Four U.S. women vying for final GS start spots

Head coach Patrick Riml says three World Cup starts in the season-opening giant slalom will be the target Monday when U.S. women stage a time trial to complete the starting lineup for Sölden.
    In some ways, he said, it’s a bit of good news, bad news. The bad news: Kristina Koznick retired and veteran Sarah Schleper is taking down time this season to help her ailing back heal. The good news: “That gives us four girls chasing three starts instead of four after one spot,” Riml said as the U.S. women gate-runners took a day off Friday.

HEAD COACH Patrick Riml said three World Cup starts in the season-opening giant slalom will be the target Monday when U.S. women stage a time trial to complete the starting lineup for Sölden.
    In some ways, he said, it’s a bit of good news, bad news. The bad news: Kristina Koznick retired and veteran Sarah Schleper is taking down time this season to help her ailing back heal. The good news: “That gives us four girls chasing three starts instead of four after one spot,” Riml said as the U.S. women gate-runners took a day off Friday.
    The season opens Oct. 28 and the U.S. women have 10 start spots — the maximum allowed under World Cup rules. Olympic champion Julia Mancuso will be joined by Lindsey Kildow, Libby Ludlow, Resi Stiegler, Stacey Cook, NorAm GS champion Megan McJames and Kristen Mielke.
    Competing to fill the final three American start slots will be two-time NorAm giant slalom champ Jessica Kelley, current U.S. GS champion Caitlin Ciccone, Katie Hitchcock and Keely Kelleher. “We’re bringing Keely into this group; she’s been skiing well in training, and they’re all in the top 100 [worldwide], so it should be a good time trial,” Riml said.
    The first three days of the women’s camp in Sölden “have gone very well. We free-skied a bit the first day and then have had GS sessions. It’s perfect terrain to build confidence and let the skis run,” he said.
    Coach Alex Hoedlmoser was bringing the women’s speed group from Pitztal for a couple of days on less-steep terrain. “Things have gone well over there, and Alex says we’ve gotten the things done we wanted to do,” Riml said,
“but they can use a change of terrain and mountains … get some super G training here, work on their glide turns.
    “It’s very steep over there, so it’ll be good to go for some flatter stuff. If you train too much in the steeps, you hold back too much, and if you’re in the flats, you learn to push the line and gain more confidence,” according to Riml. “Training in the steeps is important, for sure, but you win or lose a race on the flats.”
    Snow conditions on the Rettenbach Glacier vary from good at the top of the snowfield to marginal at what would be the traditional finish area. However, Riml said organizers have stockpiled immense mounds of snow in a parking lot and will have several trucks shifting the snow to the finish area or elsewhere along the course, to repair and patch marginal sections.
    “They’re going to hold the race, no question,” Riml said. “The race hill is closed, but you can ski the outside of the course. They’ll push snow onto the course where it’s needed. The only way we won’t race is if the weather’s so bad that the racers can’t see. We’re gonna race!”

— USSA