Alpine World Cup Finals: Svindal and Paerson win DHs; Walchhofer and Dorfmeister get globes

By Published On: March 15th, 2006Comments Off on Alpine World Cup Finals: Svindal and Paerson win DHs; Walchhofer and Dorfmeister get globes

Alpine World Cup Finals: Svindal and Paerson win downhills; Walchhofer and Dorfmeister get globesARE, Sweden – Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway won the last men's downhill of the World Cup season Wednesday, edging Bode Miller of the United States, while Austria's Michael Walchhofer clinched the discipline title.

Anja Paerson took the women's downhill finale, clocking 1 minute, 24.60 seconds on the new, 2,236-meter WM Strecke course built for next year's World Championships. The win allowed the Swede to close in on Janica Kostelic of Croatia in the overall standings.

Read Ski Racing's World Cup Finals notebook, which looks at the capped skis gaining popularity on the tour and other topics.

The capped skis that caused such a stir at the Olympic men's downhill are proliferating.

''It was fun to ski today,'' said Paerson, the two-time defending overall champion. ''It was so nice to win, but my knees were hurting on the steep part. I was worried.''

Paerson will have arthroscopic surgery on both knees in Vail, Colorado, after the World Cup Finals. The pain has affected her skiing this season, particularly in downhill races, which include big jumps.

Lindsey Kildow of the United States, winner of two downhills this season, was runner-up in Wednesday's race, 0.30 behind. Elisabeth Goergl of Austria finished third, 0.36 back.

'I had my best slalom results last weekend and I know I can be right there with them. I just need more consistency' the smiling Kildow said.

'I can improve my GS and I definitely want to go for the overall' she added. 'Janica and Anja are too strong in all four [disciplines] now, but I feel I can get there.'

Kirsten Clark was 14th with Julia Mancuso 20th and Stacey Cook 26th.

'It was an awesome race, especially nice for Lindsey' said U.S. women's coach Alex Hoedlmoser. 'Paerson did a good job in both training runs, too, and she knows this hill so well; she trains here, all the Swedes do, and she just skied really good.'

Clark skied well through the upper section, he said, but lost time at the bottom when she dropped her aerodynamic tuck on two jumps. 'She just opened up, especially on that last jump … but this can be a great course for Kirsten next year at worlds.'

It was Paerson's 34th career World Cup win. With three races left – a super G Thursday, a slalom Friday and a giant slalom Saturday – only 154 points separate Kostelic and Paerson. A win is worth 100 points.

Kostelic, who carefully guards her health since having her thyroid removed two seasons ago, did not race in the downhill, instead focusing on the last three races.

Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria, who is retiring at the end of this week's finals, finished seventh in her farewell downhill race and kept third place overall. She has already won the downhill and super G titles. At the Olympics, she won both events.

Svindal, one of the early starters, covered the 2,922-meter Olympia course, designed by former Swiss downhill great Bernhard Russi, in 1:42.40. It was his first World Cup downhill victory and the second win of his career.

''I started the season really well,'' said Svindal, who won a super G at Lake Louise, Canada, in November, for his first win. ''Then I had a big crash at Val Gardena [Italy] and busted a couple of ribs. It took some time to get back.

''I started to ski well just before the Olympics. When you ski good you can pretty much win in any event.''

Miller, coming back after skipping World Cup races in Asia, was 0.20 seconds behind – sweet revenge after a disappointing Olympics in Torino last month. Peter Fill of Italy was third, 0.30 behind the winner.

''In general, I'm really happy with the way I skied,'' Miller said. ''I came here knowing I'd have to work hard, especially with just one training run. I'm the kind of guy who benefits from training runs, especially with jumps as big as today, and knowing I'd need to be aggressive.''

Walchhofer was 11th, 1.21 back, but it was enough to clinch his second straight downhill season title. It was the first time he finished out of the top 10 this season.

''The downhill title is the biggest thing, especially in Austria,'' Walchhofer said. ''It shows you're one of the best, not just at the moment, but in history. It's good for your whole life.''

Walchhofer's big goal is the overall. He hopes to improve in the giant slalom for next season. In training runs, he has been as fast as teammates Hermann Maier and Benjamin Raich.

''If I can do that next season, then I'll have a chance for the overall,'' Walchhofer said.

Walchhofer, Svindal and Miller are battling for second place overall. Svindal is currently second with 910 points, Walchhofer is third with 855 points and Miller, last year's overall champion, has 828 in fourth place.

Svindal is the only skier who will compete in all three remaining races – a super G Thursday, a giant slalom Friday and a slalom Saturday.

Benjamin Raich, who clinched the overall World Cup title with his fourth-place finish in Saturday's slalom in Japan, withdrew from the downhill after getting stuck in Tokyo because his flight was delayed.

