Zagreb: Schild tops Jelusic; Stiegler 5th       
Thursday, 04 January 2007 

 

From Left: Ana Jelusic, Marlies Schild, and Sarka Zahrobska

CROATIA'S ANA JELUSIC EN ROUTE TO THE PODIUM (Gepa)
ZAGREB-SLJEME, Croatia - Marlies Schild of Austria won her fourth of five slaloms Thursday, claiming the Snow Queen Trophy on a tricky course that frustrated many other top contenders. Croatia's Ana Jelusic was second for her first career podium in front of the home fans, and Czech Republic skier Sarka Zahrobska third, while American Resi Stiegler, fourth after the first run in search of her first career podium, settled for fifth.

Schild, the overall World Cup points leader, finished with an unofficial two-run time of 1 minute, 59.40 seconds, 1.66 ahead of Jelusic. Italy's Chiara Costazza was fourth, while Stiegler was followed by Finland's Tanja Poutiainen and Germany's Monika Bergmann. American Julia Mancuso was eighth, Kaylin Richardson 17th and Lindsey Kildow 18th as the U.S. team placed four racers in the top 20.

It was Stiegler's 10th career top-10 World Cup result, with nine of those coming in slalom. Her career best remains a fourth in the Are, Sweden, slalom last March. Thursday's result is her second-best performance ever, though a stronger second run would have landed her on the podium for the first time.  

Schild lost a ton of time out of the gate on the second run as the Croatian spectators loudly booed her, hoping for a Jelusic victory. But she regained her composure and toasted the second half of the run to win by a large margin.  

"I always try to ski as fast as possible so its normal to make those kinds of mistakes," she said after the race. "I was lucky that it was not as bad as in Semmering and that it happened in the upper part of the slope.

Schild, who underwent five knee operations in her teens, also won at Sljeme last season. "Im really pleased to have won once more that race which is quite special," Schild said. "Its definitely a tough course with much terrain and you had to ski with a lot of feeling. The snow was icy at the top but softer at the bottom so you had to find the right adjustment," said the Austrian, who received a check of 60,000 euros for her win - the largest purse on the womens tour. A total of 165,000 euros are given for the top-30 finishers.
 
"Special moment" for Jelusic

Jelusic was excited about her first ever World Cup podium on home soil after twice finishing fourth earlier this season, including last week at Semmering. "I wondered if I could manage such a result here despite the pressure from the crowd and the media and Im proud to have achieved such a performance in front of so many fans," said the young skier from Rijeka, who turned 20 on Dec. 29.

Its certainly a special moment for me, I have been aiming for this for a while, added the tiny Croatian who competes in her fifth World Cup season. I felt strong before the race but you never know what can happen. The great crowd encouraged me a lot this evening.

This result is a wonderful reward for all the hard work I put into ski racing in the past years. Its a great sport but you need to train very hard and it was not always easy for me because I kept studying in America in the summertime. I hope to keep that form for the coming races and be healthy next month at Are."

 

Sarka is super

Zahrobska too was extremely satisfied by her performance - the best since clinching a bronze medal in slalom at the 2005 FIS World Championships at Santa Caterina. "Its my first World Cup podium and it means a lot to me and my family which supported me for so many years," she said. "Its of course wonderful to have achieved that performance in such a big event in front of this big crowd.

"I had a strong season start with all these top-10 finishes since Aspen. I was particularly pleased with my fifth place in super combined at Reiteralm. I didnt ski well enough in the first run this afternoon so I had to be more aggressive this evening and its great to have clocked the fastest time in the second run.

 

Stiegler amped at the atmosphere

U.S. women's SL/GS head coach Chris Knight said the lack of snow in most of Europe has led organizers to inject snow surfaces, putting water directly into the snow to make the conditions more icy. "Every slope is injected now, so the conditions are new for some of the girls and they're having to adjust."

He was pleased with the U.S. effort, noting Mancuso - who equaled her best slalom finish -  has had limited SL training while coming back from hip surgery in the spring. "I think Julia realized she can still ski slalom," he laughed.

"They put on a good show and the organizers were great ... and the crowd is just fantastic. They get 25, maybe 26,000 people up there along the course and I don't think you could get any more up there," he said.
   
