Austrians dominate Louise

Fischbacher, who finished second in the super-G here last year, clocked a time of one minute 51.73 seconds in dangerously cold conditions.

With an Arctic cold front sweeping across the Canadian Rockies and bitterly cold temperatures hovering around minus-30 Celsius, the start of training was delayed for an hour, racers covering their faces with tape to prevent frost bite.

The cold, however, did little to slow down the Austrians, who arrived in Lake Louise looking to extend their early season domination after sweeping to victory in the opening three races.

With most of the field having completed their runs, Austrians had occupied the top four positions until a pack of back markers took advantage of improving conditions to break into the top of the standings.

Spain's Carolina Ruiz Castillo, starting 60th, posted the second best time of 1:52.28 followed by Slovenia's Petra Robnik, wearing bib 63, and Austria's Marlies Schilds, winner of the season's opening two slaloms, with the equal third best effort of 1:52.32.

"I haven't trained so much downhill in the last month mostly the slalom," Schilds said. "I'm surprised by my performance today but the downhill was something I liked to race before I had some knee injuries."

Britain's Chemmy Alcott came from the back to clock the fifth fastest time followed by one of the race favourites Austria's Renate Goetschl, who has reached the Lake Louise podium a staggering 10 times, including four wins, two in the downhill and two more in the super-G.

Italy's Nadia Fanchini, who was quickest in first training on Tuesday, was back in the top 10 with the 10th best time while American Lindsey Kildow, a two-time downhill winner on the Olympic course, was 29th.