. world ski news : World cup finals - 14 March 2005 - 13:52
Matt wins slalom for first victory in more than four years
LENZERHEIDE, ( 13/03/2005 13:37 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Mario Matt of Austria won the men's season-ending World Cup slalom on Sunday _ his first victory in more than four years _ and newly crowned overall champion Bode Miller successfully completed his second slalom race this season. Matt, the 2001 world champion, maintained his lead from the first run to complete the sun-drenched Silvano Beltrametti course in a combined time of 1 minute, 22.81 seconds.
Alois Vogl of Germany, who posted his first career World Cup win on the tough slalom course in Wengen, Switzerland, placed second in 1:23.54. Rainer Schoenfelder of Austria was third in 1:23.55.
Miller, who trailed in 13th place after a mistake in the opening leg, delivered a blistering second run to climb back to sixth, .85 off the pace.
Miller, the overall and super-G World Cup champion, won the only other slalom he completed this season, at the night race in Sestriere, Italy, on Dec. 13.
The 27-year-old American switched ski brands over the summer to place more emphasis on the speed races, but slumped in the tightest gate discipline and failed to finish seven of nine slaloms this season. He also went out in the slalom and the slalom legs of both the combined and team events at the world championships in Bormio.
Paerson wins overall World Cup title
LENZERHEIDE, ( 13/03/2005 15:50 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Anja Paerson of Sweden held off Janica Kostelic of Croatia by just three points to win the women's overall World Cup title on Sunday.
The tight race for the overall crown came down to the final skier of the final race of the season.
Tanja Poutiainen of Finland, had already clinched the slalom globe, took the giant slalom title.
Marie Jose Rienda Contreras, the last skier of the day, won the final giant slalom in 2 minutes, 20.18 seconds.
Poutiainen was second in 2:20.48, and Nicole Hosp of Austria was third in 2:20.69.
Paerson had entered the race with a 35-point lead over Kostelic in the overall standings, and she would have automatically won the title by finishing ahead of the Croat.
The Swede seemed on track to retain her overall title in the opening leg, finishing ahead of Kostelic, but things got dicy for Paerson in the second run.
Kostelic managed another strong performance in the second leg, crossing fourth. Paerson, running next, was uncharacteristically slow in her favorite discipline, finishing just within the points in 13th place with four racers to go.
Kostelic could have secured the title by finishing seventh or higher as long Paerson fell out of the top 15. At the World Cup finals, only the top 15 finishers score points.
With one skier left, Kostelic was sitting seventh and Paerson was already out of the top 15. But Rienda Contreras delivered a sizzling final run _ overcoming a mistake where she went wide _ to win the race and give Paerson the overall title by bumping Kostelic to eighth. Paerson was 17th.
Paerson finished the season with 1,359 points, followed by Kostelic with 1,356.
Miller wins skiing's overall title; first non-European in 22 years
LENZERHEIDE, ( 12/03/2005 13:54 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Bode Miller became the first American in 22 years to win skiing's overall World Cup title Saturday. Miller finished ahead of his only remaining challenger _ Benjamin Raich of Austria _ in the final giant slalom of the season and became the first non-European overall champion since Americans Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney won in 1983.
Miller finished second in the giant slalom, 0.68 seconds behind Stephan Goergl of Austria, who won with a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 10.51 seconds. Raich came in third, 0.80 behind.
Raich's only chance to stay alive in the overall competition coming into the race was to win and hope that Miller finished outside the top 15. Raich skied before Miller and posted the best time to that point. The Austrian's lead held for four more skiers until Miller ended the suspense by beating Raich.
With only Sunday's slalom race remaining, Miller holds an insurmountable 204-point lead. Miller has 1,608 points to Raich's 1,404, with wins worth 100 points.
Raich was left with the consolation prize of winning the season's World Cup giant slalom title on Saturday, finishing with a three-point edge over Miller, the defending champion in that category.
The overall was Miller's main goal all season.
Skiers put much greater stake in the overall title than Olympic and world championship gold medals because the standings are determined over the course of an entire season rather than just a single race.
