European Report: Raich gets thumbs up; snowboard legend gets his kicks

European Report: Raich gets thumbs up; snowboard legend gets his kicks{mosimage}Austrian Benjamin Raich will be in the starting gate in this weekend’s World Cup at Adelboden, Switzerland, after team doctors said he’s fit to race.

Raich suffered a concussion in a high-speed spill in Sunday’s super G in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and forfeited his hold on the overall World Cup lead to teammate Hermann Maier

“After checks, Dr. Alois Schranz has no objections for Benjamin Raich to compete,” the team said in a statement.

Raich was doubtful to start this weekend, but after safely completing four training runs Thursday in Jerzens, Austria, he said he’s looking forward to racing again.

“I feel no pain and I am already hungry for the races,” Raich told the AP. “It could even be an advantage that I was forced to take a break, because my whole body had time to recover.”

Raich who is leading the slalom standings and sits second overall, just four points behind Maier is poised to move back into the overall lead if he can ski well on his favored terrain.

>> Sentence eased for man who struck Maier

The man convicted of negligent driving in the traffic accident that nearly cost Olympic skiing champion Hermann Maier his right leg had his fine reduced by a Munich court Thursday, the AP reported.

The 75-year-old man, whose name was not released in keeping with German court practice, was ordered to pay $945, down from the original fine of $3,456. His one-month driving ban was also lifted.

The man had appealed the original fine.

The court ruled the man did not make an illegal left turn, but that he did not pay enough attention to the traffic behind him. It also ruled that Maier was passing on his motorcycle without a clear line of vision.

The accident occurred in August 2001, when Maier was overtaking traffic in the town of Radstadt, near his home town of Flachau. Maier slammed into the car, which had just begun making a left turn.

— by the Associated Press

>> Ivica Kostelic begins rehab

Ivica Kostelic began rehab work last week in the Kantonsspital Bruderholz hospital and is feeling “better and is diligent and persistent … with great courage,” according to a report on his web page.

Kostelic underwent extensive surgery January 28 on his right knee after crashing hard in the night slalom at Schladming, Austria. The procedure transplanted the broken front cruciate ligament with a section from his quadriceps from the same leg. Doctors also repaired the broken medial meniscus.

Kostelic was scheduled to leave the hospital in Basel, Switzerland, this week and head to the “Terme Selce” for further rehabilitation work.

There’s still no official word on how long Kostelic will be out of competition, but initial estimates say it will be three to five months before he’s fully recovered.

Last week, Croatia’s President Stjepan Mesic wrote a letter of support to Janica and Ivica Kostelic, both of whom are sidelined by injuries for the 2003-04 season.

>> Snowboard legend taking up soccer

Famed Norwegian snowboarder Terje Haakonsen has been training twice a week with Oslo’s Vaalerenga soccer club, according to a report by the Aftenposten newspaper.

Haakonsen turned up at VIF in Oslo for the first time last week. On Monday he was back, but after a two-hour training session, he disappeared into the locker room and out a side door.

“It hasn’t been decided how long he’ll be here, but we expect he’ll show up now and then,” said coach Kjetil Rekdal.

It’s all part of an exchange deal of sorts put together by VIF director Kjetil Siem. Rekdal doesn’t have any problems accommodating Haakonsen, even as his team prepares for a match against Newcastle.

“It’s fine for us and fun for both parts,” Rekdal said. “It can also spark more interest in the club.”

Rekdal said it’s better for Haakonsen to stick to the boards.

“He wouldn’t go very far in Vaalerenga,” said Rekdal, who played professional soccer himself for years. “But he would have done fine in the lower divisions.”

>> Racing this weekend: Women’s giant slalom Saturday, slalom Sunday at Region Arber, Germany. … Men’s giant slalom Satuday, slalom Sunday at Adelboden, Switzerland. … Women’s 10km FR and men’s 15km FR, both Friday; women’s 4x5km relay and men’s 4x10km relay, both Saturday at La Clusaz, France. … Ski-flying K185 on Saturday and Sunday at Oberstdorf, Germany … Women’s and men’s snowboardcross Saturday, women’s and men’s parallel GS Sunday at Berchtesgaden, Germany.