Though he was .20 back from Austrian Hannes Trinkl, the US's Daron Rahlves, who this season has won three World Cup races, a feat not repeated since Phil Mahre in 1983, said Wednesday he had found his rhythm on the brutal "Streif" course.

"I found my comfort zone today," said Rahlves. "Yesterday it was a little scary, but today I was really comfortable."

Trinkl recorded a 1:55.89 today, with Rahlves just .20 back for 4th place. Jake Viala (Vail, CO) was 25th fastest, 2.51 seconds back. Scott Macartney was 39th fastest in his first trip top-to-bottom on the famed course. In Tuesday's opener, Macartney went down and failed to finish.

Conditions on the Streif are rock hard -- harder than in the past with officials injecting water into the course in spots to maintain a consistent, hard, icy surface.

Training will continue Thursday, with a World Cup super G Friday and the famed Hahnenkamm downhill Saturday. The weekend concludes with a slalom on Sunday, with Bode Miller among the favorites. Miller, who skied the combined in Wengen last weekend, will sit out this weekend's combined to focus on the slalom.

— Courtesy, US Ski Team