Garmisch: Vonn takes slalom with blazing 2nd run

Lindsey Vonn took it to her pal and the hometown favorite, Maria Riesch by winning her second slalom of the season, but not before she watched two Austrians, Kathrin Zettel and Michaela Kirchgasser take themselves out of the race by charging too hard. Riesch had to settle for silver, still delighting the German crowd including a huge group which were members of her fan club.

The big surprise was the bronze performance of Slovenia’s Marusa Ferk. It was her first podium and first top ten finish. Fifteenth after the first run, Ferk, who is 20, held the lead until Riesch came down and took her spot on the TV stand

In winning her second slalom of the season, Vonn nailed the second run, posting the third fastest time which was well ahead of all other late starters.  Vonn seemed more aggressive on the steep upper section in the second run and simply oiled the bottom half of the course.

Kirchgasser, who had been second in the first run attacked right from the start, but her aggressive tactics led to a hooked tip and a dump in the snow.Lindsey Vonn took it to her pal and the hometown favorite, Maria Riesch by winning her second slalom of the season, but not before she watched two Austrians, Kathrin Zettel and Michaela Kirchgasser take themselves out of the race by charging too hard. Riesch had to settle for silver, still delighting the German crowd including a huge group which were members of her fan club.

The big surprise was the bronze performance of Slovenia’s Marusa Ferk. It was her first podium and first top ten finish. Fifteenth after the first run, Ferk, who is 20, held the lead until Riesch came down and took her spot on the TV stand

In winning her second slalom of the season, Vonn nailed the second run, posting the third fastest time which was well ahead of all other late starters.  Vonn seemed more aggressive on the steep upper section in the second run and simply oiled the bottom half of the course.

Kirchgasser, who had been second in the first run attacked right from the start, but her aggressive tactics led to a hooked tip and a dump in the snow.

First run leader Zettel was the last to go and for 30 seconds she looked well on her way to victory as she passed the midway time point a full second in front of Vonn. But her bid ended when she lost an edge, missed a gate and had to hike.

The only other US starter, Hailey Duke, slid out and hiked. Her time was outside the five percent margin which denied her any points for her finish.

Vonn, who now leads Riesch in the over title hunt 1014 to 890, is still in contention for the slalom title with the German star though she trails by a large margin. The pair, who spend Christmas together, were calmly chatting away at the start of the second run and the conversation resumed again at the finish.

Vonn expressed some relief at having won a second slalom. “I’ve been doing well in slalom, but I haven’t won since Levi (Nov. 15), so it’s nice to be back on the top step of the podium. And it’s perfect for Maria to be second. We’re best friends and for her to be second here in her hometown, it couldn’t be better.”

Although she skipped a chance to train with Riesch on the hill earlier in the season, Vonn said the town just feels like home and she didn’t feel she was at a disadvantage.

“It feels like a second home with Maria’s family being here and all our fans who support me, so it was great.”

Riesch told Manuele Lang of Reuters having all the family around contributed to some nervousness. “I was under enormous pressure to try to win my fifth slalom in front of my home crowd,” she said. “I only managed to calm down in the very end of the second run when I skied well at last. It was a little bit too late.”

For Goodman the result, despite the fact it was a career best, was not what she had been looking for. “It’s another consistent result but I am not that happy with either of my runs today,” Goodman said. “I really came here to get into the top 10. I know that I am capable of being in there and the fact it has not happened yet is a bit frustrating.”

The women race a super G at Garmisch tomorrow then head to Val d’Isere for the World Ski Championships.

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The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Equipment
Women’s Slalom, Garmisch-Partenkrichen, Germany, Jan. 30, 2009
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Vonn, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
2 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia
3 Ferk, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
4 Jelusic, Atomic/Salomon/Atomic
5 Zahrobska, Head/Head/Tyrolia
6 Karbon, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
7 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia
8 Aubert, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
9 Poutiainen, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
10 Fleiss, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

Women’s slalom, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Jan. 30, 2009. … It is the 21st race of the women’s 36 race 2009 World Cup schedule. … It is the seventh of nine scheduled slaloms. … And the last until March 7. … It is the first of four races being held this weekend at Garmisch, and first of two for women. … The first Cup race held at Garmisch was also Jan. 30, in 1970. … It is the 79th Cup race held at Garmisch. … The 17th slalom and the fifth women’s slalom. … It is the first time both genders have raced Garmisch since 1977 when Franz Klammer and Annemarie Proell won the downhills.

It is the 17th career World Cup win for Lindsey Vonn. … Her second in slalom, both this season. … It is her fourth win of the season in three disciplines. … She is one win shy of Tamara McKinney’s U.S. women’s record for World Cup wins. … It is the 191st U.S. Cup win. … She is the first U.S. woman to win at Garmisch and the only skier other than Steve Mahre to win at the site. … Mahre won two slaloms and a combined at Garmisch.

It is the 25th career World Cup podium for Maria Riesch. … Her seventh of the season and sixth in slalom this season, five of them wins. … She is the first German to win at Garmisch since Martina Ertl won a slalom Jan. 15, 1995.

It is the first career World Cup podium for Marusa Ferk. … In fact it is her first top 10. … Her previous best had been 15th, scored three times, twice in slalom and once in GS. … Two of those (Aspen SL Nov. 30 and Maribor GS Jan. 10) coming this season.

