Maiden downhill success for Kildow
 |  Kildow's victory completed a memorable day for the U.S. team |
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LAKE LOUISE, Alberta -- American Lindsey Kildow has won the women's downhill in Canada - the first World Cup victory of her career.
With compatriots Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves finishing first and second in the men's downhill at Beaver Creek, the 20-year-old stepped into the limelight to seal a memorable day for the U.S. team.
Kildow completed the treacherous piste in one minute 23.44 seconds.
France's Carole Montillet-Carles was second, 0.19 slower, with Germany's Hilde Gerg third in the first women's downhill of the season.
"It's so awesome," said Kildow, whose only other podium appearance was a third at Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy in January. "I just tried to stay as relaxed as possible.
"The main thing for me was trying not to be too nervous."
Kildow, who looks up to feisty former Olympic champion Picabo Street as a role model, had started 17th of the 64 starters.
While Kildow was delighting in her first win, Montillet was making her eighth top three finish at Lake Louise.
The Frenchwoman has had an ongoing love affair with the Alberta resort, having won three of the previous four downhills including a sweep of last year's two races.
"Lake Louise continues to be good for me," said Montillet. "I was a little stressed in training because I was not feeling well and was having trouble finding a good line.
"Today the conditions were difficult with the wind and no visibility. I wanted to be aggressive as I could but I am happy to have this finish."
Croatia's Janica Kostelic, the overall World Cup winner and triple Olympic champion, finished 13th on a wild and windy afternoon in the Canadian Rockies.
Friday's race was interrupted by several fallers while France's Melanie Suchet had to be helped away from the finish area with what looked like a knee injury.
Racing continues on Saturday with the second of back-to-back downhills followed by a super-G on Sunday before the circuit shifts back to Europe.
