Nyman crashes in downhill practice, pulls out of race

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) — Steven Nyman crashed in downhill training on the Kandahar course for the second year in a row.

This time, though, the American skier escaped relatively unharmed.

Nyman had to end his season early last year when he crashed in downhill practice on Jan. 27 last year. On Friday, he went into the net before pulling himself up and skiing down the mountain. He said he felt a tweak in his right knee.

He will skip Saturday's World Cup event, the last downhill race before the Olympics next month.

"He's just going to rest his body for the Olympics. Eyes on the prize," United States ski team press officer Megan Harrod told The Associated Press.

Nyman wasn't sure exactly what had caused him to skid off.