European Report: Rahlves zeroes in on DH title; Paerson on track for record

European Report: Rahlves zeroes in on DH title; Paerson on track for record{mosimage}Daron Rahlves still believes his season’s top goal of winning the overall downhill title is attainable, but the Californian admits he must be at the top of his game with just three races remaining.

Rahlves says he must win this weekend’s downhill at St. Anton, Austria, if he expects to erase his 138-point deficit to Austrian Stephan Eberharter.

“I really need to be on my game and feel strong to finish my season on a high note,” Rahlves told Eurosport TV. “I’m gunning for the downhill title and I have points to make up with Eberharter in the lead.”

Rahlves is in second place but has only won one downhill this season (at Beaver Creek, Colorado). He’s scored two seconds and a third in downhill, and has a super G victory from Kitzbuehel, Austria.

“I originally thought of myself as more of a super G specialist but since winning two downhill races in 2000 in Norway, the downhill just suits my style really well. I love speed, that’s where my heart is,” he said. “The giant slalom, I’ve tried to get into it this season, I’ve been practicing it more than usual this season. In the future I’d like to aim for the overall title, maybe next year, so I’ll have to get better at it.”

Rahlves said the St. Anton course should be perfect for him, but Eberharter will be the crowd favorite, skiing on home snow perhaps for the last time.

“I like downhills that are fast and bumpy, those are the ones that suit me the best because I can fight my way through,” he said.

>> Paerson on track to set another record

World Cup leader Anja Paerson is on course to set a new prize-money record among women skiers as she’s closing in on earning 500,000 Swiss francs ($407,000 U.S.) this season, reports the German DPA wire service.

She’s already earned 408,794 SF with nine victories this season and still has six technical events on the FIS calendar. Alexandra Meissnitzer holds the record with 462,700 SF she won in the 1998-99 season.

Hermann Maier’s record purse of 660,000 SF he won in 2000 is not in danger. Kalle Palander leads the men’s money list with 298,488 with his five victories while Bode Miller ranks second with 284,674 SF.

>> Search continues for Vancouver Oly boss

The search is still on for someone to head the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games and a search committee has asked for more time, Canada Press reported Wednesday.

“They have asked for further time,” said Sam Corea, the Vancouver 2010 media spokesman. “They anticipate a recommendation to be put forward at the end of February or perhaps sooner. It’s very unlikely there will be an announcement (Wednesday) for a CEO.”

Michael Phelps, the Vancouver businessman who is heading the search committee, said last week he had hoped to put forward a name at the meeting. Over 200 candidates have expressed interest in the job and the committee has been conducting interviews.

Prior to Christmas, members of the IOC’s Games co-ordination commission expressed subtle frustration a CEO was not in place. They hoped the CEO would be named before the commission’s next visit at the end of March.

The person selected to head Vancouver’s Olympics will be in charge of a $2 billion project that employs hundreds of people. Who ever gets the job will need to combine a politician’s skills in public relations with a contractor’s hard-nosed approach to getting projects completed on time and on budget.

The Games were awarded to Vancouver in a vote by the International Olympic Committee in July. Vancouver narrowly defeated Pyeongchang, South Korea, on the second ballot of a vote in Prague.

>> Countdown clock unveiled in Turin

With two years to go until the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, a 15-foot countdown clock was unveiled Tuesday in Torino remind everyone of the looming event.

Thousands crowded in Torino’s central Piazza Castello for the ceremony. Italian skiing stars Alberto Tomba and Stefania Belmondo were both on hand to help unveil the giant clock.