WENGEN, Switzerland -- Alexis Pinturault used his slalom skills to build a big lead in the opening run of a World Cup super-comb

WENGEN, Switzerland -- Alexis Pinturault used his slalom skills to build a big lead in the opening run of a World Cup super-combined on Friday. Patrick Beverley Jersey . The Frenchman, who won in Wengen last year, timed 49.94 seconds in falling snow, 1.22 faster than Ted Ligety of the United States. Natko Zrncic-Dim of Croatia was third, trailing Pinturault by 1.50. Ligety, the super-combined world champion, got the best conditions skiing first before the course quickly deteriorated. "To run first was definitely an advantage. The snow was pretty bad up there," Ligety said. "I need to be faster than that against Pinturault and against guys like (Romed) Baumann." Baumann, who earned bronze behind Ligety at the worlds last February, was fifth Friday, 2.15 behind Pinturault. Olympic champion Bode Miller started wearing bib No. 25, yet placed seventh with 3.43 to make up in the afternoon downhill run on the adjoining hill. "It didnt feel like slalom," Miller said. "Obviously three seconds is a long way. Im going to go for it and well see." Four years ago, Miller ended a run of poor results by winning the race in Wengen, and followed up one month later with super-combined gold at the Vancouver Olympics. Organizers ran the slalom first Friday to give snow and cloud cover time to clear before a downhill run on a shortened, 3.1-kilometre (1.9-mile) Lauberhorn course. Downhill specialist Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway was 22nd, 4.32 behind after starting No. 15. "The ruts go out from the gate and never stop. Its impossible to stay tight to the gate," Svindal said. "Four seconds faster than Pinturault (in downhill)? Thats going to be a tough one." Svindal needs a top-10 finish to take the overall standings lead from Austrian rival Marcel Hirscher, who skips speed events. Ivica Kostelic of Croatia, a six-time winner in slalom and super-combined in Wengen, went out early after straddling a gate. Custom Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys . None of them was better than playing with LeBron James again. Austin Rivers Jersey .ca/CurlingSkins - with the Top 16 curlers earning a ticket to Banff, Alta. to compete in the TRAVELERS ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME Presented by Pintys, running Jan. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.com/sam-dekker-clippers-jersey/ . - Considering where Jeff Gordon was after Richmond, left out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in part due to some late-race shenanigans, he couldnt have been happier on Sunday.SOCHI -- After the team photo had been snapped, after the Canadian players had taken off their game sweaters and pulled on their practice jerseys, Sidney Crosby and head coach Mike Babcock skated a few laps around the ice together and held what appeared to be a deep discussion. They looked each other in the eye. They made gestures with their hands. The two leaders were engaged. In fact, near the end of the conversation Babcock skated through a crease, while Crosby toured behind the net as a puck whizzed behind the back of the coachs head. He didnt even notice and kept on talking. “I think everybody has to adjust a little bit and was just making sure Im on the same page as far as what he expects and what he wants,” Crosby explained after Canadas second practice at the Bolshoy Ice Dome. “The offensive part and the skill that we have, I think that will come quicker then some of the adjustments we might make in the defensive zone. Defensive zone coverage was the topic of discussion between the two as they skated. Babcock and his coaching staff had shown the players a video in one of the many meetings the group has had since arriving in Sochi on Monday. Crosby wanted some clarification. “There was a little confusion there,” Babcock said. “We sorted it out. That gives me a chance tomorrow to sort it out with the group. “What weve tried to encourage is … if there is something as a player you dont feel or dont know, we encourage you to talk. The idea is to get everyone comfortable so we can play the game fast. When youre thinking you dont go fast. That was a good part of the process. Obviously, [Crosby] is a guy who is real comfortable and we want that from the captain. We want him to ask questions if there are any issues.” Crosby won a world junior title and steered the Rimouski Oceanic to a Memorial Cup final as a teenager. He was a Stanley Cup champion as a captain before his 22nd birthday and won an Olympic gold medal nine months later. Next chapter Now the 26-year-old Crosby has been asked to take over as captain for Scott Niedermayer, who had thee captaincy in Vancouver four years ago, and write the next chapter in Canadian hockey leadership that stretches from the smooth-skating defenceman to Mario Lemieux and all the way back to Phil Esposito and beyond. Danilo Gallinari Jersey. ``I think youre much more used to things, youre a little wide-eyed that first time,” Crosby said. “The biggest thing I learned from a guy like Scotty is that he didnt really say that much, he just said the right thing at the right time. The way he carried himself and his whole demeanour that he had, his quiet confidence, it was really something that was felt throughout the whole room. ``The other thing here is that weve got a lot of guys who have played together not just the last Olympics but going back a ways, I think theres some trust there. And for the new guys coming in, you try to make them feel as comfortable as possible. Were trying to do that. Thats the strength of Canada, guys always come together pretty quick. Thats instilled in us at an early age. I like that side of things for sure. Niedermayer was 37 when he captained Canada to gold in 2010. He retired a few months later. Mario Lemieux was 36 when he captained Canada to gold in 2002. He retired before the next Olympics. Does age matter when it comes to Olympic hockey leadership? Babcock likes the fact that Crosby will be surrounded by all the returnees from the Vancouver team. “The reality for me is we have 11 guys back from the last time who had success,” he said. “We have a new opportunity and we have to come up with a new identity. Does experience help in winning? Absolutely. Does the Olympics weigh in more than the guy who has won a Stanley Cup, I dont know that? “I know I like guys who have won because theyve been through it and done it right. You dont win unless youve done it right. In the details is whats going to separate. There is a whole bunch of teams with really good players. Someone is going to become a really good team and win the tournament. Thats what were going to try to do. Were going to try to get better each and every day so we can win.” Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '