LAKE LOUISE, Alberta Petra Haltmayer of Germany, feeling relaxed because of low expectations, surprised herself and favorite Isolde Kostner of Italy with the first World Cup win of her career in the opening women's downhill of the season on Thursday.

Haltmayer ignored the flat light at Lake Louise ski area and tore through a 2.66-kilometer course to edge Kostner by one-tenth of a second. Haltmayer, whose best events are Giant Slalom and Super-G, was timed in 1 minute, 34.71 seconds.

Renate Goetschl of Austria, the defending World Cup overall champion, was third in the field of 58 racers in 1:34.98.

"I had this peace in my stomach," Haltmayer said, "because there was no way I could expect this result."

Finishing second in a downhill last season at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, gave her confidence and determination to show she could ski downhill, she said, but she was expecting her best results at this Canadian rockies resort Saturday in Super-G.

"I can't believe this in downhill instead of, I would have thought, in Super-G or Giant Slalom. It's unbelievable," the 25-year-old Haltmayer said. She dedicated the victory to her mother, who celebrates her 60th birthday on Saturday.

(Reuter)