ALPINE SKI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. SCHLADMING, Austria – At 10.30 CET on Thursday morning the first men’s Downhill training took place. Even though there was a light snowfall through the morning, the training proceeded smoothly and a total of 82 racers got a chance to test the course. Crossing the finish line in 2 minutes, 02.98 seconds, Hannes Reichelt was the fastest skier in today’s training.

What a succesful day for Austrian skiers! Regina Sterz posted the fastest time in today's downhill training. Anna Fenninger achieved the second place. Third place: Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden (Switzerland). Foto: GEPA pictures/Mario Kneisl

Having won the last disputed Downhill of the season, the prestigious Kitzbuehel one, Dominik Paris came to Schladming wanting more great results. He once again delivered a strong performance and finished his training in second place, only 0.11 seconds slower then Reichelt. In third place today, another Italian – Christof Innerhofer, who won gold (Super G), silver (Super Combined) and bronze (Downhill) at the 2011 Garmisch-Partenkirchen World Championships and is one of the top favorites on race day.

“It was a good day, I am not really happy by how I dealt with a few sections but overall I had a good first training run,” Reichelt said.”

As on Friday the Ladies will be competing in the Super Combined race, and sharing the finish area was not an option, the second training for the men will finish at the last intermediate time. Skiers were well aware of that so they made sure they tested those last couple of turn properly during today’s run.

“I knew that tomorrow I wouldn’t get the chance to test the bottom section again so I wanted to make sure I did things properly today. The fourth place in the Super G missing the medal by so little makes me that much more motivated to give it my best shot on Saturday in the Downhill.”

Paris was happy with how things went in the training but is also trying to keep his focus on Saturday’s race.

“I skied really well on the top, but made a mistake at the bottom and that cost me some time. I am feeling well, my skiing seems strong and now I can only hope that I can translate it all into race mode because that’s when things count.”

As the men’s training came to an end the second ladies’ downhill training kicked off and an update on the results will be available soon.

by Ana Jelusic
FISalpine.com
Thursday 7 February 2013

Regina Sterz leads Downhill training again

SCHLADMING, Austria – As the men’s training came to an end the second ladies’ Downhill training kicked off giving the skiers a last chance to get to know the Downhill slope before Friday’s Super Combined race.

For the second day in a row, Regina Sterz clocked the fastest time leaving teammate Anna Fenninger 0.16 seconds behind. In third place, 0.36 seconds off the fastest pace, Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden.

“It was a really good day, I think I made two, three small mistakes that I would like to correct for the races but overall I am satisfied with how I skied,” Kaufmann-Abderhalden said about her run.

After the warm and damp weather of the previous days, a rather clear night allowed the surface to harden before a few centimeters covered the ground in the morning.

“The slope sure held on better then in the previous days, it’s more compact, there is more grip on the snow and that allows you to really attack the course. There weren’t any problems in today’s training,” she added.

Tina Maze started these World Championships with a gold medal from the Super G race but is also a top contender for each of the remaining four races scheduled in Schladming.

“It was a good second training for me, it’s a nice slope, it’s getting icier each day and I am getting excited for tomorrow’s Super Combined race,” Maze said before heading back to the hotel to get some rest.

The packed Schladming program continues tomorrow with the ladies’ Super Combined Downhill at 10.00 CET, the second men’s Downhill training at 12.30 CET and the Slalom leg of the ladies’ Super Combined at 14.00 CET.

FISalpine.com
Thursday 7 February 2013