L a t e s t  n e w s ..... Heel wins Super G in Val Gardena with Defago and Jaerbyn on the podium ... Paerson wins Super combined from Hosp and Suter ... Walchhofer retains King of the Hill in Downhill, Miller 2 and Osborne Paradis 3 ... Gut wins Super G in St Moritz from Suter and Fanchini

'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams' (Eleanor Roosevelt).

Pranger reigns again, Confusion switches times

40,000 baying Austrians screamed with joy when Manfred Pranger, winner on Sunday in Kitzbuehel, beat the time of the leader in the finish, Swede Andre Myhrer.  What had occurred over the previous two hours was rich in controversy and farce.  Giorgio Rocca had set the race off with a blistering run.  Nobody was able to better the time and when Rainer Schoenfelder came down and the timing board in the finish showed that he was 3.57 seconds ahead of the Italian, this was the start of a bad night for Siemens.

The first run saw 27 of the 82 starters come out.  These included Kalle Palander and Alois Vogl, winner in Wengen.  As the snow fell, the Austrians had three racers slotted in behind Rocca and this gave the impression that an exciting race was in progress.  News of a delay seeped through as the crowd prepared for the second run.  What had looked to be an anomaly with Schoenfelder’s time was in fact a lot more serious.  The Austrian Ski Federation had installed Siemens as the time keepers for the Austrian races this year instead of Swatch and many times were being questioned.  A half hour delay ensued while the jury discussed what to do.  It was eventually announced that Pranger, and not Schoenfelder, whose time was adjusted.  Schoenfelder had seen his time corrected soon after the glaring mistake had been noticed.

The second run was as fascinating to witness as the first run had been farcical.  22 year old Andre Myhrer from Sweden had started 8^th on the second run and had taken the lead from Canadian JP Roy.  With many of the big names still to go, Myhrer did not expect to stay in the leader’s area for so long.  “It is what I have always wanted ever since I started racing,” explained Myhrer afterwards.  With Kostelic and Miller both crashing out, the Swede lead with the last four still to go.  Pranger, trying not to be affected by being dropped from second to fourth by the timing problem, set a blistering pace and at the bottom was a quarter of a second ahead of the Swede.  “I tried to put aside the issue of the timing and just go out and enjoy my skiing,” explained the Austrian who was also celebrating his birthday.

Neither Schoenfelder or Raich were able to better Pranger’s time and expectation on Rocca was immense.  The Italian has struggled with putting two runs together recently and has failed to finish the last three races in Schladming, Kitzbuehel and Wengen since winning in Chamonix.  The Austrian crowd erupted in jubilation as the Italian slide wide and lost more time than he had in hand over the Austrian.  Pranger was able to celebrate his 27^th birthday in style!  You wait so long for one bus and then two come along!

For the British Team, it was not a night to remember.  Alain straddled early on the first run while Noel made it down but in 41^st place and not qualifying.  “I am skiing better which is good coming up to the Worlds,” said Noel.  Alain has now headed home for a break before the Worlds while Noel is looking to keeping the momentum going so of chasing FIS races.