How Swede it is: Pietilae-Holmner dominates world juniors slalom

How Swede it is: Pietilae-Holmner dominates world juniors slalomMONT-SAINTE-ANNE, Quebec Sweden’s Maria Pietilae-Holmner controlled both runs of the women’s Junior World Championships slalom at Mont-Sainte-Anne on March 4. Considered among the gold medal favorites, Pietilae-Holmner’s victory was hardly a surprise, as she’s already skied to top-10 World Cup finishes in both slalom and giant slalom this season, including an eighth in slalom at Maribor. She was also a member of the Swedish contingent at the Torino Olympic Games, skiing two very solid races and finishing 10th in giant slalom and 21st in slalom.

Both first and second run courses were set on Friday night, and by the time Saturday morning rolled around, the snow conditions were a little funky. U.S. Ski Team coach Eric Harlow added to the challenge by setting an unrelenting, turny morning course, where the vertical distance between gates was tight and racers were almost never in the fall line.

Pietilae-Holmner, despite a major mistake that brought her to a near stop on the flattest section of the course, won the first run by nearly sixth tenths of a second. She was clearly the class of the field, as she appeared to put it on cruise control in the afternoon and still put more distance on most of the field.

The 19-year-old Swedish winner was all smiles during the awards ceremony, and though she appeared to be in total control of the day, she conceded that the victory was hard won. “The course this morning was very tough …” said Pietilae-Holmner, adding, “This afternoon, it was easier for everyone and I’m pretty happy with my performance. … All the girls had to ski the same course so there’s no excuse.”

Anna Fenninger, the 16-year-old Austrian phenom who claimed silver in Friday’s downhill, skied the second fastest first run of slalom, but could not withstand strong second-run charges from fellow Astrian Kathrin Triendl and Norway’s Nina Loeseth.

Triendl, the 2005 bronze medalist in downhill, and Loeseth used their stellar second runs to move up to second and third overall, respectively, denying Fenninger her second podium appearance of these championships. Fenninger wound up fourth.

Despite getting bounced from the podium on Saturday, Fenninger has a legitimate shot at capturing a victory on March 7, when the women race giant slalom on the same hill at Mont-Saint-Anne. Fenninger has been on Europa Cup GS podiums seven times this year, including four victories and three second-place finishes.

Fenninger, though, will certainly have some competition. Pietilae-Holmner likes her chances in the giant slalom, a discipline in which she scored a career-best sixth in a World Cup in Ofterschwang, Germany. “GS is my strength,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to Tuesday, the course is super here.”

American Sterling Grant was the top American finisher. Grant was in position to challenge for a spot on the podium after the first run, but slipped from fifth to sixth place in the afternoon.

Americans Kiley Staples and Megan McJames also had strong finishes. Starting bib 35, Staples executed a brilliant first run, leaping into the top seed because she was one of the few racers who found the top of each rut in the most challenging sections of the course. McJames exercised comparable tactics and made an equally impressive jump from bib 56 to finish 20th.

Also from the United States, Chelsea Marshall was 22nd, Courtney Hammond 31st and Kara Crow 39th.

The Junior World Championships continue on March 5 with men’s slalom and women’s super G.

Women’s slalom
Junior World Championships
Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec
March 4, 2006
1. PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria [SWE]0:48.84 0:48.46 1:37.30
2. TRIENDL Kathrin [AUT]
0:49.67 0:48.31 1:37.98
3. LOESETH Nina [NOR]
0:49.74 0:49.02 1:38.76
4. FENNINGER Anna [AUT]0:49.42 0:49.51 1:38.93
5. FERK Matea [CRO]0:51.15 0:47.80 1:38.95
6. GRANT Sterling [USA]0:50.00 0:48.98 1:38.98
7. WOPFNER Stefanie [AUT]0:50.52 0:48.69 1:39.21
8. AMMERER Christina [GER]0:51.49 0:47.84 1:39.33
9. SMED Veronica [SWE]0:50.45 0:49.01 1:39.46
10. HANGL Celina [SUI] 0:51.78 0:47.93 1:39.71

For a link to complete results, click here.