Anna Goodman matches her career best result in 19th. … She was also 19th earlier this season in slalom at Maribor. … It was the third career finish for Hailey Duke, but she hiked in the second run and did not score points being too far out from the winning time.

Lindsey Vonn extends her lead of the World Cup overall standings 1014-890 over Riesch. … Zettel (2nd run DSQ) and Anja Paerson (1st run DNF) are tied for third at 775. … Riesch leads the slalom standings 580-440 over Vonn. … Sarka Zahrobska (fifth in race) is third with 349pts. … Riesch leads the slalom standings by 140pts with two races remaining on the schedule. … She needs a third or better in either race to tie or win the 2009 World Cup slalom title.

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Rank	Bib	FIS Code	Name	Year	Nation	Run 1	Run 2	Total Time	FIS Points
1	7	537544	VONN Lindsey	1984	USA	52.49	54.68	1:47.17	0.00
2	2	206001	RIESCH Maria	1984	GER	53.05	55.02	1:48.07	5.04
3	25	565320	FERK Marusa	1988	SLO	53.61	54.72	1:48.33	6.49
4	13	385032	JELUSIC Ana	1986	CRO	52.75	55.61	1:48.36	6.66
5	6	155415	ZAHROBSKA Sarka	1985	CZE	52.77	55.61	1:48.38	6.77
6	16	295445	KARBON Denise	1980	ITA	53.99	54.64	1:48.63	8.17
7	23	206160	RIESCH Susanne	1987	GER	54.31	54.35	1:48.66	8.34
8	17	195972	AUBERT Sandrine	1982	FRA	53.09	55.66	1:48.75	8.85
9	3	185140	POUTIAINEN Tanja	1980	FIN	53.12	55.68	1:48.80	9.13
10	22	385027	FLEISS Nika	1984	CRO	53.75	55.09	1:48.84	9.35
11	18	205993	HOELZL Kathrin	1984	GER	53.65	55.31	1:48.96	10.02
12	9	505679	HANSDOTTER Frida	1985	SWE	53.55	55.44	1:48.99	10.19
13	12	505610	BORSSEN Therese	1984	SWE	53.55	55.54	1:49.09	10.75
14	38	296509	CURTONI Irene	1985	ITA	53.60	55.52	1:49.12	10.92
15	15	296259	MOELGG Manuela	1983	ITA	53.44	55.71	1:49.15	11.09
16	42	205202	MAIR Marianne	1989	GER	53.69	55.64	1:49.33	12.09
17	10	505760	PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria	1986	SWE	53.65	55.82	1:49.47	12.88
18	50	185271	LEINONEN Sanni	1989	FIN	53.59	55.89	1:49.48	12.93
19	24	106633	GOODMAN Anna	1986	CAN	53.77	55.74	1:49.51	13.10
20	44	425629	LOESETH Lene	1986	NOR	53.98	55.87	1:49.85	15.00
21	39	196806	NOENS Nastasia	1988	FRA	53.98	55.90	1:49.88	15.17
22	56	425887	LOESETH Mona	1991	NOR	53.91	56.11	1:50.02	15.96
23	41	206099	PERNER Nina	1986	GER	53.62	56.47	1:50.09	16.35
24	49	55807	DAUM Alexandra	1986	AUT	53.95	56.21	1:50.16	16.74
25	26	355040	NIGG Marina	1984	LIE	53.48	56.90	1:50.38	17.97
26	46	55885	STRENG Simone	1987	AUT	53.91	56.76	1:50.67	19.60
27	28	537792	DUKE Hailey	1985	USA	53.10	1:07.08	2:00.18	72.84

Did not finish 1st run: SIMARI BIRKNER Maria Belen (ARG), FERK Matea (CRO), ALCOTT Chemmy (GBR), GASIENICA DANIEL Agnieszka (POL), LOLOVIC Jelena (SRB), ROMAR Tii-Maria (FIN), WIRTH Barbara (GER), FENNINGER Anna (AUT), ABDERHALDEN Marianne (SUI), BERTRAND Marion (FRA), BERGMANN Monika (GER), GINI Sandra (SUI), GIUS Nicole (ITA), PAERSON Anja (SWE)

Did not finish 2nd run: CHMELAR Fanny (GER), KIRCHGASSER Michaela (AUT)

Disqualified 1st run: BRODNIK Vanja (SLO), SMEDH Veronica (SWE)

Disqualified 2nd run: ZETTEL Kathrin (AUT)

Did not qualify 1st run: HACKL Karin (AUT), SIMARI BIRKNER Macarena (ARG), PERSYN Karen (BEL), PUENCHERA Jessica (SUI), RICHARDSON Kaylin (USA), KURFUERSTOVA Eva (CZE), WIKSTROEM Emelie (SWE), DE LEYMARIE Florine (FRA), MUELLER Anne Marie (NOR), FEIERABEND Denise (SUI), KARASINSKA Katarzyna (POL), ACTON Brigitte (CAN), THALMANN Carmen (AUT), SCHILD Bernadette (AUT), GEIGER Christina (GER), SCHLEPER Sarah (USA), DUERR Katharina (GER), DAUTHERIVES Claire (FRA), GRAND Rabea (SUI), CAMASTRAL Aita (SUI), BONJOUR Aline (SUI), ZUZULOVA Veronika (SVK)