Italy's Sofia Goggia had the fastest time in the first training session as the world's top female alpine skiers prepared for a pair of downhill races this week at Lake Louise.

Goggia sped down the hill in one minute 51.96 seconds, followed by Slovenia's Ilka Stuhec (1:52.26) and Joana Haehlen of Switzerland (1:52.54).

Marie-Michele Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., had an impressive first training run, finishing seventh in 1:53.13.

American star Mikaela Shiffrin was 17th in 1:53.86.

Canada's men's Alpine skiers 'coming of age' ahead of anticipated Lake Louise return

After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alpine skiing returns this week to Lake Louise, Alta., where Canada's men will begin their quest for an Olympic spot in Beijing in February. A World Cup downhill race will be held Saturday and super-G on Sunday.

Toronto's Jack Crawford, pictured in Tuesday's downhill training run at Lake Louise, Alta., is coming off a breakthrough season that included a fourth-place finish in alpine combined and 14th in super-G at the world championships.

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The alpine skiing world cup season opens up this weekend at iconic Lake Louise in Alberta.

Lake Louise: The crown jewel of Canada's skiing world

The skiers will get two more training runs before the first of two downhill races goes Friday. That will be followed by a downhill Saturday and a super-G race Sunday, provided the weather co-operates.

An accumulation of snow wreaked havoc on last week's men's World Cup stop at Lake Louise and caused the cancellation of one of two downhill races and Sunday's event-ending super-G.

Manny Osborne-Paradis previews Lake Louise and his final run

4-time Olympian Manny Osborne-Paradis joins Anastasia Bucsis to preview the start of the downhill season in Lake Louise

Sofia Goggia of Italy participates in the first women's World Cup downhill training run in Lake Louise, Alta., on Tuesday.

Goggia fastest in 1st training run before weekend of women's races at Lake Louise

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