"For me," Stiegler said, "this is my favorite race of the year. I've been here since the first race [Jan. 20, 2005 - she was 10th]. I'd never had a race where there were so many people; we just don't have that anywhere else ... they line the course and it's so enthusiastic. They support everybody and you feel like, 'This is what I wanted to do as a little kid' - even if you don't do well ...
   
"Where I am right now is awesome," she said. "I've never been third or fourth after the first run. It was longer than last year; I felt I was all over the place ... I swear it wasn't that long before, so you just had push through.
  
"And the snow was different - the consistency changed midway from the catchy snow at the top to more of a California sweet ... but, whatever, it was fun, like it's always been."
   
Knight said Richardson is still in the learning process. "She was 15th in the first run and then had a three-minute [TV] delay before she got to start her second run, so she looked a little stiff to start her run, but she had some really good sections. It was another good day for her ... and Lindsey, after going down her hip in the first run, struggled a bit to refind her rhythm, but came on strong."

 

Women head to Slovenia
   
Two-time overall champion Anja Paerson was leading with only Schild to go, but fell in the lower section after her upper arm clipped a gate. Therese Borssen, who won the last slalom in Semmering, Austria, also crashed out while leading.
   
Schild, who leads the overall standings, is dominating women's skiing with reigning World Cup overall and slalom champion Janica Kostelic taking a year off due to chronic back and knee problems. Paerson has also struggled to recover from knee surgery.
   
Kostelic criticized the strength of the women's circuit in her absence. ''I don't miss being away from competitive skiing, there doesn't seem to be any style or flair in it,'' Kostelic said. ''The level of skiing is pretty weak - with the exception of Schild, who is technically too strong, and Paerson, who is still recovering from injury.''

Beset by unseasonably warm weather and a shortage of natural snow, race stewards battled to prepare the Sljeme course, which is the longest slalom piste on the women's circuit at 650 meters.
   
The next womens races are scheduled this weekend in nearby Slovenia, in Kranjska Gora, where a giant slalom and a slalom are held on the demanding Vitranc course normally used by the men.
   
"I'm think there's going to be some serious separation there," said Steve Porino, who called Thursday's race. The former U.S. Ski Teamer said he believes the top-15 finishers at Kranjska Gora will be separated by as much as 4 1/2 seconds.
   
"I'm assuming that the conditions aren't a whole lot better at Kranjska Gora, and Zagreb is pretty easy terrain and Kranjska Gora is really steep on the bottom. It'll be the toughest hill [the women] have been on and I think there's going to be a lot to separate the girls from the women there," Porino added.

 

- Patrick Lang, Sam Flickinger, USSA and The Associated Press contributed to this report

 

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THE SCOOP

 

By Hank McKee

 

Equipment
Women's slalom (night) Zagreb-Sljeme, Croatia, Jan. 4, 2007
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Schild, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
2 Jelusic, Atomic/Salomon/Atomic
3 Zahrobska, Head/Head/Tyrolia
4 Costazza, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
5 Stiegler, Dynastar/Lange/Look
6 Poutiainen, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
7 Bergmann-Schmuderer, Head/Nordica/Tyrolia
8 Mancuso, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
9 Zuzulova, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
10 Moelgg, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol

 

Women's slalom, Zagreb-Sljeme, Croatia, Jan. 3, 2007 & The Snow Queen Trophy race and the only race scheduled for Croatia this season. & It is the 14th race of the women's 37-event World Cup schedule. & It is the fifth of nine scheduled slaloms. & It is the second consecutive night race following Semmering Dec. 29.
   
It is the 12th career World Cup win for Marlies Schild. & Her 10th in slalom. & Her third in a night slalom. & It is her fifth win of the season. & Her fourth in slalom. & Her first of the season in a night slalom. & She has won four of the five slaloms held this season, finishing third in the other after holding a large first-run lead. & It is her second win at Zagreb, having also claimed the win Jan. 5, 2006.
   
It is the first career podium for Ana Jelusic. & Her previous best had been fourth at Levi Nov. 11 and at Semmering Dec. 29, both this season. & It is the best result ever for a Croatian in a race held in Croatia.
   
