Ofterschwang: Aubert wins; Riesch earns slalom title

It all looked as if it would happen like clockwork. Lindsey Vonn had a healthy lead over the field after the first run of the World Cup slalom in Ofterschwang, Germany, on Saturday, and, as the last racer on course, was dancing along ahead of the pack after the first split in her second run.

Then she got hung up on a gate in the same area of the course that eliminated both Anja Paerson and Kathrin Zettel, got spun around and crashed.

In an outcome nobody expected or could have ever predicted, France’s Sandrine Aubert, who had previously never finished on the podium in a World Cup event, won the race. Another racer with a similar background, Frida Hansdotter of Sweden, took second and Nicole Hosp, who many thought wouldn’t race again this season after an injury in January, rounded out the podium in third.

Also, to the glee of the roaring home crowd, who enthusiastically began chanting her name, German Maria Riesch, who ended up fifth in the race, claimed the World Cup slalom title.It all looked as if it would happen like clockwork. Lindsey Vonn had a healthy lead over the field after the first run of the World Cup slalom in Ofterschwang, Germany, on Saturday, and, as the last racer on course, was dancing along ahead of the pack after the first split in her second run.

Then she got hung up on a gate in the same area of the course that eliminated both Anja Paerson and Kathrin Zettel, got spun around and crashed.

In an outcome nobody expected or could have ever predicted, France’s Sandrine Aubert, who had previously never finished on the podium in a World Cup event, won the race. Another racer with a similar background, Frida Hansdotter of Sweden, took second and Nicole Hosp, who many thought wouldn’t race again this season after an injury in January, rounded out the podium in third.

Also, to the glee of the roaring home crowd, who enthusiastically began chanting her name, German Maria Riesch, who ended up fifth in the race, claimed the World Cup slalom title.

Aubert won with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 46.28, as Hansdotter followed .43 seconds back and Hosp .82 seconds back.

“It’s always hard work because the girls are so quick, so fast,” Aubert said after the race. “And today, I am the one and I am very happy.”

Riesch won the title with 625 points, putting Vonn second in the slalom standings with 440 points, but still well in the overall lead with 1588 points to Riesch’s 1219. It was a glorious day for Germany in general, as three racers finished in the top 10; Maria’s kid sister Susanne right behind her in sixth and Fanny Chmelar 10th. Four more Germans landed in the top 25 that finished the race: Nina Perner 14th, Kathrin Hoelzl 16th, Monika Bergmann 18th and Christina Geiger 22nd.

Riesch has won four of this season’s eight World Cup slalom races, finished second and third in two others, with a sixth being her worst finish. She is also the newly crowned World slalom Champion. Her slalom prowess emerged this season; she was eighth in last year’s slalom standings, though she won the titles for super-G and super-combined.

Saturday’s race didn’t shake out quite so favorably for the Americans. Despite a decent 17th-place finish, Hailey Duke remains 27th in the Cup slalom standings and will not compete in next week’s Finals in Are, Sweden, as only the top 25 in each discipline qualify to race.

“She skied good,” said U.S. women’s head coach Jim Tracy. “She took advantage of her start position for the second run. On the other side of the coin, she didn’t have enough points to qualify (for Finals) and it’s those missed opportunities earlier in the season that add up.”

Also, Julia Mancuso barely missed the cut for the second run Saturday, finishing 31st after the first, when fresh snow hammered the course and visibility was minimal. Sarah Schleper missed a gate in the first run and was disqualified.

Though the sun peeked out in the second run, several racers, including Vonn, Zettel and Paerson, were skiing tight lines and didn’t make it through one of the middle flushes.

“You wouldn’t expect those girls to go out – including Linds – but that’s slalom for you,” Tracy said. “It looked like she went a little too direct. It’s frustrating. But there’s nobody more frustrated that Lindsey. But she’s skiing well. She knows it. She’s got a couple things she can seal up – the super-G and the overall. I never count chickens before they hatch. It’s not done until it’s done. Instead of taking care of it today, we’ll hopefully take care of it in (next week’s) downhill.”

As for the slalom title, Tracy agreed that Riesch certainly earned it this season.

“She was awesome,” he said. “It would have been closer had Lindsey finished a couple races, but it is what it is. There’s no looking back … only looking forward.”

The women’s tour wraps up next week in Are, Sweden, with World Cup Finals March 9-15.

The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Equipment
Women’s Slalom, Ofterschwang, Germany, March 7, 2009.
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Aubert, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
2 Hansdotter, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
3 Hosp, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
4 Zahrobska, Head/Head/Tyrolia
5 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia
6 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia
7 Pietilae-Holmner, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
8 Gagnon, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
9 Poutiainen, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
10 Chmelar, Head/Lange/Tyrolia

Women’s Slalom, Ofterschwang, Germany,  March 7, 2009. … It is the 30th race of the women’s 2009 World Cup schedule. … One race has been canceled and four remain at World Cup Finals.  … It is the eighth of nine scheduled slaloms. … It is the 11th World Cup race held at Ofterschwang. … The fifth slalom, fourth for women.

It is the first career World Cup win – and podium – for Sandrine Aubert. … Her next best result is a fifth in combined Dec. 22, 2007. … Her next best this season had been seventh in slalom at LaMolina Dec. 14. … She was also eighth in slaloms at both Maribor and Garmisch.

It is the first World Cup podium result for Frida Hansdotter. … Her next best results are a pair of slalom sixths, at Zagreb Jan. 4 and at Maribor Jan. 11.

It is the 47th career World Cup podium for Nicole Hosp and her 19th in slalom. … It is her fourth podium of the season, and first since injuring her left knee (broken shinbone and torn ligaments) Jan. 5 while warming up for the Zagreb slalom.

It is a career best placing (8th) for Marie-Michele Gagnon. … She has tallied two of her three career scoring results in the last two days, and all of them this season. … It is her first career slalom score. … It is the fourth career scoring result for Hailey Duke, all of them in slalom and all coming this season.

Lindsey Vonn (2nd run DNF) maintains the lead of the World Cup overall standings 1588-1219 over Maria Riesch (fifth in race). … Vonn will win the title if she finishes eighth or better in any one of the remaining four races. … Anja Paerson (2nd run DNF) is third in the standings at 990. … Maria Riesch had won the 2009 World Cup slalom title. … She leads Vonn 625-440 with on race remaining. … Sarka Zahrobska (4th in race) is third in the standings at 399.

Ofterschwang slalom results: