Renate Goetschl won a second straight super G on Saturday, leading another dominating performance by the Austrian women. Teammate Nicole Hosp, fourth in Friday's super combi, was runner-up, 0.71 of a second behind.
REITERALM, Austria — Renate Goetschl has changed coaches, skis and attitude, and is winning again, warding off retirement for the time being.
On Saturday, she posted her second straight super G victory and the 40th World Cup win of her illustrious career. Still, it might not be long before the highly decorated veteran is usurped as the team's top dog. Her teammates filled six of the next seven spots.
The 31-year-old Goetschl, who won the season-opening super G at Lake Louise, Canada, had a time of 1 minute, 17.91 seconds on the icy Gasselhoehe course where the Austrians regularly train.
''I didn't expect to be so good in super G this season,'' said Goetschl, who won only one race last season. ''I was surprised when I won in Lake Louise and now again here. My target at the start of the season was to win my fifth World Cup downhill title. But now I'm doing so well in super G, I'd rather not talk about the downhill.''
Teammate Nicole Hosp, fourth in Friday's super combi, was runner-up, 0.71 of a second behind.
Switzerland's Martina Schild, the surprise Olympic downhill silver medalist last year, prevented another Austrian sweep of the podium, crossing third, 0.80 back, for her first career World Cup podium.
But the Austrians swept the next five spots. ''It was good to break up the Austrians,'' Schild said. ''And good also for me to get a podium because it's early in the season and this will help my confidence for the next races.''
In Friday's super combi, they swept the first four places for the first time since 1990.
''I don't remember the women's team ever being quite this strong,'' Goetschl said. ''This is really good for the whole team. The young ones are coming up. It's nice to know there is potential after us because it takes a long time to fully develop.''
In 15 years on the national squad, Goetschl has won the overall title and claimed four World Cup downhill globes _ largely considered the most prestigious discipline trophy.
But she struggled last season with coaching switches and a recurring right knee problem. So, after coming away medal-less from the Torino Olympics, she underwent surgery. She then switched to Atomic from Salomon in the offseason, inheriting the fast skis that led now-retired teammate Michaela Dorfmeister to Olympic gold in the downhill and super G.
''I have the same serviceman and some of the equipment she had,'' Goetschl said. ''It's working really well. It gave me a lot of motivation. I've found the fun in skiing again. ''Last year I'd lost it. It was a tough season for me. It was difficult for me to decide to go on for another year or two.''
Kaylin Richardson led the Americans with a 13th-place finish, one better than Libby Ludlow. Teammate Lindsey Kildow, second in Lake Louise, was still suffering from a stomach bug and went off course. The 22-year-old, who was weak after spending 48 hours in bed, was in position to take second place when she caught her inside ski, rotated, and nearly crashed.
''I'm feeling a little better but my balance was completely off. I mean, I was in bed for 48 hours,'' she said. ''You lose touch with your body and balance. I just don't have any energy. I had no chance. From the fifth gate I was catching my edge. It's terrible. I maybe shouldn't have raced but I wanted to try.''
Olympic giant slalom champion Julia Mancuso, who apparently caught the same illness, finished out of the top 15.
''I caught it from Lindsey,'' said Mancuso, with red-rimmed eyes and a pale face. ''We don't know what it is but I definitely got sick. I don't feel great. Feverish.''
Mancuso has also had hip surgery and felt sore following the slalom leg of Friday's super combi.
The team's problems came as a particular disappointment with all the race cancellations this season because of the unseasonably warm weather in Europe.
The women will next race in a pair of downhills and a slalom scheduled for Val d'Isere, France, next week.
''Hopefully, downhill will be better,'' Kildow said. ''As soon as I get some training runs, the balance will come back. There's only so much balance off hill that you can do to really get back the feeling.''
U.S. head coach Patrick Riml said, "I'm really pleased for Kaylin because this should give her more confidence as she heads into those downhills in Val d'Isere, and we know her slalom's good. She did a great job today.
