Stiegler Top 5 in Slalom at Junior Worlds

Stiegler Top 5 in Slalom at Junior Worlds{mosimage}Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY/Jackson Hole Ski Team/Park City Ski Team/U.S. A Team) struggled on her second run Friday and finished a medals near-miss fourth in slalom at the Alpine Junior World Championships.

World Cup veteran Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic, who was bronze medalist two weeks ago in slalom at the World Championships in Bormio, Italy, won the SL gold with a time of 1:23.97. Austrian Kathrin Zettel was silver medalist (1:24.33) and Croatian Ana Jelusic took bronze (1:25.19).

“I made a lot of mistakes, but at least I finished, and that keeps me high in the combined. I’m second with [Saturday’s] GS to go,” Stiegler said after producing a two-run time of 1:26.58. “First run, I went too straight and lost time, and in the second run I really was going for it, which was good but I got to the bottom of the run and made a couple of mistakes, and that cost me.

“They weren’t big mistakes,” Stiegler said, “but even the little ones add up and, overall, that hurts.”

 Resi Stiegler keeps consistent, posting another top-5 finish, this time in slalom at the Junior World Championships Friday. (Photo by: Lindsey Thibodeau)

Stiegler, who also had the top U.S. result in the downhill Wednesday (15th), returned to the Junior Worlds after taking a downhill training run Thursday at the women’s World Cup in San Sicario, about a half-hour away. She’ll compete Saturday in GS in Bardonecchia, then head back to San Sicario – the women’s Olympic speed venue next season – for the first women’s one-day World Cup combined event with a shortened downhill and one-run slalom.

She’s dealing with sore shins, Stiegler said, “and it’s painful, but there hasn’t been a chance to rest so far with the World Championships and now World Juniors. I need some time off, but I’ll head home at the start of the week and get some rest before World Cup Finals [March 9-13 in Lenzerheide, Switzerland], so it’ll be okay.”

Coach Stever Bartlett said, “This was a nice change from the frustrations we had in downhill and super G. we had a good team meeting [Thursday night] so we could change the mental frame of mind, telling the girls not to worry but just put down two solid runs. The talent’s there and we just wanted them to do their thing. They were all charging today…and we were inches away from a great performance by Kara Crow (18; Stowe, VT/Mount Mansfield Ski&Snowboard Club), but then she skied out and Katie [Hitchcock – 19; Sugar Bowl, CA/Sugar Bowl Ski Club/U.S. C Team] had one ripping before she skied out.”

Austrian Michael Gmeiner won the men’s super G in 1:25.20 with DH gold medalist Rok Perk of Slovenia and Canadian Gareth Sine tying for the silver medal (1:25.25). Top American was DH silver medalist Chris Beckman (19; Altamont, NY/New York Ski Education Foundation/U.S. Development Team), who finished 14th with Mitt Coats (18; Salt Lake City/Park City Ski Team/U.S. Development Team) 15th.Junior Worlds racing continues Saturday with women’s giant slalom before concluding Sunday with the men’s GS. The combined calculation also has to be awarded, based on race points from downhill, GS and slalom.

2005 ALPINE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Bardonecchia, ITA – Feb. 25, 2005
Men’s Super G
1. Michael Gmeiner, Austria, 1:25.20
2T. Rok Perko, Slovenia, and Gareth Sine, Canada, 1:25.25
      –
14. Chris Beckmann, 19, Altamont, N.Y./New York Ski Education Foundation/U.S. Development Team, 1:26.14
15. Mitt Coats, 18, Salt Lake City/Park City Ski Team/U.S. Development Team, 1:26.27
23. Erik Fisher, 19, Star, Idaho/Rowmark Academy Ski Team, 1:26.67
      –
DNF:
Tim Jitloff, 20, Reno, Nev./PCST/U.S. Development Team; Todd David Thibodeau, 19, Waterville Valley, N.H./Waterville Valley Black&Blue Trail Smashers
     —
Women’s Slalom
1. Sarka Zahrobska, Czech Republic, 1:23.97
2. Kathrin Zettel, Austria, 1:24.33
3. Ana Jelusic, Croatia, 1:25.19
      –
4. Resi Stiegler, 19, Jackson Hole, Wyo./Jackson Hole ski Team/PCST/U.S. A Team, 1:26.58
12. Caitlin Ciccone, 19, Bethelehm, N.H./Franconia Ski Club/Burke Mountain Academy/U.S. C Team, 1:28.84
17. Chelsea Marshall, 18, Pittsfield, Vt./Green Mountain Valley School/U.S. C Team, 1:29.88
27. Mattie Ford, 17, West Ludlow, Vt./Holderness School, 1:32.79
      –
DNF-1:
Kara Crow, 18, Stowe, Vt./Mount Mansfield Ski&Snowboard Club
      –
DQ-1:
Katie Hitchcock, 19, Sugar Bowl, Calif./Sugar Bowl Ski Club/U.S. C Team

– USSA Reports