"DOWNHILL RACER" and BILL JOHNSON: PARALLEL SKIING

  Forty years ago on this day an unheralded downhill skier named Bill Johnson came out of the misty nowhere to win the celebrated Lauberhorn course in Switzerland:

                                                                       

 Blond Bill Johnson's surprising World Cup victory, which was followed by three more cocky podium toppers - including Olympic gold, drew parallel comparisons to Robert Redford's screen persona as gilded dropout type Dave Chappellet - 

                                      

 Bill Johnson's success didn't take long to melt like the snow. He eventually skied afoul the United States squad, suffered a comeback crash which left him with permanent disabilities and resulted in a premature death. But for 2:10.89 and another eight weeks, Bill Johnson was the epitome of the DOWNHILL RACER.