Former downhill great Christian Ghedina on Friday tipped the little-known Werner Heel as the man to inherit his mantle after he gave Italy its first downhill win in seven years.
Heel, who has only placed twice among top ten finishers in his five-year career, came out of nowhere to beat US star Bode Miller at Kvitfjell in Norway.
''I was certain Werner would win sooner or later and I'm sure this won't be his last victory,'' said Ghedina, who has been on many training runs with his fellow northerner.
Ghedina, who won 13 downhills before hanging up his skis two years ago, said the 26-year-old Heel was similar to himself in his willingness to take risks.
''We've skied a lot together. He's someone who likes taking risks. If ever we needed to make unusual jumps he never ducked the challenge,'' said Ghedina, who became a darling to skiing fans with his daredevil stunts.
''He's very like me, a little bit crazy. He likes danger,'' Ghedina said. Italy's last downhill win came when Ghedina won at Val Gardena in 2001.
Ghedina, 38, hung up his skis in April 2006 after 15 years at the pinnacle of his sport.
Despite his age, in recent years the freewheeling Italian twice thrilled the fans at Kitzbuehel in Austria, cradle of downhill skiing, by doing the flying splits on the legendary Streif's last breakneck jump.
He is the only skier ever to perform a spread eagle on the famous course - to gasps of ''Total verrueckt'' (''Completely mad'') from the Kitzbuehel faithful.
Aside from his 13 World Cup wins - 12 in downhill and one in SuperG - Ghedina holds the record for World Cup downhills completed, 169, and became the oldest podium placer in 2005.
Ghedina also holds the record of four wins on Val Gardena's famous Saslong run - an achievement he shares with Austrian legend Franz Klammer.
He would have had a fifth but for a close encounter with a roebuck.