Miller set up his victory with an extraordinary start to the season, winning six of the first 10 races. On Dec. 13, he captured his only slalom victory of the season and joined Marc Girardelli as the only male skiers to win races in all four alpine disciplines in one winter. Miller then went on a three-month winless streak in the World Cup _ excluding his two gold medals at last month's world championships, which do not count in the World Cup standings.
The American's 400-point lead over Raich in December shrunk to just 52 points entering this week's World Cup finals.
With the pressure on, however, and the season growing shorter, Miller responded with three top-notch performances. He finished second in Thursday's downhill, snapped his winless streak on Friday by sharing a super-G victory with teammate Daron Rahlves _ taking the World Cup super-G title in the process _ and then clinched the overall with another podium performance Saturday.
Schleper captures first win; Kostelic narrows gap behind Paerson
LENZERHEIDE, ( 12/03/2005 12:50 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Sarah Schleper of the United States posted her first career World Cup victory in the season's final slalom race Saturday, and Janica Kostelic finished second to close in on overall leader Anja Paerson.
Paerson finished in 10th place and now has 1,359 points in the overall World Cup standings, 35 points more than Kostelic with Sunday's season-ending giant slalom still to come. Kostelic has 1,324 points. Paerson will be favored in Sunday's GS, and a win will get her another 100 points.
Schleper covered the Silvano Beltrametti course in a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 29.13 seconds, maintaining her lead from the first run.
Kostelic was 0.34 seconds behind and Nicole Hosp of Austria was 0.90 back for third.
Tanja Poutiainen of Finland tied with Martina Ertl of Germany for fourth. Poutiainen had already wrapped up the season's World Cup slalom title with one race to spare at Maribor, Slovenia, in January.
Poutiainen's coach set the first run and Kostelic's father and coach Ante Kostelic placed the gates for the second.
Schleper's previous best results were two second-place finishes in slaloms at Sestriere, Italy, in 2000 and last season. Teammates Lindsey Kildow, Julia Mancuso and Resi Stiegler joined her in the finish area to celebrate, jumping on top of one another.
Dorfmeister wins super-G crown
LENZERHEIDE, ( 11/03/2005 14:39 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria won the final super-G of the season Friday and claimed the World Cup title in the discipline.
Anja Paerson of Sweden extended her lead over Croatia's Janica Kostelic in the overall standings with a third-place finish.
Dorfmeister, the 2001-02 overall winner, added to her giant slalom crystal globe from 1999-2000 and the downhill crown she won last year. The last skier on the course, she only needed to finish ninth once countrywoman Renate Goetschl, who skied immediately before her, finished outside the top three.
Dorfmeister took nothing for granted, however, racing down the course to win the title in emphatic fashion with a time of 1 minute, 12.38 seconds, 0.30 seconds ahead of another Austrian, Marlies Schild. Paerson was 0.58 behind and opened up an 89-point lead in the overall World Cup standings over Kostelic, who finished 15th.
Paerson now leads Kostelic 1,333 points to 1,244 with only Saturday's slalom and Sunday's giant slalom remaining.
Dorfmeister finished with 493 super-G points, while Goetschl _ who won the downhill race and season title Thursday _ finished with 416 after coming fifth in Friday's race.
Lindsey Kildow of the United States was fourth Friday to end up third in the super-G standings with 396 points.
Miller ties with Rahlves for super-G win, closes in on overall title
LENZERHEIDE, ( 11/03/2005 11:57 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Bode Miller tied with American teammate Daron Rahlves to win the final super-G of the season Friday, virtually wrapping up the overall World Cup title.
Miller increased his overall World Cup lead to 184 points over Benjamin Raich of Austria, who finished 11th in Friday's race. Miller's victory also earned him the season's World Cup super-G title in an upset over Austria's Hermann Maier.
Maier started the day with a 54-point lead on Miller in the super-G standings. Miller and Maier were the final two skiers down the course. After Miller finished even with Rahlves in 1 minute, 10.24 seconds, Maier needed a podium place to secure the title but finished ninth. Another Austrian, Stephan Goergl, completed the podium with third place in 1:10.29.
