Beaver Creek, Colorado - Aksel Lund Svindal let out a sigh of relief after conquering the Golden Eagle Jump in training a year after suffering severe injuries at the same spot.

"My heart was racing and I was more than glad once I got past the spot," the Norwegian ski star said on Wednesday after a first downhill practice session for the World Cup races in Beaver Creek due to start with a super-combined later Thursday.

Svindal was the reigning World Cup champion and season leader 12 months ago when he crashed terribly during training at the demanding section of the Birds of Prey piste.

The 25-year-old suffered face fractures and a deep cut in his buttock in that November 27, 2007, accident, missed the rest of the season, spent several weeks in hospital and took a long time to get in shape again.

"There was not much motivation in the first weeks. That was a different level, I just wanted to be healthy again. I was happy to walk again," recalled Svindal.

"Then came the training with light weights. But I lacked energy, I couldn't think about proper training units."

But the nine-time race winner was not discouraged and returned to action at the season-opener in Soelden, Austria, with a 13th place giant slalom finish.

The first speed events came last weekend in Lake Louise, Canada, and confirmed his return to form. Svindal placed seventh in the downhill and ninth in the super-g.

"My body feels good and I feel 100-per-cent cured," he said. "I want to return into the top three as soon as possible."

The next chance comes in Beaver Creek with three other races apart from the super-combined: a downhill, super-g and giant slalom.

However, his return to the Colorado ski resort is not about skiing alone.

"I am looking forward to meeting those people in the hospital who made me healthy again. They were great," said Svindal. (dpa)