WINTER OLYMPICS / NOTEBOOK

Hannes Trinkl of Austria posted the fastest time, 1 minute 45.55 seconds, in the first training run on the Kvitfjell downhill course.

Men’s Alpine skiing begins Sunday with the downhill.

American Tommy Moe was 11th, teammates Kyle Rasmussen and AJ Kitt 16th and 29th, respectively.

Kitt and Moe are among the many fans of the course, designed by Bernhard Russi of Switzerland, who won the gold medal in the 1972 Olympic downhill and took the silver medal behind Austrian Franz Klammer in ’76.

“I think in comparison to the last two (Olympic courses), this one is the best for sure,” Kitt said. “This course offers the most diversity.”

Said Moe: “I think this is the best course Russi has designed yet. It took him three times to get it right, but this is the best one.”

There were concerns that, with so much snow, the course might be too slow. But Russi does not think that will be the case.

“The icy areas will make the course just as difficult as it was during last year’s World Cup race,” he said. “I would not make changes in the course, even if I could. It is exactly the way I wanted it to be.”

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There is some concern among athletes that the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan saga will overshadow other Olympic events.

“I think what happened is unfortunate,” Rasmussen said. “But if the skating controversy is what’s important to the press and they feel the public wants to read about it, then I guess we have to take a back seat. In my opinion, if you want to experience the excitement of the Olympic Games, then come watch the downhill.”