Miller beat Maier 470-453 in the final super-G standings.
In the overall standings, Miller leads Raich 1,528 points to 1,344. The only way Miller can lose the overall title is if Raich wins the remaining two races _ Saturday's giant slalom and Sunday's slalom _ and the American finishes outside the top 15 both days.
Miller is bidding to become the first American to win an overall title since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney in 1983.
Walchhofer wins World Cup downhill title ahead of Miller; Kjus wins final race
LENZERHEIDE, ( 10/03/2005 16:27 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Michael Walchhofer placed fourth in the season's final downhill Thursday, but it was good enough to lock up his first World Cup title in the discipline.
Norway's Lasse Kjus won the race for his first World Cup downhill victory in over a year, while Bode Miller stretched his lead for the overall title with a second-place showing.
The 29-year-old Walchhofer was assured the title even before leaving the start hut after Miller, his nearest rival, came in only second. Miller needed a win to have any chance to claim the downhill season title. Kjus won in 1 minute, 24.09 seconds, .14 ahead of Miller.
Fritz Strobl of Austria was third in 1:24.27.
Walchhofer, despite injuring his knee in a crash at the Kvitfjell, Norway, downhill last weekend, finished tied for fourth with teammate Hermann Maier in 1:24.77.
Walchhofer, who won in Wengen, Switzerland, and twice in Garmisch, Germany, this season, took the downhill season title with a total of 681 points. Miller finished with 618.
But Miller picked up 80 valuable points to extend his lead over Austrian rival Benjamin Raich in the chase for the coveted overall season title. Raich finished only 11th to earn 24 points.
Miller, who entered the race with a 52-point advantage over Raich, built his lead to 128 points. Miller has 1,428 points, Raich 1,320. Both men will compete in the remaining three races: super-G, giant slalom and slalom.
Miller could clinch the title in Friday's super-G if he wins the race and Raich fails to make the top 15. Only the top 15 score points at finals.
Goetschl wins women's downhill title and final race
LENZERHEIDE, ( 10/03/2005 12:07 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Renate Goetschl of Austria won the final women's downhill of the season Thursday to clinch the World Cup discipline title for the fourth time in her career.
Goetschl entered the race holding a 32-point lead over Germany's Hilde Gerg. After Thursday's victory, Goetschl finished with 567 points, while Gerg was second with 495.
Goetschl charged down the 2,213-meter Silvano Beltrametti course in 1 minute, 26.89 seconds for 100 points. France's Ingrid Jacquemod was runnerup in 1:27.16.
Gerg finished third in 1:27.56 for 60 points, not enough to catch Goetschl.
Michael Dorfmeister of Austria and Lindsey Kildow also had outside chances at the downhill title. But the American fell midway through the race, skidding into the safety netting.
