BEAVER CREEK, USA. (Dec. 3, 2011) – Robbie Dixon tasted both ecstasy and agony Saturday as a scintillating super-G run in Beaver Creek, USA, left him poised to secure his first career World Cup podium, only to watch the 30th skier down the hill storm to victory and push him into fourth place.
The 26-year-old from Whistler, B.C., was the third man out of the start gate and he held his arms aloft in celebration as he crossed the finish line in a time of one minute, 19.02 seconds. Dixon looked set to join the ranks of the Canadian Cowboys – a title bestowed on male Canadian who finish in the top three against the best in the world – but Switzerland’s Sandro Viletta had other ideas, claiming his first career win and podium after clocking a time of 1:18.71.
Once the dust had settled, Dixon tied his career-best result – a fourth-place finish in super-G in Kvitfjell, Norway, in 2008 – and teammate Erik Guay, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., finished seventh to make it two top-10 finishes in World Cup super-G races on successive weekends for Canada’s men’s team.
“It’s a bittersweet day for me but I did everything I could,” said Dixon, who sat out the second half of last season with a serious concussion. “To get a podium would have been a pretty special moment, especially with some of the stuff I’ve had to go through over the last year. But Sandro had a wicked run. This is a big step for me in terms of building confidence.”
The action continues in Beaver Creek Sunday with the men’s giant slalom race.
COMPLETE RESULTS – Dec. 3 – Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup – super-G – Beaver Creek
Watch the action on TV
Sunday’s ladies’ Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup super-G will be shown on CBC on Sunday at 3 p.m. local time. It will also be on CBCSports.ca and CBC Bold at 12:55 p.m. ET on Sunday. Sunday’s Beaver Creek men’s giant slalom will be on Sportsnet at 7 p.m. MT on Sunday on Sportsnet West (start times vary in different regions). For a full broadcast schedule, go to http://www.alpinecanada.org/tv
INFORMATION:
Keith Bradford
Director, Communications | Directeur des Communications
Alpine Canada Alpin
#153, 401 – 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3C5
C 403.620.2362
kbradford@alpinecanada.org
http://alpinecanada.org