GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — Erik Guay of Canada produced a daring run to win the final race of the season Thursday and claim a World Cup title in the super-G.
Guay became the first Canadian to win a crystal globe since Steve Podborski in 1982.
Guay went into the race in third place, but his blistering run as snow fell on the Kandahar course gave him the title. He also won the super-G win on Sunday in Kvitfjell, Norway.
“I didn’t think it would happen today, I was so far behind,” Guay said after winning his first World Cup title. “But I knew that if I won today, I would have a chance. So I took maximum risks and it paid off. It was wild.”
Guay finished in 1 minute, 26.36 seconds, followed by Ivica Kostelic of Croatia. Kostelic made the podium in the event for the first time this season in 1:26.75. Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway was third.
Michael Walchhofer of Austria, who led super-G standings going into the race, finished 15th and second overall in the final standings. Ted Ligety of the United States finished 16th.
By winning the last two of the six super-G races, Guay swept past his two rivals to claim the title with 331 points. Walchhofer had 316 points and Svindal finished with 314.
“The season could go on for another two, three weeks for me,” Guay said.
In the overall standings, Carlo Janka of Switzerland remained in the lead over Benjamin Raich of Austria. Raich finished in sixth place and cut the gap to 38 points. Janka tied for 11th.
“I didn’t have a great race,” Raich said. “I struggled with the fresh snow, but I was able to cut the gap somewhat.”
The overall title will be decided in the final two races, the giant slalom and the slalom.
“We can both do well,” Raich said. “Carlo is very strong in the giant, I can also be fast and maybe I have an edge in the slalom. I am not making any predictions.”
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