Schild takes second World Cup slalom win of the season in Courchevel

After a difficult first-run course set saw 23 racers including World Cup leaders Lindsey Vonn and Maria Riesch DNF, Austrian Marlies Schild held strong to win today (Dec. 21) in a mid-week women’s World Cup slalom in Courchevel, France. It was the World Cup’s second visit ever to Courchevel and the first in 30 years.

Schild, who stood 0.11 seconds behind today’s second-place finisher Finn Anja Poutiainen after the first run, took on a pair of challenging course sets to win her second World Cup slalom of the season (also won in Levi) with a combined time of 1:34.95. Schild’s second run was the fastest of the day by almost a full second (0.89).

First run leader Poutiainen was 0.78 seconds behind at the end of two runs to claim her fourth podium of the season, though she has yet to win this year. The 30-year-old today collected her 42nd career World Cup podium. She has podiumed in all three of this season’s World Cup slalom races and is now tied with Schild at the top of the overall slalom standing with 200 points. 

Slovenia’s Tina Maze rounded out the podium in third with a combined time of 1:36.93, 1.98 seconds off the winning pace.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be at the top of the podium today,” said Schild, who finished the second run with a 1.98-second advantage just before Poutiainen’s run. “I had a mistake in the flat part but I tried to make speed and that was really good. I thought I was ahead at the finish line, but when I saw that it was nearly two seconds it was amazing.”

The crowd of thousands, lining both sides of the course and in the finish area, roared as their local French heroes took the course. Nastasia Noens led the French in ninth place, followed by Anne-Sophie Barthet in 20th

The bottom section of the afternoon’s run proved to be especially challenging as  racer after racer took leads at the final split timer only to lose them in the last few gates. 

The World Cup’s top two women, and winners of five of this season’s first ten races,  American Vonn and German  Riesch, joined a list of 23 racers who didn’t finish the first run on a technical course set by Croatian coach Zoran Sobol.

“It’s a challenging course and as athletes you have to try to do the best you can,” said Vonn, who called the hill perfect. “Unfortunately I hooked a tip but that happens very often in slalom. I think I got lucky because Maria went out as well today.”

Americans Julia Mancuso (28th in the first run) and Resi Stiegler (23rd in the first run) both held on to score World Cup point in 21st and 23rd, respectively. Teammates Haley Duke and Sarah Schleper didn’t qualify for a second run finishing the first run in 37th and 43rd, respectively.

“It was like survival first run and I definitely got pretty lucky,” said Mancuso. “I wanted to ski solid but I kinda needed to be a little faster, then a lot of girls went out so I made it in there.”

No Canadian women made the second run as only Erin Mielzynski finished the first run in 32nd.

The women’s World Cup now breaks for the holidays before picking back up with giant slalom and slalom races in Semmering, Austria. Dec. 28-29. 

The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Equipment
Women’s World Cup slalom, Courchevel, France, Dec. 21, 2010
Skier, skis/boots/binding
1 Schild, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
2 Poutiainen, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
3 Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
4 Pietilae-Holmner, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
5 Zettel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6 Hosp, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
7 Schild, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
8 Moelgg, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
9 Noens, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
10 Zahrobaska, Head/Head/Head

Women’s World Cup slalom, Courchevel France, Dec. 21, 2010. … It is the 12th race on the women’s 37 race 2010-2011 World Cup schedule and 11th held. … The one postponed race has now been moved twice. … It is the third of ten scheduled slaloms. … Courchevel previously hosted one World Cup race, a GS Jan. 7, 1979 won by Ingemar Stenmark.

It is the 25th career World Cup win for Marlies Schild. … 23rd in slalom. … It is her second win of the season having also won at Levi. … It is the sixth win for an Austrian skier this season.

It is the 42nd career World Cup podium for Tanja Poutiainen. … 22nd in slalom. … It is her fourth podium of the season all coming in the six GS and slaloms held to date.

It is the 22nd career World Cup podium for Tina Maze. … but just her second in slalom. … It is her second podium of the season, the other also a third place finish in GS at St Moritz.

It is the 20th best of 29 career slalom scoring marks for Julia Mancuso. … It is her ninth scoring result of the season. … and first of the season in slalom. … It is the 37th best of 39 career scoring finishes for Resi Stiegler. … It is her second, and best placing of the season.

Encouraging result for Austria from recently injured skiers with Schild, Kathrin Zettel (5th) and Nicole Hosp (6th) all scoring in the top six.

Lindsey Vonn (1st run DNF) maintains the lead of the World Cup overall standings581-578 over Maria Riesch (1st run DNF). … Elisabeth Goergl (did not race) is third with 366. … Poutiainen moves to fourth with 356. … Marie-Michele Gagnon (did not qualify) is 20th on the overall list with 122pts. … Poutiainen and Schild are tied for the lead of the slalom standings with 200pts each. … Maria Pietilae-Holmner (4th in race)  is third in the standings at 174pts. … Vonn is the top American in tenth place with 72pts. … Gagnon the top Canadian in 21st with 31pts. … Austria leads the women’s Nations Cup standings 1620-1327 over Germany. … The U.S. is third at 1116. … Canada is tenth at 160pts.

Image by Gepa