The boys put on a  quite a show in the final race of the World Cup season, a slalom at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, March 13.

Short and sweet of it is Garmisch’s own Felix Neureuther got his second win and Reinfried Herbst claimed the title, but the impact of Julien Lizeroux and Andre Myhrer can not be underestimated. This was a showcase event and the performers were at their peak on a fast challenging second course set by French coach Stephane Quittet.

The tension heated up when Lizeroux, just ninth after the first run and a second off the pace of first run leader Manfred Pranger, knifed through his coach’s course in remarkable fashion. Herbst had come into the race with a 42point lead over Lizeroux for the slalom crown and skied conservatively. Lizeroux was the next man on course and grabbed the lead with his scintillating run. The Frenchman was all smiles in the finish and rightly so, having crafted a fantastic final run of his season.

Silvan Zurbriggen couldn’t touch him, Manfred Moelgg couldn’t come close and Benni Raich caught a tip and exited. But then Neureuther did what had seemed impossible and put down a run even faster than Lizeroux. While he did not appear as clean as the Frenchman he played every thing forward, continued to charge and wound up with the lead and the win.

He was estatic and unable to control his expletives in the finish line interview. “This has been a (deleted) incredible season for me. Just after Kitzbuehel (his first win) to win another slalom. This is so (deleted) nice.”

Without the win, Lizeroux still had enough to overtake Herbst for the title, but there were still racers with faster first run times to run, including two Canadians, Michael Janyk and Julien Cousineau, Myhrer and first run leader Pranger.

Myhrer put down the third fastest second run of the day to bounce Lizeroux out of second and give Herbst the crown. The Austrian erupted in the finish, relieved the safety first strategy and prevailed. Pranger cruised into second and Neureuther danced into the finish arena as a local hero.

“My nerves were shattered there at the end,” said Herbst, adding he owed a great amount of gratitude to Neureuther.

At the end of the day, and season, he had won the title and coveted globe by 22pts.

Before heading to the awards ceremony, Herbst turned to the camera and popped a pacifier into his mouth, in celebration of the birth of his second child a few days ago.

Later, holding the prize globe, he said, “This ball is for the whole team and my fans.”

Janyk and Cousineau wound up fifth and sixth respectively, the best Canadian slalom finish in five years. Jimmy Cochran was 13th and Ted Ligety only got a few gates into the second run before exiting the course.

“That was an inspiring race,” said U.S. coach Sasha Rearick, himself recently a new father. “To have that many guys (skiing) at that high a level on a very difficult hill, difficult course set, fantastic conditions for racing, it doesn’t get better than that; a couple of guys going for the Cup, a bunch of guys going for the win. Fun to watch.”

He said Ligety had been disappointed with his first run and planned to go all out in the second. He barely got a chance snagging a gate right out of the start. “You just can’t skate that hard out of the start on a steep pitch,” said Rearick. “It was mental mistake.”

Photos by GEPA

The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Equipment
Men’s Slalom, World Cup Finals, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, March 13, 2010
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Neureuther, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
2 Pranger, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
3 Myhrer, Nordica/Nordica/
4 Lizeroux, Dynastar/Lange/Look
5 Janyk, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
6 Cousineau, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
7 Zurbriggen, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
8 Moelgg, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
9 Herbst, Blizzard/Tecnica/Marker
10 Kostelic, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer

Men’s Slalom, World Cup Finals, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, March 13, 2010. … It is the 34th and final race of the men’s 2010 World Cup season, the ninth and final slalom. … The top five skiers were within the same second.

It is the second career World Cup win for Felix Neureuther, both in slalom, the previous coming earlier this season at Kitzbuehel Jan. 24. …

It is the 13th career World Cup podium for Manfred Pranger. … all in slalom. … It is his third podium of the season and his single best result of the season having been third twice previously.

It is the fifth career World Cup podium for Andre Myhrer. … all in slalom. … and his second best of the season having been second at Wengen Jan. 17.

It is the sixth time Michael Janyk has finished in the top five of a World Cup race in his career and the third time this season. … It matches his best result of the season, having been fifth at Alta Badia and at Kitzbuehel as well as Garmisch. … It is the second best career result for Julian Cousineau. … The best was a fifth at Schladming Jan. 26. … Jimmy Cochran matches his eighth best career placing. … It is his third best result of the season having been ninth at Alta Badia and 12th at Wengen.

Reinfried Herbst (9th in race) wins the slalom title 534-512 over Julien Lizeroux (4th in race). … Silvan Zurbriggen (7th in race) is third at 365. … Michael Janyk is the top North American on the final slalom list in ninth with 267pts. … Cochran is the top U.S. skier in 20th with 100pts. … The final overall standings are minimally impacted by the race. … Carlo Janka (did not race) wins the overall title 1197-1191 over Benjamin Raich (DNF 2nd). … Didier Cuche (did not race) is third with 952pts. … Top U.S. skier is Ted Ligety (DNF 2nd) in seventh with 667pts. … Erik Guay (did not race) is the top Canadian overall in 13th with 487pts.