"That's her [second] World Cup top 15, so she was able to carry some of that confidence from [Friday] in the super G part of the super combined [she was 21st] and do even better … and Libby can relax a little now; she's got that first top 15 of the season, too."
He said Kildow, who had been sick Thursday and sidelined Friday, skied well before going out at the bottom of the run in flat light. Mancuso had been sick Friday night, he said, "but she gave it a good run until she had a mistake at the bottom. Y'know, when the sun goes behind the mountain, it gets flat light, very dark at the bottom, and it's just so tough … but, despite being sick, she hung in there."
THE SCOOP
By Hank McKee
Equipment
Women's super G, Reiteralm, Austria, Dec. 16, 2006
Skier,skis/boots/bindings
1 Goetschl, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
2 Hosp, Volkl/Fischer/Marker
3 Martina Schild, Volkl/Lange/Marker
4 Meissnitzer, Volkl/Fischer/Marker
5 Zettel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6 Marlies Schild, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
7 Berger, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
8 Wilhelm, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
9 Fanchini, Dynastar/Lange/Look
10 Brydon, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
Women's super G, Reiteralm, Austria, Dec. 16, 2006. … It is the eighth race of the women's 37-event 2007 World Cup schedule. … It is the second of seven scheduled super G's. … It is the second of two races moved to Reiteralm from a weather-altered original schedule. … The race had been planned for Val d'Isere.
It is the 40th career win for Renate Goetschl. … She is third all time among women behind Annemarie Moser-Proell (62) and Vreni Schneider (55). … It is her second victory of the season, both in super G. … It is her 15th career SG win, moving her within one win of matching Katja Seizinger for the all-time SG win mark.
It is the 27th career podium for Nicole Hosp. … It is just her fifth career scoring result in SG, yet her third podium in the discipline, all them coming in the last calendar year. … It is her eighth score in eight races this season, with one result outside t
he top 10 and three podiums. … She has not won a race this season and is closer in time to the winner in this race than any of the others.
It is the first career podium for Martina Schild, the previous best being a fifth in downhill at St. Moritz Jan. 21, 2006. …Her second best also came in DH at St. Moritz, a sixth in December 2003. … Schild is the only non-Austrian skier to place in the top eight. … The Austrians had 11 skiers entered in the race and two did not finish.
It is the seventh career top 10 in World Cup SG for Emily Brydon. … And her second in two tries this season. … It is a career-best result for Kaylin Richardson and her second top 15 in two days. … It is the first time she has led U.S. finishers. … It is her first World Cup SG scoring result. … Libby Ludlow matches her seventh-best career result. … All of them coming in SG. … It is her best result of the season. … Genevieve Simard matches her 14th-best career SG result. … She had been fifth in the season's SG opener at Lake Louise Dec. 3. … It is the 17th-best SG result for Julia Mancuso. … It is her fifth scoring result in eight events this season. … It is just the second career SG scoring result for Britt Janyk, both this season.
Hosp bumps her lead in the World Cup overall standing to 421-377 over Marlies Schild (sixth in race). … Goetschl jumps to third place at 311, one point ahead of Katrin Zettel. Top American is Lindsey Kildow (DNF) in fifth at 275. … With both wins Goetschl controls the SG standings 200-116 over Hosp. … Martina Schild is third at 86. Kildow holds fifth on the SG list at 80 as top American. … Winning margin is .71 seconds. … Top four are with the same second. … Top 19 within two seconds.
