KITZBUHL, Austria (AFP) — American Bode Miller was among some of the world's top skiers to hit out at the conditions on the men's downhill run here which continued to pile up victims Wednesday.
Austria's Andreas Buder suffered a heavy crash during the second training session for Saturday's race - one of the most daunting downhills on the circuit.
Buder, who sits fourth in the World Cup downhill standings, lost control after landing from a jump and came to a halt in the safety netting. The 28-year-old will be sidelined for at least several weeks after suffering a fractured tibia in his right leg, according to organisers.
Wednesday's session was peppered with interruptions due to the numerous spills, leading Miller to complain about the way in which the piste had been prepared by the organisers.
Miller, the winner of the past two downhills, said the piste was in a sorry state and added: "I'm quite disappointed by the way the piste's been prepared.
"Especially as Kitzbuhl is the major focus of the season for the downhillers."
Earlier, American Marco Sullivan also suffered a heavy fall although he managed to escape injury.
During Tuesday's first training session Czech Ondrej Bank was diagnosed with a double leg fracture after suffering a spectacular crash.
On Wednesday Miller clocked the 15th fastest time of a session dominated by Didier Defago, who topped the standings ahead of Swiss compatriot Didier Cuche and Frenchman Pierre-Emmanuel Dalcin.
Saturday's downhill could yet be compromised by a rise in temperatures coupled with wind and rain.
Organisers later announced they had decided to cancel the third and final training session, scheduled for Thursday.
"We want to protect the piste as much as possible for Saturday," said race director Peter Obernauer, confirming that the Austrian weather forecast had predicted strong winds and a rise in temperatures for Thursday.
However Obernauer said the weekend race schedule - a super-G Friday, Saturday's downhill, and a slalom on Sunday - would not yet be changed.
Last year the prestigious Kitzbuehel leg of the World Cup had to cancel the men's downhill because of a lack of snow.
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