It is the first career podium for Sarka Zahrobska. & Her previous best being fifth in combined at Reiteralm Dec. 15 this season, in slalom at Region Arber Feb. 8, 2004, and in a knock-out slalom at Sestriere Dec. 14, 2002. ... It is the first podium in history for a racer from the Czech Republic though Jana Soltysova, Olga Charvatova, Ivan Pacak, Miloslav Sochor and Bohumir Zeman claimed podiums for Czechoslovakia.

It is the second-best career result for Resi Stiegler after a fourth-place finish in slalom at Are, Sweden, March 17, 2006. & It is her best placing of the season, topping a sixth in slalom at Val d'Isere Dec. 21. & It is the 34th time Julia Mancuso has placed in the top 10 of a World Cup race. & The result, however, matches her career best in slalom from Lenzerheide March 12, 2005. & It is her fifth-best result in all disciplines for the season, having been first and second in back-to-back downhills at Val d'Isere (Dec. 19 and 20), fourth in GS at Semmering Dec. 28 and seventh in GS at Aspen Nov. 25. & Seventeenth matches the fourth-best career result for Kaylin Richardson. & Her best results, a 13th in SG and 15th in combined, both came at Reiteralm earlier this season. & Her best slalom result is 17th, now accomplished twice, the previous at Spindleruv Mlyn Dec. 22, 2005. & It is the 55th-best World Cup result for Lindsey Kildow. & Her 13th best in slalom. & It is her second-best of two slalom scoring results this season. & All of her results this season not from slalom have been podium finishes. & It is the 13th-best World Cup result for Brigitte Acton. & Her fifth best in slalom. & It is her third-best slalom result of the season, having been 18th at Aspen and 19th at Val d'Isere.
   
Schild extends her lead in the overall standings to 697-564 over Nicole Hosp (11th in race). & Kathrin Zettel (12th in race) sits third at 562. Lindsey Kildow is the top American on the overall list in fourth at 448. & Schild pushes her lead in the slalom standings to 460-257 over Zettel with four races remaining on the schedule. & Therese Borssen (DNF second run) is third in the slalom standings with 252. & Resi Stiegler is the top American on the slalom list in 10th place with 117 points. & Winning margin was 1.66 seconds. & Top three were within two seconds of the winning time.

 

Zagreb-Sljeme women's World Cup slalom results

 

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time FIS Points
 1  3  55590 SCHILD Marlies  1981  AUT   57.77  1:01.63  1:59.40  0.00
 2  6  385032 JELUSIC Ana  1986  CRO   59.17  1:01.89  2:01.06  8.48
 3  12  155415 ZAHROBSKA Sarka  1985  CZE   1:00.25  1:01.00  2:01.25  9.45
 4  15  296354 COSTAZZA Chiara  1984  ITA   59.58  1:01.84  2:01.42  10.32
 5  14  537772 STIEGLER Resi  1985  USA   59.19  1:02.31  2:01.50  10.73
 6  1  185140 POUTIAINEN Tanja  1980  FIN   59.82  1:01.89  2:01.71  11.80
 7  13  205636 BERGMANN-SCHMUDERER Monika  1978  GER   59.94  1:01.81  2:01.75  12.01
 8  17  537545 MANCUSO Julia  1984  USA   1:00.45  1:01.56  2:02.01  13.33
 9  19  705287 ZUZULOVA Veronika  1984  SVK   1:00.95  1:01.29  2:02.24  14.51
 10  20  296259 MOELGG Manuela  1983  ITA   1:00.40  1:01.87  2:02.27  14.66
 11  2  55690 HOSP Nicole  1983  AUT   59.76  1:02.58  2:02.34  15.02
 12  7  55838 ZETTEL Kathrin  1986  AUT   1:00.16  1:02.28  2:02.44  15.53
 13  31  195972 AUBERT Sandrine  1982  FRA   1:00.19  1:02.62  2:02.81  17.42
 14  27  185271 LEINONEN Sanni  1989  FIN   1:00.10  1:02.72  2:02.82  17.47
 15  45  205993 HOELZL Kathrin  1984  GER   1:01.47  1:01.47  2:02.94  18.09
 16  24  435142 KARASINSKA Katarzyna  1982  POL   1:01.22  1:01.78  2:03.00  18.39
 17  33  537626 RICHARDSON Kaylin L  1984  USA   1:00.26  1:02.76  2:03.02  18.49
 18  16  537544 KILDOW Lindsey C  1984  USA   1:00.88  1:02.18  2:03.06  18.70
 19  18  195912 DE LEYMARIE Florine  1981  FRA   1:01.02  1:02.06  2:03.08  18.80
 20  10  505760 PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria  1986  SWE   59.55  1:03.65  2:03.20  19.41
 21  9  505187 OTTOSSON Anna  1976  SWE   1:00.74  1:02.49  2:03.23  19.57
 22  22  195215 VIDAL Vanessa  1974  FRA   1:00.77  1:02.61  2:03.38  20.33
 23  21  295265 CERESA Annalisa  1978  ITA   1:00.79  1:02.80  2:03.59  21.41
 24  25  206035 CHMELAR Fanny  1985  GER   1:01.34  1:02.34  2:03.68  21.87
 25  29  106527 ACTON Brigitte  1985  CAN   1:01.29  1:03.00  2:04.29  24.98
 

