The New York Times-20080128-Rahlves Skis to His First Victory in the X Games

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Rahlves Skis to His First Victory in the X Games

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After a year as an apprentice, Daron Rahlves has begun to figure out skiercross, his new discipline.

On a 3,500-foot-long course at the Winter X Games at Buttermilk Mountain on Sunday, Rahlves won his first career skiercross race in six tries. The victory came a month after the 34-year-old Rahlves placed second in an event at Telluride, Colo. That was the first time he made the podium in skiercross, the event he adopted after retiring from World Cup downhill racing after the 2005-6 season.

Still, these are modest gains for one of the most accomplished American downhill racers.

I had a target on my back, I think, said Rahlves, who had 28 Alpine World Cup podium appearances in downhill and super-G, including 12 victories. Just coming off World Cup, I had some success there and some skill.

Going from a World Cup downhill course, where he raced alone, to skiercross, where he shares a course with four to six competitors while negotiating bumps, jumps, berms and rollers, has required some adjustment.

I still have a lot to learn, he said. My starts are pretty pathetic still.

In Sunday's final, Rahlves had to make his move only once. He was third out of the start, close behind Tomas Kraus and the defending champion, Casey Puckett, who finished third. But with Kraus blocking Puckett's path, Rahlves was able to surge into the lead. Once in front, Rahlves's downhill skills took over.

Being in front you can run your own lines and all that, he said. You're not really stressing to try and make a move on some guy.

Rahlves nearly missed the final. During a thrilling semifinal earlier Sunday, he passed Chris Del Bosco on the final jump to secure the last spot in the final.

Making the final was a matter of attrition. Skiercross -- much like motocross on skis -- often features spectacular crashes. Between the men's and women's fields, 12 racers went down during Sunday's heats, several on the course's penultimate jump, which sent them soaring out of control.

Karin Huttary was taken to a hospital and treated for hip and pelvis injuries, and three skiers from the men's heats were also treated for various injuries.

It's a little risky, but it's fun, said Rahlves, who has had his share of wipeouts in skiercross. We're all tough competitors and we're going to battle.

Many of Rahlves's competitors also have World Cup Alpine experience, including Puckett, who competed for the United States. Stanley Hayer, who was second in Sunday's final, once raced for Canada.

It helps to have good gliding skills and you learn that through racing in Alpine, Puckett said of skiercross.

Skiercross will debut as an Olympics event at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. Puckett and Hayer said they planned to compete. Rahlves has not committed to the Olympics.

For now, he is still trying to figure out skiercross.

Every run is a learning experience, Rahlves said.

Notes

In the women's skiercross final, Ophelie David of France defended her gold medal. After making a pass halfway down the course, David cruised to the finish.

[Illustration]PHOTO: Daron Rahlves, left, who won 12 World Cup races and skied in three Olympics, won the skiercross in Aspen, Colo., on Sunday. (PHOTOGRAPH BY NATHAN BILOW/ASSOCIATED PRESS)