Stiegler wins Europa Cup slalom, Duke soars

Olympian Resi Stiegler gave herself a nice tuneup for the FIS Alpine World Championships in Sweden by winning a Europa Cup slalom with the fastest second run and finishing third the next day in soft snow.
BISCHOFSWIESEN, Germany — Olympian Resi Stiegler gave herself a nice tuneup for the FIS Alpine World Championships in Sweden by winning a Europa Cup slalom with the fastest second run and finishing third the next day in soft snow.
    Despite starting 27th on her second run Friday night, Stiegler — fourth in the first run — stormed through collapsing conditions to win with a total time of 1 minute, 50.85 seconds. Slovakian World Cup veteran Veronika Zuzulova was second in 1:52.01 with Hailey Duke, in her first Europa Cup, starting 56th and finishing a stunning seventh (1:52.48).
    "They were really tough conditions," U.S. women's SL head coach Chris Knight said. "Six World Cup top-seed girls were in the field, and the snow was breaking down. We had grass coming through on the second run and had to keep repairing it … but Resi was on fire. It was a turny second course, wound up being 10 seconds slower than the first run, so it was extremely tough, but the girls handled it well.
    "Resi really stayed over her skis and let 'em go. It was impressive … and this should give her some good confidence, especially with the super combined on Friday" in Are, Sweden. Knight added Duke "was just awesome. She came off NorAms, was off the plane only a day, had a day of training and in her first Europa Cup is seventh … out of 56th start and into 24th on that first run. Just amazing … and then she took advantage of starting seventh in the second run, had some OK conditions although it was such a longer course and laid one down, just going for it and making the most of her opportunity. I like the way she skis."
    Duke, 21 and a member of the Park City Ski Education Foundation program in Utah, is in her second season of racing in Europe.
    Saturday, Zuzulova held off Stiegler to win the second slalom of the weekend. Her winning time was 1:34.53 with German Kathrin Hoelzl second (1:35.45) and Stiegler — again posting the fastest second run — in third place at 1:35.61. Kaylin Richardson was 12th and defending NorAm slalom champion Sterling Grant 14th.

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