AlpineSki: American Rahlves surprises Eberharter, Maier for super-G title

Rahlves clocked 1:21.46 minutes on the Karl Strauss course to surprise the host nation's skiiers.

Austria's Stephan Eberharter captured the silver, eight-hundreths of a second behind Rahlves while defending co-champion and heavy favourite Hermann Maier was third, 0.23 seconds back.

Norway's Lasse Kjus, the co-winner of the gold medal with Maier in Vail 1999, was fourth.

Maier took the early lead from the fifth spot despite an error early in the upper section. Eberharter snatched the lead from Maier from the next position and saw his lead hold up against other top challengers such as Didier Cuche of Switzerland, compatriot Christoph Gruber and Kjus.

But Rahlves surprised Eberharter from five positions later at number 11.

(dpa)