A racer must ski in at least one training session to compete in the downhill, but the Austrian's suit and boots had not yet arrived from Japan, prompting him to skip Tuesday's practice.

Antoine Deneriaz, the Olympic champion from France, survived a scare when he lost his balance just after taking off from one of the course's big jumps, crashing hard with his head onto the hard-packed ice and finally ending up in the safety netting.

Deneriaz, who hurt his neck, got up on his skis about five minutes later and was taken to a local hospital for medical tests.

Austria's Klaus Kroell broke his left leg in another crash and was to be flown to Innsbruck, Austria, for medical attention, organizers said.

The last downhill of the season was a farewell for two prominent racers who are retiring after the season ends this week – Kristian Ghedina of Italy and Daron Rahlves of the United States. Rahlves was seventh, Ghedina 13th.

Ghedina, 36, won two silver medals and one bronze at the World Championships, and 13 World Cup races during his career. This was his record 166th World Cup downhill.

Rahlves, 32, is the most decorated U.S. men's speed skier in the sport's history with 12 World Cup victories, a 2001 World Championship in the super G and two medals at the 2005 worlds.

Rahlves finished third in the downhill standings with 444 points. Walchhofer had 522, and teammate Fritz Strobl 491 in second place.

World juniors downhill champ Chris Beckmann was 19th while Steve Nyman crashed on the lower portion of the 2.9 km track.

"Stevie was skiing to the podium – he was leading, and had the same split time as Bode, who came down later – until he went out," U.S. coach John McBride said. "He made it three-quarters of the way down and was taking risks, but couldn't close the deal. And ‘Becko' got a great experience, I think. He raced No. 12 [Tuesday] in training and No. 1 again today, so he didn't get much of a chance to see how anyone else ran this course; he's didn't get a look at anyone else's tracks.'

– USSA/The Associated Press

Women's downhill
Ar
e, Sweden
March 15, 2006

1. Anja Paerson, SWE 1:24.60
2. Lindsey Kildow, USA 1:24.90
3. Elisabeth Goergl, AUT 1:24.96
4. Nicole Hosp, AUT 1:24.98
5. Nadia Fanchini, ITA 1:25.13
6. Fraenzi Aufdenblatten, SUI 1:25.24
7. Michaela Dorfmeister, AUT 1:25.34
8. Lucia Recchia, ITA 1:25.37
9. Elena Fanchini, ITA 1:25.40
10. Nadia Styger, SUI 1:25.44
10. Nike Bent, SWE 1:25.44
12. Jessica Lindell-Vikarby, SWE 1:25.52
13. Tina Maze, SLO 1:25.72
14. Kirsten Clark, USA 1:25.76
15. Kathrin Zettel, AUT 1:25.89
16. Petra Haltmayr, GER 1:25.97
17. Martina Schild, SUI 1:26.00
18. Marlies Schild, AUT 1:26.05
18. Carole Montillet-Carles, FRA 1:26.05
20. Julia Mancuso, USA 1:26.19
21. Sylvaine Berthod, SUI 1:26.25
22. Andrea Fischbacher, AUT 1:26.27
23. Ingrid Rumpfhuber, AUT 1:26.30
24. Alexandra Meissnitzer, AUT 1:26.51
25. Catherine Borghi, SUI 1:26.52
26. Stacey Cook, USA 1:26.55
27. Marianne Abderhalden, SUI 1:28.13
no other North Americans.

THE SCOOP

By Hank McKee

Equipment
Women's DH, Are, March 15, 2006

Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1. Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2. Kildow, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol 3. Goergl, Blizzard/Lange/Marker 4. Hosp, Volkl/Fischer/Marker 5. Fanchini, Dynastar/Lange/Look 6. Aufdenblatten, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon 7. Dorfmeister, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic 8. Recchia, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker 9. Fanchini, Dynastar/Lange/Look 10. Styger, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon 10. Bent, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

Women's downhill, Are, Sweden, March 15, 2006. … It is the eighth and final downhill of the women's 34 race, two combined World Cup schedule.

It is the 34th career World Cup win for Anja Paerson. … She moves into sole possession of fifth place among women on the all-time win list. … She is two wins behind Katja Seizinger. … It is her third career DH win. … It is her eighth win of the season (not including the Olympic gold medal in slalom). … Her second DH win of the season after Bad Kleinkirchheim Jan. 13. … In 15 scored races at Are, Paerson has three wins and 10 podiums.

It is the 13th career podium for Lindsey Kildow. … Her seventh in DH. … It is her sixth podium of the season. … In 27 races completed this season, she has been in the top 10 on 19 occasions. … She has been no worse than sixth in the five races (including two slaloms) since the Olympics. … She records the best U.S. women's DH final ranking since Picabo Street won the '96 title.

