Schild wins Semmering night slalom; Schleper and Stiegler in top 10

By Published On: December 29th, 2004Comments Off on Schild wins Semmering night slalom; Schleper and Stiegler in top 10

Schild wins Semmering night slalom; Schleper and Stiegler in top 10Marlies Schild of Austria won the night slalom at Semmering, Austria, a second win to go with the giant slalom victory she picked up there on Tuesday. “I cannot believe it,” she told the AP. “When I passed the intermediate, I could hear the crowd scream, so I knew, I was fast.”

The last Austrian to win a giant slalom and a slalom in 24 hours was Petra Kronberger, who acheived the feat in Italy in 1990.

Schild, who had a bad start to the World Cup season with two DNFs in Aspen, told the AP that she knew she had skied too aggressively. “I have managed to calm down,” Schild said.

It was also an outstanding day for the Americans, only three of whom were entered in the race. Sarah Schleper, who hasn’t trained much slalom this season because of a persistent injury, tied for fifth, while Resi Stiegler tied her best-ever result with an eighth-place finish. Kristina Koznick was eleventh.

“Resi skied very well also,” said Patrick Riml, the U.S. women’s coach, after praising Schleper. “She was aggressive today. Eighth ties her best result. Conditions were perfect. The snow was great all weekend.”

Estimates varied, but most news accounts put the number of fans around 15,000. “Of course they cheer the loudest for the Austrians,” said Riml. “But our girls are also very popular and they are excited about our team.”

-Ski Racing editors

World Cup

Women’s Slalom (night)
Semmering, Austria
Dec. 29, 2004

1. Marlies Schild, AUT 1:35.49
2. Janica Kostelic, CRO 1:36.53
3. Tanja Poutiainen, FIN 1:36.89
4. Monica Bergmann-Schmuderer, GER 1:37.89
5. Anja Paerson, SWE 1:38.19
5. Sarah Schleper, USA 1:38.19
7. Martina Ertl, GER 1:39.13
8. Resi Stiegler, USA 1:39.15
9. Sarka Zahrobska, CZE 1:39.21
10. Veronika Zuzulova, SVK 1:39.33
11. Kristina Koznick, USA 1:39.47
12. Laure Pequegnot, FRA 1:39.52
13. Sonja Nef, SUI 1:39.79
14. Michaela Kirchgasser, AUT 1:39.86
15. Chiara Costazza, ITA 1:40.04
16. Nicole Hosp, AUT 1:40.30
17. Sabine Egger, AUT 1:40.32
18. Nika Fleiss, CRO 1:40.45
19. Maria Riesch, GER 1:40.47
19. Ana Jelusic, CRO 1:40.47
21. Kathrin Zettel, AUT 1:40.57
21. Henna Raita, FIN 1:40.57
23. Florine DeLeymarie, FRA 1:40.60
24. Annemarie Gerg, GER 1:40.61
25. Christel Pascal, FRA 1:40.78
26. Marlies Oester, SUI 1:41.19
27. Daniel Zeiser, AUT 1:41.39
other North Americans:
DNF 1st: Brigitte Acton, CAN.
DNQ 2nd: Britt Janyk, CAN

THE SCOOP

By Hank McKee

equipment
Women’s Slalom, Semmering, Dec. 29, 2004
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Schild, Atomic/Lange/Atomic
2 Kostelic, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
3 Poutiainen, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
4 Bergmann-Schmuderer, Head/Rexxam/Marker
5 Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
5 Schleper, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
7 Ertl, Rossignol/Nordica/Rossignol
8 Stiegler, Dynastar/Lange/Look
9 Zahrobska, Head/Head/Tyrolia
10 Zuzulova, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

Women’s Slalom (night), Semmering, 12/29/2004. … It is the 13th race of the women’s 32 race (plus 1 combined) World Cup schedule. … It is the fourth of eight scheduled slaloms. … It is a huge margin of victory of more than a second. … Fourth place is more than two seconds out. … seventh more than three and a half.

It is Marlies Schild’s third career victory. … second of the season. … and second in two days having won the GS 12/28. … She is the first Austrian to win two races this season. … She was third in the 2004 final slalom standings.

It is the 33rd career podium for Janica Kostelic. … The 24th in slalom. … Her fourth podium of the season. … Kostelic won the last two slaloms at Semmering, a night slalom 12/29/02 and a night slalom 12/28/2000. … Kristina Koznick won in ’98.

It is the 13th career podium for Tanja Poutiainen. … Her 7th podium this season. … She has been on the podium in all four slaloms and three of the four GS’s held. …

It is the 12th career top five result for Sarah Schleper. … Her second of the season and her second in two days. … Eighth matches Resi Stiegler’s career best result from Region Arber SL 2/8/04. … It is the fifth time this season Kristina Koznick has been 11th or better. … All of the U.S. starters scored. … It is the second time this season the U.S. women have had three skiers in the top 11 of a slalom (also Aspen 11/27).

Italian Chiara Costazza got her first World Cup points skiing from the 60th start to finish 15th.

Poutiainen maintains the World Cup overall lead 626-538 for Anja Paerson (finished tied for fifth). … Lindsey Kildow (did not race) is the top American on the list at seventh with 305pts. … Poutiainen holds the slalom standings lead as well, 320-240 for Kostelic. … Schild has closed to third at 180. … Kristina Koznick is the top American on the slalom list in fifth with 150pts. … Schleper is sixth with 121. … Austria maintains the Nations Cup lead 5684-2841 for the U.S. … and the women’s standings 2063-1257 for the U.S.

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