SOELDEN, Austria – The Germans capitalized on coach Christian Schwaiger’s giant slalom course set and powerfully dominated the first run of the season opening race in Soelden on Saturday.

Germany's Kathrin Hoelzl passes a gate on her way to set the fastest time, during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup giant slalom, in Soelden, Austria, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

The second racer down the course, world GS champion Kathrin Hoelzl, blazed down the course faster than anyone else, finishing in 1 minute, 11.74 seconds as Maria Riesch –immediately proving that last season’s sweeping improvement in GS was no fluke – and Olympic GS gold medalist Viktoria Rebensburg tied for second fastest, 0.45 seconds behind their teammate.

Germany's Maria Riesch passes a gate during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

“He just said, ‘Have fun, keep cool,’ Rebensburg said of Schwaiger’s instructions before the run. “There were a few gates where we had to ski really good. It’s pretty bumpy, but I think it should be fine (for the second run).”

Maria Riesch of Germany speeds down the course during the first run of women's skiing World Cup giant slalom race in Soelden, Austria, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Keystone, Alessandro Della Bella)

Soelden’s 2009 defending champion Tanja Poutiainen was fourth after the first run, 0.65 seconds back, followed by Italy’s Manuela Moelgg and Denise Karbon, who were 0.89 and 0.91 seconds back, respectively. Slovenia’s Tina Maze also squeaked into the group who finished within a second of the leader but everyone else in the field was well over a second behind.

Tanja Poutiainen of Finland passes a gate during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

The course conditions deteriorated quickly and by the time American Sarah Schleper ran wearing bib No. 22, she said there were deep grooves around every gate, rendering it very difficult to take a tight line and that the course was very “chattery.” She finished 27th.

Lindsey Vonn of the United States reacts in the finish area after completing the first run of an alpine ski women's World Cup giant slalom race in Soelden, Austria, Saturday Oct. 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

Italy’s Nicole Gius was the last racer to finish in the top 30 flip, nearly four and a half seconds behind Hoelzl’s lead time.

As for racers returning from injury, Swiss teenager Lara Gut put down a solid run to finish 21st, the same as her bib number, three and a half seconds back as Nicole Hosp, starting No. 36, didn’t finish in the fold at 32nd.

Clouds were moving in making for what looks to bring flat light to the second run, which begins at 1 p.m. local time.

Shauna Farnell
FISalpine.com
Saturday 23 October 2010

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