Riml, women's head coach, takes over reins of women's SL/GS squad

By Published On: June 7th, 2004Comments Off on Riml, women's head coach, takes over reins of women's SL/GS squad

Riml, women’s head coach, takes over reins of women’s SL/GS squad{mosimage}USSA — U.S. women’s head coach Patrick Riml has assumed the additional duties of head coach of the women’s slalom and GS team, effective immediately, the U.S. Ski Team announced Monday.

Riml succeeds Wolfgang Erharter, who took over last spring as the women’s tech head coach. Erharter has left to pursue other opportunities. The move is interim through the last month of the season and will be re-evaluated after the season, the Ski Team said.

Riml is in his first year as head coach and had been women’s Europa Cup head coach for two seasons. A native of Innsbruck who grew up in Soelden, Austria, Riml turned to coaching after a back injury ended his racing career.

He joined the Austrian national coaching staff with the 1996 season, coaching the men’s Europa Cup slalom/GS teams for four years before becoming Claudia Riegler’s personal coach for two years, starting with the 1999 season. He joined the U.S. coaching staff after the 2000 season.

“Patrick’s shown his leadership at both the Europa Cup and World Cup levels with our women and this should work well for the rest of the season. We’re looking for more leadership with the slalom and GS group,” said U.S. alpine director Jesse Hunt. “He’s one of the premier coaches on the World Cup circuit and the women, especially the tech group, have great respect and faith in his abilities. Wolfi has a great eye for technique and he’s a fine coach; we certainly wish him all the best.”

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