thomsen has posted two top-10s in World Cup downhill action this season, and was second in the first training run on the Streif this week.

Action resumes at the Hahnenkamm Saturday with the slalom, being streamed live in Canada at AlpineCanada.org/kitzbuehel. The first run starts at 1:30 a.m. with the second run scheduled for 4:30 a.m.

Canada’s men’s speed team will get another chance at the Streif on Sunday when they race in the super-G to close out Kitzbuehel weekend.

Alpine Canada Alpin photo

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