Switzerland’s Styger gets first win in Finals super G; Paerson edges GoetschlSwitzerland’s Nadia Styger won the final women’s World Cup super G race of the season on Thursday, the first win of her career.

Styger, 25, had never been on a World Cup podium before Thursday. Her previous best was fourth place in a downhill at St. Moritz, Switzerland in December 2003.

“She was not in World Cup because she hurt the knee three years,” said Switzerland’s head coach for women, Angelo Maina. “It’s good. I saw from side of course. She was fast. From beginning to end, she is good in every part.”

The win was sweet for Maina, since he is departing from the Swiss team at the end of this week. After the race, Styger dedicated the win to him.

Styger won in a time of 1:25.53, with Maria Riesch of Germany, 19, second in 1:25.85 and Austrian veteran Michaela Dorfmeister third in 1:25.89.

Local favorite Isolde Kostner was leading at the middle intervals, but made a big mistake, swung wide from the line, and dumped her speed going onto the flats. A gasp and murmur of disappointment passed through the crowd, who were hoping for an Italian win.

Austria’s Renate Goetschl finished seventh but that was enough for her to claim to the 2004 super G title ahead of rival Carole Montillet of France who finished out of the points in 16th.

Rumors that Montillet would retire spread through the racing community earlier in the week, and reporters gave her plenty of opportunities to announce it. “For sure, she questions herself,” said Francois Sedan, the race director for Rossignol, the company Montillet skis on. “She’s going to get married in June. But I’m pretty sure she will ski for Torino.”

Goetschl actually lost ground to overall leader Anja Paerson of Sweden, who finished sixth. Goetschl, a speed specialist who won Wednesday’s downhill, had hoped to use the super G to further close the gap on Paerson, who shines in technical events.

Neither of the two American starters made it into the points, which go only to the top 15 in the World Cup Finals because of the smaller fields. Libby Ludlow finished 18th, 1.55 seconds out, and Caroline Lalive was 3.49 seconds out in 26th, last among those who finished.

Lalive and Goetschl had their skis prepared by the same serviceman, Matthias Scheibner.

Ludlow said she “gave the course too much respect,” and that she was surprised that her time wasn’t faster. “The flat at the top killed me,” she said. “That wasn’t in my favor. But they set it really turny, and that was nice. It was fun. It wasn’t as difficult as I expected it to be. It was pretty easy. It was firm and very grippy. But it was grippy ice. But never slick or anything.”

Alpine World Cup Finals

Women’s Super G

Sestriere, Italy

March 11, 2004

1. Nadia Styger (Switzerland) 1:25.53

2. Maria Riesch (Germany) 1:25.85

3. Michaela Dorfmeister (Austria) 1:25.89

4. Silvia Berger (Austria) 1:26.00

5. Hilde Gerg (Germany) 1:26.15

6. Anja Paerson (Sweden) 1:26.17

7. Renate Geotschl (Austria) 1:26.25

8. Brigitte Obermoser (Austria) 1:26.31

9. Alexandra Meissnitzer (Austria) 1:26.46

10. Katja Wirth (Austria) 1:26.48

11. Petra Haltmayr (Germany) 1:26.51

12. Emily Brydon (Canada) 1:26.52

13. Elisabeth Goergl (Austria) 1:26.53

14= Lucia Recchia (Italy) 1:26.85

14= Daniela Ceccarelli (Italy) 1:26.85

16. Carole Montillet (France) 1:26.86

17. Fraenzi Aufdenblatten (Switzerland) 1:26.97

18. Libby Ludlow (U.S.) 1:27.08

19. Isolde Kostner (Italy) 1:27.09

20. Martina Lechner (Austria) 1:27.20

21. Nadia Fanchini (Italy) 1:27.22

22. Melanie Suchet (France) 1:27.30

23. Martina Ertl (Germany) 1:27.49

24. Ingrid Jacquemod (France) 1:27.55

25. Genevieve Simard (Canada) 1:27.78

26. Caroline LaLive (U.S.) 1:29.02

DNF: Andrea Fischbacher (Austria)

THE SCOOP

> by Hank McKee

Equipment, Women’s Super G

Sestriere, Italy, March 11, 2004

Skier, skis/boots/bindings

1 Styger, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

2 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia

3 Dorfmeister, Blizzard/Nordica/Marker

4 Berger, Fischer/Tecnica/Tyrolia

5 Gerg, Volkl/Lange/Marker

6 Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

7 Goetschl, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

8 Obermoser, Blizzard/Tecnica/Marker

9 Meissnitzer, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker

10 Wirth, Blizzard/Lange/Marker

There are two races remaining, one slalom and one GS, on the women’s 36-race World Cup schedule. … It’s the 20th win of the season for Salomon skis.

The first career win for Nadia Styger. … Her previous best was fourth in a DH at St. Moritz 12/20/03. … It’s the eighth career podium for Maria Riesch, seven of them coming this season. … It’s the 46th career podium for Michaela Dorfmeister, and her eighth podium of the season without a win.

It’s a career-best result in super G for Anja Paerson, who controls the overall standings 1421-1344 over Renate Goetschl. … Carole Montillet of France is third at 957. … The top American is Kirsten Clark in 13th with 456 points. … Goetschl wins the SG title 467-402 over Montillet. … Dorfmeister noses out Hilde Gerg for third by one point, 391-390. … Caroline Lalive is the top American on the final SG list in 11th with 178 points. … The Swiss move past Italy and the U.S. to take second on the Nations Cup rankings behind Austria: Austria 16,578; Switzerland 4786; Italy 4767; USA 4706; Germany 3941. … Among women only, the rankings are Austria 6156; Germany 3615; USA 2199; Switzerland 2145; France 2122.