Schild wins error strewn Slalom in Arber / Zwiesel
It was not pretty from any of the racers but at the end of the day a race win is a race win. On one of the turniest and icy courses fro the first run and then another killer course for the second, it was Marlies Schild who had the fastest time ahead of Veronika Zuzulova and Tanja Poutiainen with first run leader Maria Pietilae Holmner crashing down to eighth. While many of the racers admitted that the fog and flat light were not ideal for racing, none blamed the weather for their performances.
From the moment that Lindsey Vonn decided not to race following he crash training on Wednesday and then the subsequent switch of races, this race was always going to be different. The weather has played its card heavily this season with the girl’s especially hit hard by cancellations. The decision of the organising committee lead by Atle Skadaal decided that with high winds forecast for Friday, they would switch the Giant Slalom scheduled for Friday with the Slalom that normally follows the Slalom. This proved to be a good call as the weather was not great but it gives the racers a better chance of a result heading into the World Championship week.
Maria Pietilae Holmner put down the class run of the first run to steal a march on her fellow racers with Zuzulova, Schild and Poutiainen all within a second of her. Course setters sometimes talk of setting a killer course that will make the racers work and the second run was one of those courses. While the wind and the fog came in to play, it was the ice that was under the fresh snow that caused many of the racers to ski out. With Riesch and Vonn out in the first run (Riesch crashed out on her inside ski and Vonn failed to make the start), all the focus was now on the Slalom standings rather than the Overall.
The early pace on the second run was set by the young Canadians, Marie Gagnon lead from a starting spot on the second run of 19. Gagnon had skied with her head and safely to put in a solid run. Manuella Moelgg soon dislodged her and then the capitulation started as racers went for it yet blew out for a variety of reasons: Straddles, sitting back and inside skis. With six to go Moelgg could have been excused for starting to think that her maiden World Cup win was within her grasp as racers crashed out.
Zettel and Duerr both made errors that cost them vital time and their challenges were over. Poutiainen then made a big mistake and while she had a large lead over Moelgg, this was cut away. By the time she crossed the line, the Finn had carved out a lead but the question was would it be enough? “It is good to know that I am skiing well enough to make a mistake yet still be challenging,” explained Poutiainen. Asked whether she was aware of the all the racers crashing out, Poutiainen responded that “I was not aware of this as I like to focus on my own run and not others.” Poutiainen had the lead with three to go.
Next up was Schild. A mistake in the top third cut her advantage drastically but then came a supreme display of slalom racing down a difficult slope in horrendous conditions. This was determination at its height! Schild destroyed the lower part of the course to grab the lead off Poutiainen with both hands. Now it was up to Zuzulova and Pietilae Holmner to see what they could do.
Zuzulova was fourth when the races came here in 2004 to grab her first World Cup podium. “This was hard today,” she admitted after her run that saw her almost three quarters of a second behind Schild
With a lead of 0.65 on Schild, the winner in Aspen, Pietilae Holmner had a good idea of what to expect. Ten racers had crashed out on the second run and if she skied to her potential, then surely a second World Cup win would be hers? There is always the problem when you have a large lead of relaxing too much and giving yourself a problem. For the Swede, a mistake mid way down saw her lose her advantage and more and by the time she crossed the line, Schild was in fifth heaven celebrating her fifth win in Slalom in this World Cup season.
For Poutiainen she had the satisfaction of making a world record for consecutive finishes in the World Cup (37), for Schild she grabbed the red bib back to take the lead in the Slalom World Cup. Asked whether the Slalom Crystal Globe is the most important or the World Championship, Schild responded that as “I do not have a Gold medal, that has to be more important to me at the moment.” Schild already has two Slalom Globes.
And now as the wind increases, lets hope we can get a race in tomorrow or there may just be a mad dash across Europe following the race being rescheduled for Sunday…..
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