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).

The Saslong Course has been good to British Skiing again.  Twenty two years after Konrad Bartelski shocked the world with second in the downhill, Finlay Mickel scored the first World Cup Super G points of his career.  “I am happy to hold that,” a clearly relaxed and smiling Mickel volunteered in the finish!

Mickel is riding the crest of a wave at the moment.  “I stood in the start gate today so relaxed and let the racing come to me.”  This new outlook, similar to American sensation Bode Miller, is clearly paying dividends: three world cup points’ results this season is testament to improved form.

The result of 29^th could yet have been better as Mickel almost lost his right ski on the second last turn coming into the finish.  “It was a heart stopping moment but I made mistakes higher up.”  Mickel has shown this season that he can play with the big boys and in training for tomorrows Downhill, Mickel was 9^th quickest up to the last split.  “I lost 1.15 seconds in a twenty second split as I was just not used to the speed – I was rocketing down!”  As the remaining runners came down, many being yellow flagged due to the number crashing at the same place where Mickel almost came unstuck, “this is not how I want to get my first points, but I will take them nonetheless,” reflected Mickel.

Australian AJ Bear was one of a number of racers to take a large crash through the final few turns: “They have taken the course off the slope slightly and then injected the snow with water to harden it up.  A part of it has been missed and this has caused a rut resembling a slalom turn!” reflected Mickel.  For Bear it was reminiscent of his last visit to Val Gardena that saw his season finish as he crashed flying through Ciaslat rupturing his knee.

The race was won by Austrian Michi Walchhofer, who lead a trio of Austrians home ahead of the tiring Bode Miller.  With Miller having already won 5 World Cup races this season, the Austrian Team has had to raise their game to catch the American.  “This is a welcome result,” commented Austrian Team boss Hans Pum.

With twists and turns in the plot, this was a race that had excitement written all across it.  Much was expected of Miller, the man of the moment yet the tiredness of attacking the overall on four fronts is now starting to take effect.  Miller acknowledges this and can feel the tiredness creeping in.  “But this is Gardena, I have to do it!” was how the American rued the timing of the race.  Fourth place for the American was not a disaster and in his own words he admitted to “misjudging it a bit and going too straight high up on the course.  Fourth place is still a good finish for me!” he ended with.

The new and relaxed Mickel is now using the experience and knowledge of the courses to good effect and has a much better feel for his equipment.  Using the same skis, atomic, as the first five finishers today, Mickel is in good standing.  Despite being knocked down to 29^th by late starter Bryon Friedman, Mickel was relieved to have got his name on the points.  Amongst those congratulating Mickel was Konrad Bartelski, who had tried to take Mickel’s race suit off him to have another go down the Saslong course!

1. Michael Walchhofer          AUT     1.31.17

2. Hermann Maier                  AUT     1.31.29

3. Benni Raich                       AUT     1.31.47

29. Finlay Mickel                  GBR     1.33.22