Did not finish 1st run:
KARBON Denise (ITA), MACULOVA Sona (SVK), HULTDIN Malin (SWE), RIESCH Maria (GER), LOESETH Nina (NOR), RIESCH Susanne (GER), GERG Annemarie (GER), KIRCHGASSER Michaela (AUT)

Did not finish 2nd run:
LOESETH Lene (NOR), PAERSON Anja (SWE), BORSSEN Therese (SWE)

 

Disqualified 1st run:
MUELLER Anne Marie (NOR)

 

Disqualified 2nd run:
GIUS Nicole (ITA), CAMASTRAL Aita (SUI)

 

Did not qualify 2nd run:
NOVOSELIC Sofija (CRO), KIRKOVA Maria (BUL), HONKONEN Jessica (FIN), FERNSEBNER Carolin (GER), LOLOVIC Jelena (SRB), ZEISER Daniela (AUT), GRAND Rabea (SUI), ROBNIK Petra (SLO), SPONRING Christine (AUT), BERNTSEN Hedda (NOR), ZAKOURILOVA Petra (CZE), SANTON Aurelie (FRA), VIKEN Line (NOR), PERSYN Karen (BEL), CICCONE Caitlin (USA), KURFUERSTOVA Eva (CZE), KOBAL Ana (SLO), HANSDOTTER Frida (SWE), BARTHET Anne-Sophie (FRA)

 

 

World Cup standings
Slalom
(After 5 of 9 races)
1. Marlies Schild, Austria, 460 points.
2. Kathrin Zettel, Austria, 257.
3. Therese Borssen, Sweden, 252.
4. Ana Jelusic, Croatia, 238.
5. Nicole Hosp, Austria, 208.
6. Sarka Zahrobska, Czech Republic, 165.
7. Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer, Germany, 145.
8. Veronika Zuzulova, Slovakia, 124.
9. Chiara Costazza, Italy, 119.
10. Resi Stiegler, United States, 117.
11. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 108.
12. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 107.
13. Annemarie Gerg, Germany, 104.
14. Maria Pietila Holmner, Sweden, 102.
15. Michaela Kirchgasser, Austria, 97.

 

World Cup overall standings
(After 14 of 33 races)
1. Marlies Schild, Austria, 697 points.
2. Nicole Hosp, Austria, 564.
3. Kathrin Zettel, Austria, 562.
4. Lindsey Kildow, United States, 448.
5. Renate Goetschl, Austria, 441.
6. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 386.
7. Julia Mancuso, United States, 361.
8. Michaela Kirchgasser, Austria, 282.
9. Therese Borssen, Sweden, 252.
10. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 248.
11. Ingrid Jacquemod, France, 242.
12. Ana Jelusic, Croatia, 241.
13. Sarka Zahrobska, Czech Republic, 224.
14. Maria Riesch, Germany, 188.
15. Kelly VanderBeek, Canada, 185.