The best skiers in the world are expecting their toughest racing of the season this weekend at the famed Hahnenkamm. The wild Hahnenkamm party is starting again in Tirol's most prestigious resort – Kitzbühel, this year hosting its 60th Hahnenkamm event.

It's a dream for each top downhill or slalom racer to win in front of the thousands of people who gather on the sidelines of the "Streif" or "Gamslerhang" courses.

	The Herminator

Last winter, over 80,000 spectators converged here in Kitzbühel to watch the races won by Lasse Kjus, Hans Knauss and Jure Kosir. Stormy weather and heavy snowfall prevented the racers from training properly earlier this week and the chief of course shed tears on Monday night when it started to rain over the city, damaging his superbly prepared course.

Fortunately, after some rain and snow showers, it was cold enough to allow the organizers to repair the damages caused by the strong winds and the rain. The competitors finally got on the course Thursday for the first training run of the week.

"Each year I'm looking to come back here and I hope to remain healthy for much longer to continue to be able to race this downhill in the future..." — Italy's Kristian Ghedina

One man among all was especially pleased to be on his skis – Italy's Kristian Ghedina. It's always a special feeling for him to cruise down the exciting Streif course, which he first skied in 1990, when he was only 20 years old. He crashed badly in his first race there, dislocating a shoulder. But two weeks later he won his very first World Cup race at home in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

In January 1998, he realized his wildest dream when he became the first and only Italian to win the Hahnenkamm downhill. Ghedina says the icy, steep beginning, fast gliding mid-section and the tremendous "Hausberg" jump at the end makes it the toughest course on the tour.

"Each year I'm looking to come back here and I hope to remain healthy for much longer to continue to be able to race this downhill in the future, too," he said after his training run this week.

On Thursday, inspired by the excellent conditions and happy to be back at this race, he set the fastest time. He beat his closest rival and the winner of the Lake Louise downhill, Austria's Hannes Trinkl, by a full second. Some of the top favorites, such as Josef Strobl and Hermann Maier, lost much more – "The Herminator" was slower by 1.86 seconds. Twice 4th in recent weeks – in Chamonix and Wengen where he suffered a bad flu – Ghedina is fighting for revenge, for both the simple victory and to surpass Maier in the downhill World Cup standings.

This best time gives him great momentum for the race on Saturday.

Ghedina will also compete in a super G set on the lower part of the Sreif – it's only the second time that such a race has taken place here. This was a smart move on the part of the organizers, who wanted to assure that Maier would be here to compete. In 1998, Maier skipped the race because he was tired and suffered from a leg injury; he didn't want to compromise his chances for the upcoming Olympics at Nagano.

And last year, Maier wasn't focused because of the Vail World Championships and he skied out in the first two-run downhill and only finished 8th in the "Classical" downhill.

The reigning World Champion rented himself a house outside Kitzbühel where he can rest and relax with his clan away from all the turmoil and the "show biz" celebrations in town. Regardless, Ghedina feels able to beat Maier and the other Austrians this time – and for some good reasons.

"Ghedina has fully recovered his health (and part of his best form) and is motivated to compete here in order to beat the Austrians on their home ground..."

First of all, Ghedina has fully recovered his health (and part of his best form) and is motivated to compete here in order to beat the Austrians on their home ground. He doesn't mind that the course is mostly covered with fresh snow, which makes it smoother and better suited to his skills – in fact, it strongly reinforces his determination and his confidence. He also knows that Maier and his "gang" will lose a lot of energy and momentum in Friday's super G.

Hermann, Stephan Eberharter, Hans Knauss, the '99 Hahnenkamm winner, Josef Strobl, the winner in Wengen last week, Andreas Schifferer, Hannes Trinkl – you name them – they'll all be fired-up for this speed race, which should take place in front of a huge crowd. Ghedina, who is no longer a super G specialist, will consider it a training opportunity for Saturday.

	Lasse Kjus

Now everybody is anxiously checking the weather forecast for the coming days. Another bad weather front is expected in the next days – there are even rumors of a big storm coming toward Tirol. This, of course, could be bad news for everyone if it prevents us from attending these most exciting of World Cup races. This is also true for the skiers who are all proud to be competing in this tremendous race – comparable only with Augusta's Master or Wimbledon's Championships.

Among those glad to be here are the USA's Daron Rahlves, 23rd in that training run (far ahead of his teammates). An excellent skier, Rahlves has the chance to enter the top-15, which would be an excellent achievement for him. Only two US skiers stood on the podium in that downhill during the World Cup era – Bob Cochran in 1973 and AJ Kitt in 1992. Buddy Werner won it in the late 1950s – quite a shock at the time for the Austrian crowd.

— Manuele Joyce, MountainZone.com World Cup Correspondent