Skiing: Kitt brought to earth by snowstorm

VICTORY was snatched from A J Kitt's grasp yesterday as capricious weather ruined the opening men's downhill of the World Cup season. The 24-year-old American from Rochester, New York, was heading for his second triumph in as many years on the classic OK course here when blowing snow and high winds forced the jury to call off the race before the 16th man was due to start.

While downhillers who compete in this weather-dependent sport realise that no one - not even the international ski federation - can challenge the will of Mother Nature, the sting of missing out on a potential victory can be painful. 'I feel like the carpet has been pulled out from under me,' said Kitt, who was lucky to ski at all after injuring ankle ligaments in a basketball game last month. 'I was leading and now I have nothing - no points, no prize money (the winner was due 30,000 Swiss francs ( pounds 13,600)) - and most of all, no place on the podium.'

Kitt, the 13th starter, clocked 1min 52.17sec, heading last season's downhill champion Franz Heinzer, of Switzerland, by 0.28sec. Atle Skaardal, the Norwegian, was a provisional third in 1min 52.93sec.

The race appeared doomed before the start after poor weather moved into the Alps on Thursday and forced the cancellation of a final training run. Officials met last night to try and work out a schedule for the next two days, but with a bad forecast and a super-giant slalom scheduled today plus a slalom with Alberto Tomba set for tomorrow, the outlook for what was to have been a showcase speed weekend looks grim.

When the snowfall intensified, officials held up the 16th starter, Kjetil Aamodt, the Norwegian who won last weekend's giant slalom ahead of Tomba. A wait of more than 30 minutes proved fruitless and the competition was reluctantly cancelled.