. world ski news : Matt gives home crowd a victory - 22 January 2008 - 23:21
Alpine ski World Cup, Night Slalom, Schladming, Austria
SCHLADMING, Austria -- It had been nearly eight years since Mario Matt won a World Cup race in front of his home fans. A crowd of 50,000 reminded him what it felt like.
Mario Matt of Austria slaloms past a pole on his way to clock the second fastest time on the Planai course, one of the steepest slalom slopes on the circuit, which was weakened due to continual rain since late Monday, during the first run of a men's ski World Cup night slalom in Schladming , Austria, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
The 28-year-old Austrian skied two near-flawless runs, overcoming a rain-slogged course and winning a classic night slalom Tuesday on the Planai course for his 10th World Cup victory.
First placed Mario Matt, of Austria, at the finish line of the Alpine skiing men's World Cup slalom in Schladming, Austria, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
"This is great. It feels like the first time," said Matt, who also won the event in Schladming in 2000. "I've had lots of troubles since then, with my material and with my shoulder. It's just fantastic to win again."
Matt, who was second after the first run, won in a combined time of 1 minute, 41.08 seconds.
France's Jean-Baptiste Grange, who had won three straight World Cup slaloms, finished second, 0.64 seconds behind Matt.
Jean-Baptiste Grange, of France, slaloms past a pole on his way to clock the third fastest time on the Planai course, one of the steepest slalom slopes on the circuit, which was weakened due to continual rain since late Monday, during the first run of a men's ski World Cup night slalom in Schladming , Austria, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Manfred Moelgg of Italy, the first-run leader, lost time due to an error shortly before the finish and took third, 0.65 seconds behind. American Ted Ligety came in fourth.
Matt was not surprised by his second victory, adding to his triumph in Adelboden, Switzerland.
"I also was third in Kitzbuehel last Sunday, so I knew I was skiing very well," he said. "It just came down to having two good runs - and I had them tonight."
Matt used specially prepared slalom skies with a hole in the front part for better balance in Kitzbuehel, but wore his old skies in Schladming.
"I wore the same skies I had in Adelboden," Matt said. "I just have more confidence in these normal skies I have been using for so long."
Grange was happy with a second-place finish that kept him atop the slalom standings.
"I had two good runs, but Mario was just better today," he said. "For me it was important to get as many ranking points as possible."
Moelgg said he was disappointed after missing out on a possible victory, unable to capitalize on his eight-hundredths of a second advantage over Matt.
Manfred Moelgg, of Italy, slaloms past a pole on his way to clock the fastest time on the Planai course, one of the steepest slalom slopes on the circuit, which was weakened due to continual rain since late Monday, during the first run of a men's ski World Cup night slalom in Schladming , Austria, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
"I had to attack to beat Mario's time, and it's a shame that I had a mistake at the very end," Moelgg said.
Ligety, who was 11th after the opening run, had a fast second heat to finish 0.70 seconds behind the winner.
Fourth placed U.S. Ted Ligety celebrates at the end of the Alpine skiing men's World Cup slalom in Schladming, Austria, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
"I am happy with my overall performance," Ligety said. "It's great to finish fourth coming from 11th, but it's hard to miss the podium by 0.05 seconds."
Between the two runs, Ligety said conditions were not fair for late starters.
"Every turn is a hole in the weak snow, and it becomes even worse after every racer," Ligety said. "The course was much better in the second run."
Overall World Cup leader Benjamin Raich was eighth, 1.63 seconds behind the winner.
Benjamin Raich, of Austria, slaloms past a pole on his way to clock the fifth fastest time on the Planai course, one of the steepest slalom slopes on the circuit, which was weakened due to continual rain since late Monday, during the first run of a men's ski World Cup night slalom in Schladming , Austria, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
The men's World Cup circuit continues this weekend with a downhill race and a super-combi in Chamonix, France.
By ERIC WILLEMSEN
The Associated Press
January 23, 2008
Kalle Palander, of Finland, slaloms past a pole on his way to clock the tenth fastest time on the Planai course, one of the steepest slalom slopes on the circuit, which was weakened due to continual rain since late Monday, during the first run of a men's ski World Cup night slalom in Schladming , Austria, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
From left, second placed Jean Baptiste Grange, of France, first placed Mario Matt, of Austria and third placed Manfred Moelgg, of Italy, celebrate on the podium at the end of the Alpine skiing men's World Cup slalom in Schladming, Austria, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)