ALPINE SKI. WENGEN, Switzerland – No one expected it, including 2011 Overall World Cup Champion Ivica Kostelic. He stormed from a 2.96-second disadvantage after the downhill here to win the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Men's Super Combined.

Starting the slalom in reverse order, Kostelic skied seventh - yet the disadvantage didn't sway him. The Croatian put down what he called one of his “best runs ever” and anxiously watched as 22 competitors went down the course after him. No one could touch the racer who proved once again that he earned his 2011 Overall World Cup title. Today he secured his fifth career win in Wengen (three slaloms, 2 super combined wins).

After the downhill run, the leaders were Switzerland's Beat Fuez in first and U.S.'s Bode Miller in second. Murmurs around the stadium seemed to favor Miller - the 2010 Lauberhorn super combined winner and best all-around skier in alpine history - to seal the deal. As Miller crossed the finish, there were gasps in the crowd. He didn't beat Kostelic's time, nor did Fuez, who came down last. Feuz's .78 advantage over Miller after the downhill allowed him a little wiggle room - even after a solid slalom run - and he bested the U.S. racer by .25 seconds to get second. Miller was third.

“I guess no one would put money on me after the downhill,” Kostelic said, joking after the race. “I didn't expect this victory at all...but fortunately, I can say I had one of my best [slalom] runs ever.”


He wouldn't reiterate that sentiment regarding his downhill run. “I made a mistake at the top after the Minschkante, not 3 seconds [worth] though.” He, instead, says the issue with today's downhill is actually something he has been struggling with this season - gliding. “This year I've lost a lot of time in the flat parts, and today is no exception.”

But with the downhill behind him, he relied on his slalom specialties - skiing a rhythmic, and even artistic second run - to clinch the win. Croatian coaches and staff surrounding Kostelic in the leader box nearly pig piled him upon the news of his win - Kostelic said his heart almost fell out of his chest in surprise and excitement.

Feuz - who has five podiums this season, including a super G win in Val Gardena - said he was pleased by his performance, which was aided by an enthusiastic home country crowd. “I love it,” he said. “I love skiing in front of my home crowd.” Adding: “The good thing about today - nobody came close to my [downhill] time.”

On the other hand, Miller skied a solid downhill but was extremely frustrated by his slalom. He made a mistake that knocked him on his heels early in the run, and then - uncharacteristic of him - cautiously skied the last gates.

“He's frustrated by that because it's not the way he likes to ski,” said U.S. Ski Team Head Coach Sasha Rearick. “He wants to be able to ski inspirationally where he's pushing the limits of the sport and today he was holding within himself and that's why he's bummed...but it's still a podium.”

The Lauberhorn races continue tomorrow with the downhill. Feuz might be the one to watch, feeling confident after today's result. When asked if he might be a podium contender tomorrow, he said he will hold off on picking up his prize money tonight. “The way I skied downhill today, I think I have a little chance to be on the podium tomorrow so, yes, I will collect my prize money then.”

By Vanessa Pierce
FISalpine.com
Friday 13 January 2012

Goergl posts lead time in abbreviated Cortina training

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – The wind was kicking up in unusual swirls throughout the day Friday for the second downhill training run in Cortina. The women still started from the top of the course but officials ran the training without the final jump before the finish line.

Nonetheless, it was Elisabeth Goergl who posted the fastest time, finishing the abbreviated course in 1 minute, 36.88 seconds. Wearing bib No. 37, young Norwegian Lotte Smiseth Sejersted managed to finish just 0.24 seconds off the lead time and Lindsey Vonn, who was fastest in the full-length training run on Thursday, was third Friday, 0.29 back.

“It was so windy I felt I could just tuck through the whole thing,” Sejersted said. “It’s windy in all directions. The snow was really good, though – I think it was even better today. You can’t really tell for the whole timing today, but I had some good split times and I felt I had a really good run. But training is training and a race is a race, so I’ll focus on doing the same thing tomorrow.”

The wind is supposed to die down on Saturday and weather is calling for the same sun and blue sky that have graced both days of training in the beautiful resort nestled in the Dolomite mountains.

Only Serjested and Vonn finished within a second of Goergl’s lead training time on Friday. Maria Hoefl-Riesch, who won the downhill in Cortina last year, finished fourth, 1.04 seconds back, France’s Marion Rolland was fifth, 1.25 seconds out, her teammate Margot Bailet (in bib No. 35) was sixth, 1.60 seconds out, Stacey Cook, who was also very fast (third) in training on Thursday, was seventh Friday, 1.67 seconds out, Anja Paerson was eighth, 1.83 seconds out, Italian Lucia Recchia, second in training Thursday, was ninth, 1.90 seconds out and Verena Stuffer was 10th, 1.99 seconds out. The rest of the field finished well over 2 seconds slower than Goergl’s lead time.

The 2012 FIS Audi women’s World Cup downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo is scheduled to kick off at 10:30 a.m. local time on Saturday.

By Shauna Farnell
FISalpine.com
Friday 13 January 2012

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