By USSA

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta – Marco Sullivan of Squaw Valley was the American to watch in Saturday’s downhill, holding the top step of the podium for 13 racers, before finally finishing in fifth place.

Wednesday’s training run-winner Kjetil Jansrud of Norway squeaked a first place by Manuel Osborne-Paradis and Guillermo Fayed, who tied for second. It was Sullivan’s best finish in two seasons, since skiing to the podium in Lake Louise in 2012.

The men’s speed team was in Lake Louise for the first speed series of the season with five U.S. Ski Team racers starting: Sullivan, Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley), Steve Nyman (Sundance, Utah), Jared Goldberg (Holladay, Utah) and Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley).

“I knew it was going to be good snow and I needed to take advantage of that early start number. I didn’t feel the fastest, but I was clean the whole way,” said Sullivan. “I’m one of the veteran guys now and I’m just feeling comfortable racing these days. Nothing is holding me back.”

Athletes praised the course set, which was full of bigger jumps and higher speed than years past. Even with the snowfall canceling the last two training runs, the track was fast and hard, with temperatures dipping into the negatives.

Ganong also skied a solid race, tying for 10th place. In addition, the U.S. athletes had two notable bibbos: Steve Nyman started 44th and finished 16th, and former U.S. Ski Team athlete Wiley Maple wore bib 56th and ended up 22nd.

Rounding out the athletes, Goldberg finished 35th and Bennett in 56th place.