ALPINE SKI. The overall Audi FIS Ski World Cup winners also top the season’s prize money list. Lindsey Vonn, thanks to her impressive 12 season wins and a total of 17 podium finishes, is the unquestionable leader on the ladies’ side with total earnings of CHF 552’994. Marcel Hirscher, a nine-time season World Cup winner with a total of 14 podium finishes, collected a bit short of half-million Swiss francs with CHF 460’688.
Behind Hirscher, the six-time season winner Ivica Kostelic (CRO) beat Hirscher’s challenger for the men’s large globe Beat Feuz of Switzerland – four season wins, 13 season podiums – in prize money by some 3’000 francs (CHF 324’357 vs CHF 321’490, respectively). Thanks to pocketing the season’s biggest prize money cheque awarded to the winner of the Kitzbühel downhill Didier Cuche netted CHF 284’180 (4 victories) in prize money alone in his final season, ranking 4th.
Behind Vonn on the ladies’ side, Maria Hoefl-Riesch (CHF 278’413; 3 victories and 9 podiums) and Marlies Schild (CHF 277’550; 6 victories) rank 2nd and 3rd, just ahead of Viktoria Rebensburg (CHF 266’744) in 4th and Tina Maze (CHF 266’488) in 5th. Rebensburg added two victories to her season total during the Finals, finishing the season with 5 wins and total of 8 podiums, while Maze recorded ten season podiums but no victories.
On this season’s final rankings, the top 11 ladies passed the CHF 100’000 mark in prize money earnings while on the men’s side the top 17 achieved the same.
As per FIS Rules, the minimum prize money per Audi FIS Ski World Cup event amounts to CHF 100'000, typically divided amongst the top 10 racers. In some cases, the Organizers pay larger than the required minimum prize money.
FISalpine.com Sunday 18 March 2012
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