Miller's overall World Cup title chances hanging on weather
LENZERHEIDE, ( 09/03/2005 18:47 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Bode Miller's chances of winning the overall World Cup title might depend on the weather. Heavy snowfall forced organizers to postpone Wednesday's downhill training session at the World Cup finals. If the training and downhill are canceled Thursday, it could dent Miller's hopes of becoming the first American to win the men's overall in 22 years. Miller has a 52-point lead over Austria's Benjamin Raich going into the final four scheduled races of the season: downhill, super-G, giant slalom and slalom. The 27-year-old American also has a chance to win the downhill title. He trails leader Michael Walchhofer by 93 points. Miller is stronger than Raich in the speed disciplines _ especially the downhill _ but less consistent than the Austrian in the technical events. "It wouldn't hurt to have the title wrapped up before the last two races," Miller said. "To win these next two (downhill and super-G) and have Raich score no points, and not even have to start the last two (giant slalom and slalom) if I didn't want to." Last season, Miller arrived at the finals in second place behind Hermann Maier in the overall standings. After a disappointing week, the New Hampshire skier dropped to fourth place while Maier claimed the title. This season, after switching ski brands, Miller won six of the first 10 races. At the night slalom in Sestriere, Italy, he won his fourth discipline title in 16 days, accomplishing the feat in the shortest span ever. By December, he was leading Raich by about 400 points. But like last year, Miller slumped. His switch in skis and his heavier program affected his slalom _ he failed to score points in seven of eight starts this season. "Sports don't always work in a progressive mode or peak out," Miller said. "It's similar with the overall. Everyone thinks the climax is here. I started off pretty strong at the beginning of the year and if anything it was the reverse. It's like I start off strong then just peter off at the end." Steady and consistent, Raich has reached the podium eight times in the technical events _ slalom and giant slalom _ and has been improving in the speed races lately, too. "For me, it's important not to think too much about the overall World Cup. Just to think about the race to do now, tomorrow, and that's the downhill," Raich said. "I feel good and I'm in good shape and I think the chances are still (alive). "The favorite is Miller. He's in front now ... He's normally stronger in speed disciplines and he's also very strong in GS. Slalom he has some problems, but he's fast, as he showed in Sestriere." Maier has only a distant chance of defending his overall title, sitting 182 points behind Miller. Miller, however, can claim the discipline title by winning the final downhill and hoping Walchhofer scores fewer than seven points. The Austrian is nursing a sore knee from a high-speed crash in the downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway, last weekend. He first injured his knee in a fall in Val Gardena, Italy, in December. "My knee is better. It was a good to have a break these few days, especially for me," Walchhofer said of the postponements. "It should be no problem for me if my knee is good and at the moment it looks good."
Women's final downhill postponed because of heavy snow
LENZERHEIDE, ( 09/03/2005 11:17 ) Switzerland (AP) _ The women's final World Cup downhill of the season was wiped out Wednesday by heavy snowfalls is rescheduled for early Thursday.
A men's training session slated for Wednesday afternoon was also scrapped but organizers had yet to reschedule the practice or the actual men's race, struggling with the limited time opportunities remaining this week.
Both the women's and men's final downhill were originally slated for Wednesday, but bad weather all week has made a mess of the program.
The finals end Sunday but no races have yet been held and a men's training session still needs to be staged.
International ski Federation safety regulations stipulate that at least one official practice is required in order to stage a downhill.
The women's downhill title _ like the men's _ is still up for grabs. Defending champion Renate Goetschl of Austria leads the discipline standings with 467 points, 32 ahead of Hilde Gerg of Germany. Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria sits third, 75 points behind, while Lindsey Kildow of the United States is fourth, trailing by 83.
On the men's side, overall leader Bode Miller badly needs for the men's downhill to take place.
Michael Walchhofer leads the men's standings with 631 points, 93 ahead of Miller.
Miller can claim the title by winning the final downhill hoping the Austrian scores fewer than seven points. That is not impossible since Walchhofer is nursing a sore knee from a high-speed crash in the downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway, last weekend, which aggravated a previous injury he sustained in a fall in Val Gardena in December.
Just as importantly, Miller needs the race to take place if he wants to hold Austrian Benjamin Raich at bay in the chase for the overall. The American is stronger than Raich in the speed disciplines, and less consistent than the Austrian in the technical events.
Only one race in each discipline _ downhill, super-G, slalom and giant slalom _ remain at the World Cup finals for both men and women.
Only the top-25 skiers in each discipline are invited to compete at the finals, in addition to the junior world champion.
Bode Miller clings to 52-point lead going into season finals
LENZERHEIDE, ( 09/03/2005 08:51 ) Switzerland (AP) _ Three months ago, Bode Miller looked like a lock to become the first American skier in 22 years to win the overall World Cup title.
Back then, Miller led Austria's Benjamin Raich by some 400 points. Now the lead has been slashed to only 52 points going into the final four races of the season.
Miller will go head-to-head with Raich in four events at the World Cup finals opening Wednesday. Hermann Maier will race in three events and still has an outside shot of defending his overall crown.
