Freestyle (Ski Cross): Switzerland's Schmid wins inaugural ski cross

(Copyed from http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-news/n/news/afp-news/freestyle-(ski-cross)--switzerland's-schmid-wins-inaugural-ski-cross_287936WG.html)
Feb 21, 2010

Vancouver (AFP) - Top-ranked Michael Schmid won the first ever gold medal in ski cross on Sunday, dominating from start to finish in a sport making its Olympic bow.

Austria's Andreas Matt took silver, with the bronze going to Audun Groenvold of Norway, but Canada's highly-fancied Christopher Del Bosco crashed out shortly before the end of the four-man race at Vancouver's Cypress Mountain.

Schmid, who qualified for the heats with the quickest time and won every race of the competition, led from the off in the four-man final.

"It's amazing. I don't find words for it," said Schmid. "I don't realise this at the moment. I'm very happy."

"Today was almost perfect. I had very fast skis and all the small things were great. The start was very important. The technician and my skis were great," he added.

The 25-year-old said the snow was soft but conditions were fine.

"It's different. The snow was very different. It was so soft but the slope was good. We had a lot fun out there today."

Matt, second in the World Cup standings and the reigning world champion, could not reel in Schmid and although Del Bosco moved into the bronze medal position he failed to challenge the leaders, his crash enabling Groenvold to seal third place.

"It was really hard. I'm totally exhausted. You never get a break on this run, you have to work and work always. Today's just amazing," said Matt.

"I'm really happy. it was a huge goal and I made it."

Inclusion in the Games is a major milestone for ski cross, in which four racers are pitted against each other down a motocross-style course.

In ski cross, the only new event to be introduced at these Games, all competitors have one timed run, which determines the qualification ranking before the final round, in which 32 competitors take part in four-man races.

The two top-ranked skiers in each race advance to the next round.

Skiers race down a track constructed on a normal ski slope featuring different types and sizes of jumps, roller sections, banks, and turns.