. world ski news : Flisar, Mueller power through heavy snow to claim wins at Bischofswiesen - 01 Ìàðò 2012 - 16:42
SKI CROSS. BISCHOFSWIESEN/GOETSCHEN, GER (FEB 26, 2012) - The moustachioed wunderkid Filip Flisar of Slovenia was able to battle heavy snow and stiff competition to claim his second win of the 2011/12 Audi FIS World Cup ski cross season.
Flisar was very nearly relegated to the small final in his semi-final heat, as he was running in fourth behind Germany's Paul Eckert, the resurgent Michael Schmid of Switzerland, and Fiva, before Eckert and Schmid crashed out of the heat.
In the big final Flisar was able to capitalize on his lucky break and push his way to an early lead on a course made extremely challenging by warm temperatures, the falling snow, and several days of training and competition. Once his lead was gained, the young skier - who travels without a coach, driving himself to the various European events on the circuit - simply held on and pulled away from the pack as the likes of David Duncan (CAN), Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA), and Alex Fiva (SUI) battled for position behind him.
"Second win, I'm happy," said Flisar in the finsh area after the race, "Tough circumstances, holes in the terrain, snowing, I could barely see, but I took advantage of that because I'm pretty good at those types of conditions.
"It was a little tight in the semi-finals, I'm not gonna lie. It was a little tight, but easy then in the finals. I'm very happy."
In the women's big finals, the always charasmatic Katrin Mueller was able to fend off French legend Ophelie David and Canadian upstart Marielle Thompsen to take the first World Cup win of her ski cross career after scoring four 3rd place finishes thus far in the 2011/12 season.
Mueller also took the hard road to the finals, reeling in Germany's Julia Eichinger by a finger in a quarter-finals photo finish.
In a stacked finals heat that featured the soon-to-be 1st and 2nd ranked ladies' SX racers (David and Thompsen) and Saturday's race winner Andrea Limbacher, Mueller used a fast start to work her way to an early lead and then kept herself just out of reach of a hard-charging David to claim the win.
In the finish area, a beaming Mueller recapped the road to her first win.
"In the qualifications I did really bad...I qualified 15th. The heats were pretty exciting. In the first heat I won by a photo finish. In the second heat I had to pass in the middle somewhere. In the final heat I went in front and I never lost the lead. It was awesome. I'm feeling so good."
With their results, David and Thompsen were able to leapfrog the injured Sanna Leudi to put themselves in positions 1 and 2 respectively on the Audi FIS ski cross leaderboard, while Mueller moved herself into a tie for 4th spot with Limbacher. On the men's side, Alex Fiva's strong Sunday showing and a disappointing weekend for Brady Leman saw Fiva overtake the Canadian to regain the red leader's bib.
"Top Competitor of the Weekend" prizes were awarded to Mike Schmid and Ophelie David.
FISfreestyle.com
Monday 27 February 2012
Competition wet and wild at day one of Bischofswiesen SX World Cup
BISCHOFSWIESEN/GOETSCHEN, GER (FEB 25, 2012) - Canadian Tristal Tafel and Austrian Andrea Limbacher were able to overcome wet conditions, a slick track, and a multitude of crashes to claim their first respective World Cup ski cross wins here on Saturday.
Intermittent rain and heavy fog on the top of the pitch combined with a steep, narrow course to ensure the day was not without its fair share of highlights and surprises. For the men, this meant that three of the top four names on the World Cup SX leaderboard did not make it out of the 'Eight Final,' as Andreas Matt (AUT), Alex Fiva (SUI), and leader's bib-holder Brady Leman were among a number of skiers who either crashed out, nearly crashed out and were forced to hike, or simply got pushed to the back and could not make up ground on the speedy track.
For the likes of Tafel and 2nd place finisher John Teller (USA), two skiers looking to make a bigger mark on the SX world, the mistakes of others meant opportunity. Both were able to stay on their feet, stay calm, and claim what was for Teller only his second podium of his career, and for Tafel the first win and first podium of his short time on the World Cup circuit.
“I’m still in shock,” said Tafel, who turns 22 on Sunday. “I was really happy with my starts but in the final I just kept thinking, ‘I’m going to get some contact at this turn or this jump,’ and it never happened. As I turned the corner going into the finish I was like, ‘Holy cow, I’m in the lead and I might just win my first World Cup.’
"Up until now I've just been hoping to make it to the big final."
The always unflappable Chris Del Bosco, himself the recipient of some good luck in his quarter final heat when he jumped from 4th to 2nd place as a result of frontrunners Simon Stickl (GER) and Robert Winkler (AUT) crashing in front of him, placed 3rd. He now sits only 29 points behind teammate Leman for the Audi FIS World Cup SX points lead.
Limbaucher was thrilled to take a victory on the birthdays of both her mom and her husband.
"I skied really well in the first two heats today. In the final it was close again, but I'm stubborn and I wouldn't let anyone go by me. With a little luck, I took it all the way to the finish."
While Limbacher's maiden victory was the story of the day, there was no shortage of happening on the women's side, either. Young Canadian Marielle Thompson, coming into Bischofswiesen as perhaps the hottest skier on tour, couldn't hold it together on Friday and failed to even qualify for the race. Hedda Bertsen won both her quarter and semi final heats, but crashed out on the finals to finish fourth. And in a more positive story, the legendary Ophelie David of France returned from a broken fibula to smoothly and powerfully ski her way to a second place result in her first race back.
Alizee Baron, also of France, rounded out the ladies' top three.
Competition continues at Bischofswiesen/Goetschen today with the second of the weekend's planned races ready to go. Steady snow and cooler temperatures ensure Sunday's race will at least as thrilling as what was on display here Saturday.
Next week the Audi FIS World Cup ski cross circuit moves to Branas, Sweden.
FISfreestyle.com
Sunday 26 February 2012