Craig Branch has crashed out of the Bormio downhill, the 31-year-old Perisher Blue based NSWIS ski racer going down after the second intermediate point of the 3.2km Stelvio course.

“I crashed about a third of the way into the course,” Branch said.

“Things were going pretty well, a lot better than the training run, but I hit a bump and all of a sudden both legs were above my head and then I was on my side. I almost recovered but ended up crashing out of the course.”

“It was a very, very challenging course, one of the toughest on the circuit, and I’m happy to walk away from it.”

“I’m happy with the way things have been going, even though I haven’t skied much this season.”

“My back’s feeling good and I’m off for a few days of training now over the New Year break and looking forward to the next World Cup in Wengen.”

“I’m racing in a Europa Cup race the week before Wengen - in Wengen - so I’ll have a week on the course training before the World Cup and I’m looking forward to that.”

The Bormio event was won by Christof Innerhofer, the Italian skier collecting his first victory and his first podium.

Austrian duo Klaus Kroell and Michael Walchhofer collected the minor medals.

Walchhofer leads the World Cup downhill title chase on 225 points from Kroell on 215.

Athlete Audio
To visit the OWI Gallery and hear audio of Craig Branch following the event, please click here.