LAKE LOUISE -- The disappointment was written all over her face. Instead of dwelling on her performance, Calgary's Sherry Lawrence decided to chalk it up as a learning experience.

"I'm a little disappointed with my finish time in my first World Cup but it's good to get the first one under my belt," said Lawrence, who could only manage a 53rd in Day 1 of the downhill at the Winterstart World Cup yesterday.

Lawrence, 20, is a rookie on the World Cup circuit this year but has been skiing the downhill course at Lake Louise since her early teens.

"I wasn't very intimidated by it at all because it was just like a lot of the Nor-Ams and I've been a forerunner at the World Cups, so it didn't seem that big other than I was starting way at the back," she explained.

"It was interesting starting from the different start and not having to run the top section but my run was OK."

Lawrence will be replaced by Vancouver's Christina Risler for today's downhill.

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CRASHING OUT: American Libby Ludlow lost control in the Coaches Corner technical section of the downhill course yesterday and fractured her right leg in the process. After sliding to a halt, Ludlow was unable to move, forcing race medics to airlift her off sight and take her to Canmore for further examination. Official medical results were not made available last night.