BEAVER CREEK, Colorado— France's David Poisson is on the clock.

The French racer will be the first of 91 racers out of the gate in today's first run of downhill training at 11 a.m. at Beaver Creek in preparation for racing which begins Friday with the Birds of Prey super combined.

Team coaches got to inspect the run Tuesday and pronounced it in fine racing condition at the captain's meeting in Ford Hall later that day.

Chief of course Greg Johnson was happy with the reviews. His crew has been pumping water onto the Birds of Prey course to get an icy track that is 10-16 inches of “very consistent and hard snow.”

“We look at the trail from start to finish, and we're very careful we have enough snow on the trail, that the density is consistent,” Johnson said. “Because then you provide a track that gives athletes the best chance to succeed. When you have a well-prepared trail, it won't break down. It's not just the top guys, but it's the guys (starting) in the 70s, 80s and even 90s have a great chance to succeed. That's our goal.”

And while it's unlikely the racers will be flooring it today during training — today is more of day to explore the nuances of the course — come Friday with the weather as forecasted, Birds of Prey should be fast.

“Conditions can get quicker,” Johnson said. “If we get a little snow the next couple of days that will take a little of the speed off. But as soon as we get one clear day, this course is fast no matter what. The potential is there for that. The course setting (by) Helmut (Schmalzl) when he set the downhill, there are a few cases where the course set is much rounder this year. It's done in mind with controlling the speed.”

Weather

The forecast calls for 1-3 inches today, which should not be a problem for gettintg a training run in. (International Ski Federation — FIS — rules require a training run before a site holds a downhill.) With forecast highs for Thursday of 14 and Friday for 20, those would be those clear, cold days which make a course quick.

For race days, the forecast looks precipitation-free.

Holding on three races

The Denver Post reported on Sunday that there was a chance races from Val d'Isere, France, could have been moved here because of lack of snow. This last happened in 2003, when Daron Rahlves won the transplanted downhill at Beaver Creek.

FIS race director Gunther Hujara announced Tuesday that Val d'Isere “is confirmed.” He added that FIS had talked to Beaver Creek about extra races, but it turned out to be unnecessary.

Americans ready

Steve Nyman is the first out of the gate today with No. 6. Bode Miller, who won the only run of training last year, has the 17th bib. Marco Sullivan (25) and Erik Fisher (27) represent the U.S. in the top 30.

Andrew Weibrecht goes No. 57, followed by Jeremy Transrue at 59. A bib in the 50s is not unfamiliar territory for Weibrecht. In the 2007 downhill here, Weibrecht started with the 53rd bib and finished 10th.

Welcome back, Aksel

Norway's Aksel Lund-Svindal returns to Beaver Creek after winning super-G and downhill here in 2008. Those wins were extra sweet, given that he had a season-ending crash during 2007 training at Beaver Creek.

Svindal drew No. 10 for today. He's followed by Switzerland's Didier Cuche, who won the Lake Louise (Alberta) downhill last weekend. Canada's Manuel Osborne-Paradis, who won the super-G on home snow Sunday, is No. 16 today.

Sports editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934 or via cfreud@vaildaily.com.