ALPINE SKI. Ofterschwang , Germany – It was raining early in the morning but the weather man was right. It stopped and partially cleared up as the morning progressed and conditions were good on time for another exciting race. In the lead after the first run, Austria’s Anna Fenninger didn’t let anyone overtake her and clinched her second Giant Slalom victory of the season in a combined time of 2:29.39. She defeated World Cup champion Tina Maze who ended 0.44 seconds behind. Local hero Viktoria Rebensburg gave it her all to make up the time she lost in the first run, but it wasn’t sufficient to win today. She stayed in 3rd position, 0.96 seconds adrift. 24-year-old Eva-Maria Brem  from Austria improved her personal best, taking 4th, while France’s Anemone Marmottan recorded the best time of the second run and finally took 5th. 

After winning the second Super G in Garmisch-Partenkirchen last Sunday, 23-year-old Anna Fenninger kept the momentum to climbed onto the top of the podium for the third time this season.  

“I was quite surprised to see how fast I managed to ski in the second run, starting last”, she said. “The conditions weren’t as good as they were obviously in the first run. I’ve been feeling really good in the last weeks. I skied with instinct and without too much thinking and it’s working again today. I’m extremely happy about it”

Tina Maze got her 8th Giant Slalom podium in 8 races so far this season, the 21st in all disciplines. She broke a new record becoming the first woman in World Cup history to make 8 Giant Slalom podiums in one season. “The slope was in a good state and I enjoyed skiing on it”, the Slovenian admitted.

“I made a little mistake in the top section that cost me quite a lot of energy and therefore it was hard to keep up with Anna.”

Local hero Viktoria Rebensburg was actually looking for a third victory in a row in Ofterschwang, after winning the 2 Giant Slaloms held last year. “It was a great race and if you look at my results in the past weeks, then a 3rd place is very satisfying”, confessed the Olympic champion.

“I’ve been struggling to keep my technique at the highest level all along the season. I will try my best to make a podium again in Lenzerheide at the World Cup finals”, she concluded!

Among the three, only Tina Maze will race in tomorrow’s Slalom. In her quest for the 4 little crystal globes, she will do everything to overtake Mikaela Shiffrin, who skied out today, in the Slalom standings. Another thrilling race is coming up! Stay tuned!

FISalpine.com
Saturday 9 March 2013