It is the ninth career podium for Elisabeth Goergl. … Her second career podium in DH after a third at Cortina earlier this season (Jan. 28). … It is her third podium of the season. … It is the 12th scoring result of the season for Kirsten Clark. … Her third-best DH result. … It is the 25th top-20 placing for Julia Mancuso this season, including four Olympic results. … It is a non-scoring result. … It is the 10th top-30 placing of the season for Stacey Cook, including two Olympic placings. … It is a non-scoring result.

Janica Kostelic (did not race) maintains a healthy 1,720-1,566 point margin over Anja Paerson for the World Cup overall title with three races (and 300 points maximum) remaining on the schedule. … Michaela Dorfmeister (7th in race) is third at 1264. … Lindsey Kildow is the top American on the overall standings in fourth at 1027. … Dorfmeister had previously cinched the DH title. … Kildow cuts into her margin 498-410. … Renate Goetschl is third at 315. … Winning margin is three-tenths of a second. … Top 12 skiers are within a second. … Top 26 within two seconds.

World Cup Finals
Men's downhill
Are, Sweden
March 15, 2006

1. Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR 1:42.40
2. Bode Miller, USA 1:42.60
3. Peter Fill, ITA 1:42.70
4. Fritz Strobl, AUT 1:42.88
5. Didier Defago, SUI 1:43.05
6. Kjetil Andre Aamodt, NOR 1:43.06
7. Daron Rahlves, USA 1:43.37
8. Didier Cuche, SUI 1:43.42
9. Yannick Bertrand, FRA 1:43.58
10. Bruno Kernen, SUI 1:43.59
11. Michael Walchhofer, AUT 1:43.61
12. Finlay Mickel, GBR 1:43.62
13. Kristian Ghedina, ITA 1:43.66
14. Hermann Maier, AUT 1:43.69
15. Christoph Gruber, AUT 1:43.71
16. Marco Buechel, LIE 1:43.82
17. Andreas Buder, AUT 1:43.83
18. Andreas Schifferer, AUT 1:45.37
19. Christopher Beckmann, USA 1:46.47
Other North Americans.
DNF: Steven Nyman, USA.

THE SCOOP

By Hank McKee

Equipment
Men's DH, Are, March 15, 2006

Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1. Svindal, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
2. Miller, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
3. Fill, Dynastar/Lange/Look
4. Strobl, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
5. Defago, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
6. Aamodt, Dynastar/Lange/Tyrolia
7. Rahlves, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
8. Cuche, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
9. Bertrand, Dynastar/Lange/Look
10. Kernen, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

Men's downhill, Are, Sweden, March 15, 2006.… It is the 10th and final downhill of the men's 34 race, four combined World Cup schedule. … It is the first race of World Cup Finals.

It is the second career World Cup victory for Aksel Lund Svindal, the first also this season in SG at Lake Louise Nov. 27. … His best previous DH result was sixth at Lake Louise Nov. 27, 2005. … Svindal is the first Norwegian other than Lasse Kjus to win a Cup DH in 11 years. … He snaps a string of 10 Norwegian DH wins from Lasse Kjus dating back to Dec. 29, 1995. … The last Kjus DH win was at last season's Finals at Lenzerheide March 10, 2005.

It is the 46th career Cup podium for Bode Miller. … His seventh in DH. … It is his seventh podium of the season. … Second in DH this season. … The other a second-place result at Beaver Creek Dec. 2.

It is the third career World Cup podium for Peter Fill, all from this season. … It is his first podium in DH (Was also second SG, Kitzbuehel Jan. 20 and third CMB Wengen Jan. 13).

It is the 10th top-seven result of the season for Daron Rahlves. … He finishes his final DH tour with three wins (Beaver Creek Dec. 2, Bormio Dec. 29, and Wengen Jan. 14) one third (Kitzbuehel Jan. 21) the seventh at Are, a 10th in the Olympics, two 14th placings (Val d'Isere and Garmisch) and a 19th at Val Gardena. … Christopher Beckmann gained the start as World Junior Championships DH gold-medal winner. … He finishes more than four seconds off the winning time and will score no points in his third World Cup start.

Benjamin Raich had already claimed the overall World Cup title, but Aksel Svindal cuts his margin to 1,310-910. … Michael Walchhofer sits third at 855 and Bode Miller is the top American in fourth at 828. … Walchhofer (11th in race) wins the downhill title 522-491 over Fritz Strobl (fourth in race). … Daron Rahlves is third in the final DH standings at 444 points. … Bode Miller finishes the season fifth in DH standings with 340 points, behind Marco Buechel at 400. Only the top 15 score at World Cup Finals. … It is the second consecutive DH title for Walchhofer. … It is the sixth consecutive men's DH title for Austria. … The winning margin was two-tenths of a second. … Top seven skiers were within a second. … Top 17 within two seconds.

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