Reiteralm women's World Cup super G results
| Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time | FIS Points |
| 1 | 22 | 55069 | GOETSCHL Renate | 1975 | AUT | 1:17.91 | 0.00 |
| 2 | 21 | 55690 | HOSP Nicole | 1983 | AUT | 1:18.62 | 9.39 |
| 3 | 3 | 515560 | SCHILD Martina | 1981 | SUI | 1:18.71 | 10.58 |
| 4 | 30 | 55212 | MEISSNITZER Alexandra | 1973 | AUT | 1:18.79 | 11.63 |
| 5 | 14 | 55838 | ZETTEL Kathrin | 1986 | AUT | 1:18.94 | 13.62 |
| 6 | 15 | 55590 | SCHILD Marlies | 1981 | AUT | 1:18.98 | 14.15 |
| 7 | 11 | 55539 | BERGER Silvia | 1980 | AUT | 1:19.04 | 14.94 |
| 8 | 10 | 55596 | WILHELM Kathrin | 1981 | AUT | 1:19.13 | 16.13 |
| 9 | 13 | 296729 | FANCHINI Nadia | 1986 | ITA | 1:19.21 | 17.19 |
| 10 | 19 | 105997 | BRYDON Emily | 1980 | CAN | 1:19.22 | 17.32 |
| 11 | 9 | 195671 | JACQUEMOD Ingrid | 1978 | FRA | 1:19.42 | 19.96 |
| 12 | 25 | 505483 | PAERSON Anja | 1981 | SWE | 1:19.48 | 20.76 |
| 13 | 34 | 537626 | RICHARDSON Kaylin L | 1984 | USA | 1:19.58 | 22.08 |
| 14 | 18 | 536884 | LUDLOW Libby | 1981 | USA | 1:19.61 | 22.47 |
| 15 | 6 | 515573 | AUFDENBLATTEN Fraenzi | 1981 | SUI | 1:19.63 | 22.74 |
| 16 | 8 | 295533 | RECCHIA Lucia | 1980 | ITA | 1:19.84 | 25.52 |
| 17 | 17 | 106056 | SIMARD Genevieve | 1980 | CAN | 1:19.86 | 25.78 |
| 18 | 28 | 515170 | STYGER Nadia | 1978 | SUI | 1:19.89 | 26.18 |
| 18 | 27 | 537545 | MANCUSO Julia | 1984 | USA | 1:19.89 | 26.18 |
| 20 | 35 | 495318 | RUIZ CASTILLO Carolina | 1981 | SPA | 1:19.96 | 27.10 |
| 21 | 20 | 55576 | GOERGL Elisabeth | 1981 | AUT | 1:20.03 | 28.03 |
| 22 | 5 | 225206 | ALCOTT Chemmy | 1982 | GBR | 1:20.06 | 28.42 |
| 23 | 12 | 205119 | HALTMAYR Petra | 1975 | GER | 1:20.11 | 29.08 |
| 24 | 45 | 106022 | JANYK Britt | 1980 | CAN | 1:20.13 | 29.35 |
| 25 | 48 | 155415 | ZAHROBSKA Sarka | 1985 | CZE | 1:20.15 | 29.61 |
| 26 | 7 | 206001 | RIESCH Maria | 1984 | GER | 1:20.17 | 29.88 |
| 27 | 31 | 505187 | OTTOSSON Anna | 1976 | SWE | 1:20.18 | 30.01 |
| 28 | 63 | 515766 | SUTER Fabienne | 1985 | SUI | 1:20.20 | 30.27 |
| 29 | 1 | 505632 | LINDELL-VIKARBY Jessica | 1984 | SWE | 1:20.21 | 30.41 |
| 30 | 16 | 565243 | MAZE Tina | 1983 | SLO | 1:20.26 | 31.07 |
| 31 | 42 | 296473 | SIORPAES Wendy | 1985 | ITA | 1:20.27 | 31.20 |
| 32 | 44 | 537772 | STIEGLER Resi | 1985 | USA | 1:20.30 | 31.60 |
| 33 | 46 | 296008 | MERIGHETTI Daniela | 1981 | ITA | 1:20.45 | 33.58 |
| 34 | 50 | 206035 | CHMELAR Fanny | 1985 | GER | 1:20.65 | 36.22 |
| 35 | 43 | 515429 | DUMERMUTH Monika | 1977 | SUI | 1:20.72 | 37.15 |
| 35 | 32 | 55588 | RUMPFHUBER Ingrid | 1981 | AUT | 1:20.72 | 37.15 |
