By USSA

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland – Steven Nyman (Sundance, Utah) scored his fourth-straight downhill podium – an American record — finishing second at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals to wrap up the season Wednesday.

“I skied really, really well today,” Nyman said. “I nailed the top … but the last turn I was a little to shallow and didn’t carry the speed I needed too and that’s where Beat (Feuz) got me and took the lead.”

Switzerland’s Feuz won the race, finishing just 0.08 ahead of Nyman – or just 2.39 meters, which is about the length of a downhill ski. Canada’s Erik Guay was third – his best downhill result of the season. Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley) was sixth, while Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, N.Y.) was 21st. Peter Fill finished 10th, but scored just enough points to become the first Italian to win the overall World Cup downhill Crystal Globe.

Nyman, who finished sixth in the overall downhill standings, finished the 11-race downhill season with four-straight podium finishes: third Jeongseon, second Chamonix, third Kvitfjell and second in St. Moritz.Wednesday’s result not only motivates Nyman for next season, but most importantly the 2017 World Championships on the same course in St. Moritz, and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in South Korea.

“To have four podiums in a row, I’m really fired up and ready to carry that momentum into next season,” said Nyman, who became the first American skier to podium in four-straight World Cup events. Previously, two U.S. athletes had three-straight podium finishes, including Daren Rahlves in 2003 and 2006; and Bode Miller in 2008.

In the women’s downhill, Austria’s Mirjam Puchner scored her first World Cup downhill victory. Switzerland’s Fabienne Suter was second, just 0.13 back, and Italy’s Elena Curtoni was third. Stacey Cook (Mammoth Lakes) was 11th and Laurenne Ross (Bend, Ore.) was 15th.

Lindsey Vonn (Vail), who won five downhill races this season but suffered a season-ending left tibial plateau fracture on Feb. 27, was presented with her 20th career Crystal Globe following the women’s downhill race Wednesday.

“I felt like I had a really great year – nine wins – and to be able to still take home one Globe at least, even though I had to end my season early, it means a lot,” Vonn said. “I worked so hard and was so close – I was leading four titles when I got hurt – so to still have at least one (Globe), that was huge and I’m pretty excited about it.”