"To win the overall I need to be winning these last races, or at least beat the other two guys because the margins are small," said Miller, who has skied every World Cup event this season.
Miller has 1,348 points, followed by Raich with 1,296 and Maier with 1,166.
The race for the women's overall trophy is nearly as close, with Anja Paerson of Sweden attempting to defend her title with a 63-point lead over Janica Kostelic of Croatia.
They also ski in all four disciplines.
In addition to the two overall titles, six other disciplines will be decided by Sunday. The slalom titles have been locked up by Raich and Finland's Tanja Poutiainen.
Trying to become the first American man since Phil Mahre in 1983 to win the overall title, Miller has been strong in the speed events _ downhill and super-G _ since switching ski brands. But he's been poor in slalom, finishing just one of eight starts.
Tamara McKinney is the last American woman to win an overall title, also in '83.
Miller won six of the first 10 races and has won in every discipline this season. He already considers the season a success.
"''Of course I want to win the overall," he said. "It's been a goal of mine a long time. I accept that it's the standard by which most skiers measure the best racer. But still, I have nothing to prove to myself." Raich has relentlessly gained ground on Miller, reaching the podium eight times in technical events _ slalom and giant slalom. He's also prevented Miller from using the speed races to pull away, with the Austrian posting respectable results there, too.
Maier won both the downhill and super-G last weekend in Kvitfjell, Norway, to close in. But he's ruling himself out of the overall title. "There are only four races left. It's not possible," Maier said. "I don't ski the slalom." Skiing opens Wednesday with the women's downhill. The men's downhill is Thursday, with both super-G races on Friday. Saturday is women's slalom and men's giant slalom.
Sunday closes with the women's GS and men's slalom.
Unlike Miller, Paerson and Kostelic are under little pressure. Paerson is the defending overall champion, and Kostelic has won it twice. Both are satisfied with their season's haul of world titles and World Cup wins. In the World Championships last month in Bormio, Italy, Kostelic won every race she entered _ slalom, downhill and combined _ and Paerson took gold in the super-G and giant slalom. "I'm really relaxed now," said Kostelic, who missed all of last season with a thyroid problem and injuries. "No matter where I finish I'll be happy because when the season began no one expected much from me and I've had a great season and a great world championships." Paerson won her first downhill at last month's World Cup in San Sicario, becoming only the second woman to post wins in all four disciplines in a single season. "Even if I don't finish on top in Lenzerheide, it will still have been a good season," Paerson said. In the men's disciplines, Michael Walchhofer leads the downhill standings, 93 points ahead of Miller, his only remaining rival in the discipline. In super-G, Maier is well positioned to defend his title, holding a 54-point lead over Miller, his remaining rival. Several men are in contention for the giant slalom title. Raich leads with 363 points, 21 ahead of Canada's Thomas Grandi. Miller is 23 points behind, while Massimiliano Blardone l, the main battle is between defending champion Renate Goetschl, who is 32 points ahead of Germany's Hilde Gerg. Michaela Dorfmeister and American skier Lindsey Kildow hold outside shots. In the super-G, Dorfmeister leads defending champion Goetschl by just 22 points. Kildow, who trails by 47 points, is the only other skier with a realistic chance. Paerson needs to hold off Poutiainen and Slovenia's Tina Maze to win a third successive giant slalom title.
World cup Leader
Miller Bode
12.10.1977 (Franconia)
Ski: Atomic
Miller Bode 1648
Raich Benjamin 1453
Maier Hermann 1257
Walchhofer Michael 1012
Rahlves Daron 981
Defago Didier 678
Kjus Lasse 576
Strobl Fritz 532
Grugger Johann 517
Palander Kalle 513
World cup Leader
Paerson Anja
25.04.1981 (Tarnaby)
Ski: Salomon
Paerson Anja 1359
Kostelic Janica 1356
Gotschl Renate 1164
Dorfmeister Michaela 1125
Poutiainen Tanja 1039
Kildow Lindsey C. 914
Gerg Hilde 786
Schild Marlies 668
Mancuso Julia 658
Maze Tina 650