Alpine skiing-Favourite Svindal crashes out of Kitzbuhel

BERLIN, Jan 23 (Reuters) - World Cup leader Aksel Lund Svindal crashed out of the downhill competition in Kitzbuhel on Saturday, leaving the daunting Streif course with a bloody nose. The Norwegian pre-race favourite, who had won the men's super G on Friday, was on track to take over the lead from Italian Peter Fill when he landed badly from a jump midway down the course and slid into the protective side netting. Snowfall and strong winds had delayed the competition by about an hour with organisers shortening the start of the Streif course, arguably the most demanding on the World Cup calendar, to reduce speed amid limited visibility. Apart from Svindal, the course claimed several more skiers, including local favourites Hannes Reichelt and Georg Streitberger, who both needed to be airlifted off the course after crashing out at the same spot as the Norwegian. "It does not seem to be as cold as before and the course may not be as icy so skis sink a bit deeper," said leader Fill. "It is a dangerous course. Very demanding." (Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; editing by Ken Ferris)