European Report: Austrians feeling confident; Karlsen pleasantly surprised

European Report: Austrians feeling confident; Karlsen pleasantly surprised{mosimage}The Austrian men’s ski team says the ball’s in their court heading down the homestretch of the 2003-04 season.

While American Bode Miller is leading the overall standings with just six events remaining, the Austrian ski team’s Hans Pum says he’s confident either Hermann Maier or Stephan Eberharter can deliver the overall trophy.

“I think Maier has the best chances to win of anyone,” Pum told Austrian radio ORF. “With four speed events remaining, Maier can score points and he’s skiing more consistent. Miller missed a chance Sunday.”

Miller missed a gate in Sunday’s slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, and didn’t score any points, missing a chance to widen his lead after his dramatic win in Saturday’s giant slalom.

Pum said his top chances lie in Maier and Eberharter. Benjamin Raich skied poorly over the weekend and faces a tough challenge to crawl back for the globe.

“To tell the truth, Beni’s not been the same since his crash,” Pum said, referring to Raich’s super G in February that left him with a concussion and bruised shoulder. “I don’t believe he’s nervous, but he’s more of an outsider now.”

Pum said the pressure is now on Miller. Maier and Eberharter have the advantage of having won five overall titles between them, while Miller is aiming for his first and the first by an American since Phil Mahre in the 1980s.

“Maier and Eberharter don’t have any pressure, instead, it’s all on Miller’s shoulders,” he said. “That makes a big difference in these final races.”

>> Karlsen pleasantly surprised

Truls Ove Karlsen — Norway’s surprise winner in Sunday’s slalom — said he didn’t think he could win.

“I felt like I’d skied two normal runs and I’d finish sixth or seventh,” Karlsen told Aftenposten after winning the slalom event in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Sunday.

“Just shows how much I know,” Karlsen said with a grin.

His victory was the first by a Norwegian in slalom since Hans Petter Buraas won at Sestriere in December 2000. Karlsen’s best career finish was third in a slalom race in 2002.

Coach Steve Skavik called it “a great day”” for Norwegian slalom skiing.

Buraas has been injured and Ole Kristian Furuseth and Finn Christian Jagge have retired,

“so we haven’t had the slalom team we once had,” Skavik said.

Skavik said equipment changes for Karlsen helped make the difference. “A few centimeters in the length of a ski means a lot when the margins are so small,” Skavik said.

>> Kostelic begins rehab

Janica Kostelic began her rehabilitation this week after successful surgery on her right knee last Tuesday in Schruns, Austria, according to a report from the EFE wire service.

Dr. Christian Schenk performed the surgery to clean out cartilage damage most likely caused by injuries at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, in December. Kostelic started rehab treatments with Dr. Rolf Hochmeister in Bad Ragaz this week and will return to Zagreb later in the week.

Officials say the ligament damage was less than expected and the Olympic champion should be able to return to skiing in two months. Kostelic has missed the entire 2003-04 season and underwent surgery last month to repair her thyroid gland.