ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. HINTERSTODER, AUSTRIA – On yet another picture-perfect and warm day in upper Austria, one of the home nation’s favorites delivered in big-time fashion thrilling the enthusiastic, flag-waving crowd. Philipp Schoerghofer shined brightly on a long and turny piste chock full of terrain changes to earn his first career World Cup victory.

Philipp Schoerghofer, of Austria, celebrates at the finish area after winning an alpine ski, World Cup men's Giant Slalom, in Hinterstoder, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Marco Tacca)

The 28-year-old Austrian – who is only in his fourth full season on tour – overcame a 0.35 second first run deficit to Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud, claiming Sunday’s giant slalom by 0.17 seconds. His two-run total on the exhausting “Hannes Trinkl” course was 2:46.44.

“It’s very special for me to win a race at home,” said Schoerghofer just after the awards ceremony in the finish. “At the beginning of the season my target was to win a race and it happened so I’m really happy. It’s a dream come true.”

Schoerghofer – whose previous best career finish was third in Garmisch last March – stepped to the start with Switzerland’s Carlo Janka down bottom in the lead and only Jansrud left to race.

“I had no strategy, just push all the way from the top to the finish line,” he said. “I won and that’s perfect for me.”

Like Schoerghofer, Jansrud took to the sun-drenched hill seeking an elusive first World Cup victory. The 2010 Olympic giant slalom silver medalist, has previously found the podium in his favorite discipline four times, racing to a pair of second place finishes as well as two thirds.

However, the first-run leader began his run sluggishly, and quickly lost valuable time on a bumpy and rutted upper section of the course. Falling behind by more than six-tenths, Jansrud made up ground below but never completely recovered.

"It felt weird up top and I didn't really get my rhythm up there," said Jansrud. "It's difficult up there and i didn't really start working well again until I came onto the flat and from there it was pretty good."

The friendly Norwegian duplicated his second place finish from earlier this season in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

“You want to say it’s a mixed feelings thing, but being on the podium is a privilege,” said Jansrud. “You take a look at the results and Carlo is just a few-hundredths behind me and same with fourth place. It’s a tight race so I’m happy with second.”

For the second consecutive day, Janka displayed close to the form of a season ago. The 2010 Olympic giant slalom gold medalist – third after the morning session – raced into the lead overtaking yesterday’s super-G winner Hannes Reichelt, but ultimately was relinquished to third place.

"I'm very satisfied with the result," said the Swiss racer. "I lost a lot of time on the flat part of the course. But with a fourth yesterday and today's podium finish, I'm satisfied with the weekend. It gives me a boost for the World Championships."

The 2009 World Championship giant slalom gold medalist will seek to defend his title on Friday, February 18th in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

"My goal is to collect a medal, but first I will relax at home," he said. "Then I will go full power at World Championships."

American Bode Miller - third in yesterday's super-G - was attacking and charging in the first run before making a costly mistake only four gates from the bottom. Tied for 28th after the first run, the five-time Olympic medalist was the fastest in the second run by more than four-tenths. Miller cracked the top 10, finishing ninth, 0.57 off the wining time, his best GS result in three years.

"I got tired at the bottom, too lazy I guess," he said referring to his first run mistake. "I felt like I could win today, but with those kind of mistakes you are lucky to make the second run."

Overall World Cup leader Ivica Kostelic once again exhibited consistent skiing, inching closer to that first overall title. On Sunday, he finished a respectable tenth, just 0.67 off the winning Austrian's benchmark. His nearest rival, Didier Cuche moved up from tenth after the first run to finish sixth overall. With 12 World Cup races remaining, Croatia's Kostelic holds a 524-point lead over the Swiss veteran.

Although Hinterstoder is not a regular stop on tour, it clearly bode well for the home Austrians over the past two days. On Saturday, Hannes Reichelt was a surprise winner in the super-G and Schoerghofer's performance on Sunday also turned quite a few heads.

"It was a great weekend for us here at home," said Schoerghofer. "Hopefully, in a few years we come here again."

Brian Pinelli
FISalpine.com
Sunday 6 February 2011