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The Magazine for those interested in British and International Ski Racing and Competitive Snowsport
Last updated: 20/12/2008 19:06:33 L a t e s t n e w s ..... 'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams' (Eleanor Roosevelt). |
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Miller and Kostelic back on top!
With the World Cup back in full flow, the North American leg of the tour has kicked off with some exciting racing. Bode Miller admitted after winning the final training run for the opening downhill on Friday that going 30th would be interesting: Since the race was switched from Whistler in 1999, Austrians had won the race and the course favoured early starters. The fact that Miller had stood up and coasted into the finish yet had still won by a clear margin, does not bode well for the rest of the Downhillers (excuse the pun!). For Kostelic, the trauma of thyroid cancer and knee injuries, disappeared into the past as she won her 17th career slalom. With Tanja Poutiainen having gone for bust in winning the Giant Slalom on Friday ahead of Anja Paerson and Kostelic, a three way fight is emerging between these three girls in the technical events.
The
men's downhill started in cold yet clear conditions, a start contrast to the
overcast, flat and snowing conditions experienced by the girls in Aspen. With
no Stephan Eberharter, Miller still had the might of the Austrian team to
contend with. At first though it was the Swiss team that laid down the times
and it was Sylvan Zurbriggan, better known as a Slalom skier (silver in St
Moritz World Championships 2003), who lead the way. Despite going through the
speed trap a shade under 80mph, Britain's Finlay Mickel improved as the course
went on. 21st quickest through the speed trap meant that his fast last
section (10th quickest) caught up some of the time lost in the early top
section. Mickel however would finish in 29th place on a day he had hoped to
make a career best top 20 result.
Talking
to Nick Fellows of Channel 4, Mickel had been disappointed with his training
runs as he had made a few mistakes and felt that he could go quicker. Yet not
having scored any points at all last year, this meant he has already improved
on last years haul!
The
race however belonged to Bode Miller. Despite his worries in going number 30,
Miller destroyed the rest as he had done in Solden in the Giant Slalom in
October. Armed with his Atomics, Miller has an aura of supremacy at the
moment and is looking good to be the first American to win the overall since
Phil Mahre in 1983, his stated goal for the season. having always wanted to be
a four event skier, Miller will now have the strong Austrian team scratching
their heads as they look to stop him.
Despite having 7 racers in the top 12, Michi
Walchhofer in third was their best result. They looked to have won at one
stage but then Miller still had to come down and Frenchman, Antoine Deneriaz
took second. The great Herminator could only manage 6th behind American
Rahlves.
For Kostelic the dream of racing, let alone
winning, burns hard again. Sitting in second after the first run, behind
Poutiainen yet ahead of Anja Paerson, Kostelic skied a faultless second run to
put the pressure on the Finnish girl. Paerson had attacked the second run but
the mistakes had crept in and although she lead in the finish both Poutiainen
and Kostelic still had to come down. Kostelic's run was reminiscent of her
incredible 8 of 9 wins in 2001 and gave her a lead
over a second on Paerson. For the Finn it was not
to two wins in two days after her storming Giant slalom win on Friday.
Although she had a healthy lead on Nikki Hosp in 4th after the first run,
Poutiainen was nervy and saved herself a podium spot when she could have had
much more.
American Julia Mancuso made the most of an
early start on the second run in the snowy conditions to rise from 26th to
10th, just behind a three way tie for 7th between Nicole Guis (Italy),
Annamarie Gerg and Monica Bergman-Schmuderer (both Germany).
No Chemmy racing in Aspen as she is nursing an
injured ankle yet she plans to be back in Lake Louise next weekend. Lake
Louise saw Chemmy make the world sit up and notice last year so here's hoping
she can put the disappointment behind her from Solden.
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