. world ski news : Marlies SCHILD NO1, RIESCH with the cup in Garmish - 13 March 2010 - 15:36
Second slalom World Cup title for Maria Riesch
Maria Riesch had to fight hard until the last gate of the last slalom run to successfully defend her slalom World Cup title at Garmisch-Partenkirchen while Austria's Marlies Schild celebrated her third season win thanks to blistering performances in both legs. The 25-year-old German who started that last season race with a lead of only 23 points on Kathrin Zettel, the last winner at Maribor, felt great pressure as Zettel found back most of her winning form today to strongly challenge the Olympic champion on the steep and treacherous Gudiberg course. 6th in the morning run with a delay on 12/100 of a second on Riesch, Zettel took all risks in the early afternoon to establish a new best time out of reach for her next rivals, including Maria Riesch who lost 70/100 on her after her second run. Only Schild could ski a little faster than her teammate.
Fortunately for her, no other racer skied between both favorites, allowing Riesch to keep a small margin of three points in the final slalom standings. "I have been struggling today, I did not find back my confidence and my form from the Olympics, I'm really lucky I could make it here," the skier from Garmisch-Partenkirchen said afterwards. "My level of energy was much lower today and I could not fully attack as in Canada," she also explained. "It was really tough and I'm so happy I could do it again. Before the race, I told myself that I had already accomplished great performances during this season, including here where I excelled in all the past three races."
A long season for Maria Riesch.
"It has been a long season for me, it's quite demanding to compete in all the races. To win once more this crystal globe is definitely special. Our team did really well this winter. I'm looking forward for the World Championships here."
With more than a dozen of podium finishes this winter including her three wins, Maria Riesch achieved once again a great World Cup season, ‘only' 155 points behind her good friend Lindsey Vonn. "It's very encouraging to see that I kept on improving in the past three years and I'm quite excited about my capacity to reach the podium in all specialties including in giant slalom. For sure I aim to clinch the big cup in the coming years, it would mean a lot to me."
Winter is not totally over for Maria Riesch as she plans to train a few days on the downhill course during the coming weeks. "The conditions are really good right now and it makes sense to test the course a little more," she explained. "But I'll soon take a break and enjoy a few days off somewhere far from here - in a sunny and warm place," she added with a smile.
Marlies Schild was the fastest slalom skier.
Looking back to the entire season, it's obvious that Marlies Schild has again been the faster slalom specialist with a total of three wins. A little more luck in some occasions like Zagreb or Maribor would have put her out of reach for the other skiers. Yet the Austrian was pleased the same with her comeback season. "I enjoyed many great moments this winter, I did better than expected in several occasions and I'm happy with my recent results, especially my second Olympic medal. I could not ask for more after all the health problems I had to overcome after my injury two years ago at Soelden," added the 29-year-old.
"It's great to end the season on such a high note. This slope is very demanding and I'm looking forward for the next World Championships here next year. It's good to have high goals again now. A few months ago I was not even sure to still have the potential to get onto the podium again. Now I know I'm almost back again."
Like most other top-skiers, Schild will be testing new skis in the coming weeks prior taking some deserved holidays and tank some energy before her next training camps. The Austrian team badly needs her to lead the charge for more successes in the coming season - which starts soon again at Soelden - in seven months!
PkL
FISalpine.com
13 March, 2010
Place Garmisch Partenkirchen (GER) Discipline Slalom
Date 13.03.2010 Category FIS World Cup
Race codex 6765 Gender L
Valid for FIS Points YES TD Name Bedrac Gorazd (SLO)
Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time FIS Points
1 7 55590 SCHILD Marlies 1981 AUT 56.51 53.06 1:49.57 0.00
2 6 55838 ZETTEL Kathrin 1986 AUT 57.73 53.04 1:50.77 6.57
3 1 206001 RIESCH Maria 1984 GER 57.61 53.86 1:51.47 10.40
4 16 206035 CHMELAR Fanny 1985 GER 58.54 53.10 1:51.64 11.34
5 5 195972 AUBERT Sandrine 1982 FRA 58.25 53.56 1:51.81 12.27
6 4 565243 MAZE Tina 1983 SLO 58.23 53.59 1:51.82 12.32
7 10 505760 PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria 1986 SWE 58.38 53.51 1:51.89 12.70
8 13 185140 POUTIAINEN Tanja 1980 FIN 58.49 53.53 1:52.02 13.42
9 8 205168 DUERR Katharina 1989 GER 57.67 54.51 1:52.18 14.29
9 3 155415 ZAHROBSKA Sarka 1985 CZE 57.56 54.62 1:52.18 14.29
11 11 206279 GEIGER Christina 1990 GER 58.70 53.76 1:52.46 15.83
12 24 296354 COSTAZZA Chiara 1984 ITA 59.30 53.24 1:52.54 16.26
13 21 295435 GIUS Nicole 1980 ITA 59.50 53.09 1:52.59 16.54
14 27 55576 GOERGL Elisabeth 1981 AUT 58.62 54.00 1:52.62 16.70
15 22 106527 ACTON Brigitte 1985 CAN 58.78 53.87 1:52.65 16.87
16 23 55759 KIRCHGASSER Michaela 1985 AUT 58.28 54.87 1:53.15 19.60
17 17 505679 HANSDOTTER Frida 1985 SWE 59.67 53.66 1:53.33 20.59
18 20 505610 BORSSEN Therese 1984 SWE 59.91 53.68 1:53.59 22.01
19 14 385032 JELUSIC Ana 1986 CRO 59.91 53.80 1:53.71 22.67
20 25 536481 SCHLEPER Sarah 1979 USA 1:00.06 53.81 1:53.87 23.55
21 26 205993 HOELZL Kathrin 1984 GER 1:00.10 53.79 1:53.89 23.66
22 9 505483 PAERSON Anja 1981 SWE 1:00.15 54.11 1:54.26 25.68
23 18 196806 NOENS Nastasia 1988 FRA 1:01.10 53.49 1:54.59 27.49
Did not start 1st run
12 537544 VONN Lindsey 1984 USA
Did not finish 2nd run
19 185271 LEINONEN Sanni 1989 FIN
15 296259 MOELGG Manuela 1983 ITA
2 206160 RIESCH Susanne 1987 GER