| 37 | 59 | 375018 | COLETTI Alexandra | 1983 | MON | 1:20.83 | 38.60 |
| 38 | 61 | 205218 | REBENSBURG Viktoria | 1989 | GER | 1:20.84 | 38.74 |
| 39 | 41 | 106527 | ACTON Brigitte | 1985 | CAN | 1:20.87 | 39.13 |
| 39 | 37 | 296769 | LONGHINI Hilary | 1986 | ITA | 1:20.87 | 39.13 |
| 41 | 33 | 537582 | COOK Stacey J | 1984 | USA | 1:21.05 | 41.51 |
| 42 | 47 | 206175 | STECHERT Gina | 1987 | GER | 1:21.08 | 41.91 |
| 43 | 54 | 296623 | MAZZOTTI Lucia | 1985 | ITA | 1:21.20 | 43.50 |
| 44 | 55 | 196726 | BARTHET Anne-Sophie | 1988 | FRA | 1:21.24 | 44.02 |
| 45 | 52 | 296379 | GIANESINI Giulia | 1984 | ITA | 1:21.25 | 44.16 |
| 46 | 62 | 537768 | HITCHCOCK Katie | 1985 | USA | 1:21.67 | 49.71 |
| 47 | 51 | 538284 | MCJAMES Megan | 1987 | USA | 1:21.71 | 50.24 |
| 47 | 40 | 565278 | RABIC Urska | 1985 | SLO | 1:21.71 | 50.24 |
| 49 | 38 | 196460 | MARCHAND-ARVIER Marie | 1985 | FRA | 1:21.97 | 53.67 |
| 50 | 60 | 106465 | LAWRENCE Sherry | 1984 | CAN | 1:22.09 | 55.26 |
| 51 | 56 | 106666 | RUBENS Shona | 1986 | CAN | 1:22.21 | 56.85 |
| 52 | 58 | 425432 | MUELLER Anne Marie | 1980 | NOR | 1:22.28 | 57.77 |
 |
Did not finish 1st run:
KRISTJANSDOTTIR Dagny L. (ISL), FANCHINI Elena (ITA), SCHNARF Johanna (ITA), BERTRAND Olivia (FRA), WEIRATHER Tina (LIE), KILDOW Lindsey C (USA), FISCHBACHER Andrea (AUT), VANDERBEEK Kelly (CAN), CLARK Kirsten L (USA), WIRTH Katja (AUT), BERTHOD Sylviane (SUI)
World Cup overall standings
(After eight races)
1. Nicole Hosp, Austria, 421.
2. Marlies Schild, Austria, 377.
3. Renate Goetschl, Austria, 311.
4. Kathrin Zettel, Austria, 310.
5. Lindsey Kildow, United States, 275.
6. Michaela Kirchgasser, Austria, 208.
7. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 200.
8. Maria Riesch, Germany, 169.
9. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 159.
10. Nadia Fanchini, Italy, 128.
11. Ingrid Jacquemod, France, 120.
12. Emily Brydon, Canada, 115.
13. Kelly VanderBeek, Canada, 113.
14. Chemmy Alcott, Britain, 109.15. Kathrin Wilhelm, Austria, 102.
World Cup super G standings
(After two races)
1. Renate Goetschl, Austria, 200.
2. Nicole Hosp, Austria, 116.
3. Martina Schild, Switzerland, 86.
4. Kathrin Wilhelm, Austria, 82.
5. Lindsey Kildow, United States, 80.
6. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 62.
7. Kelly VanderBeek, Canada, 60.
8. Genevieve Simard, Canada, 59.
9. Emily Brydon, Canada, 58.
10. Alexandra Meissnitzer, Austria, 50.
11. Nadia Fanchini, Italy, 45.
(tie) Kathrin Zettel, Austria, 45.
13. Fraenzi Aufdenblatten, Switzerland, 40.
(tie) Marlies Schild, Austria, 40.
15. Ingrid Jacquemod, France, 39.
About the Author: Pete Rugh
