LAKE LOUISE, Alta. - On a day when some of the best had trouble finding their way down the mountain Italy's Peter Fill took advantage of an early start to win his first World Cup downhill race of his career.

Fill, the day's 10th skier, covered the three-kilometre Men's Olympic Downhill Run in one minute 47.40 seconds to win the first downhill race of the World Cup season.

The day's biggest surprise came when Switzerland's Carlo Janka, who started 65th, took advantage of some sunshine breaking through the clouds to place second, just 0.08 behind the winner. Sweden's Hans Olsson was third 1:47.56.

Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., had the best Canadian result, finishing 10th in 1:47.95

Weather was a major factor in the race.

The first 10 skiers enjoyed sunshine, but then the clouds rolled in, reducing visibility. Mild temperatures also softened the snow. As more racers came down the mountain the course became more beaten up with ruts and small holes.

"I had a little bit of luck for the conditions," said Fill, 26, whose previous best downhill result was a second in Bormio in 2007. "I had a little bit of sun. That was the key for the victory."

Fill placed third in a downhill at Lake Louise last season but said this really isn't his favourite course.

"I don't like so much this place but I'm very lucky here," he said.

It was a strange day with pre-race favourite American Bode Miller, who won two training runs this week, finishing 16th in 1:48.08. Didier Cuche of Switzerland, the current World Cup downhill champion, was 32nd in 1:49.06.

Guay said he was getting ready to start his run when the sun disappeared behind the clouds and the course was bathed in shadows.

"I let it mess with my head a little bit," he said. "I could have been a lot more comfortable and attacked it harder.

"It's a lot faster when there is sunshine. That being said, I would have expected some of the faster guys, especially Bode who really was fast on those two training runs, I thought today he was going to win regardless of the light."

Miller left the finish area without talking to reporters.

Among the other Canadians Robbie Dixon of North Vancouver, B.C., was 24th in 1:48.62; Manuel Osborne-Paradis finished 30th in 1:49.00; John Kucera of Calgary, who won Friday's training, was 35th in 1:49.33; Louis-Pierre Helie of Berthierville, Que., was 51st in 1:50.13 and Jeffrey Frisch of Mont-Tremblant finished 66th in 1:51.48.

Earlier Saturday, Alpine Canada announced a two-year agreement with Swiss-based investment management company Hermes Asset Management. The deal is worth at least $500,000.