SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Yesterday at 6:57pm

FIRE MAROLT PERIOD!

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Re: SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Reply #1 - Today at 9:43am
Angry
Yes, I'm still shocked and disturbed that not only development racers but also c team members are still laying down some serious cash to earn the US ski Teams "Best in the World" ploy. The A & B team members are raking it in for the team, the developing racers have already spent loads of parental bucks, would be nice to spread it around better. Where's all that money going that we're sending in on donations?
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Re: SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Reply #2 - Today at 12:20pm
Was there an article that was supposed to be attached to that?
I'd like to see some facts. Thanks.

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Posted: Dec 12, 2007 - 3:36 AM GMT

Interesting that Marolt emphasizes the importance of kids and parents to the sport in public. Sounds good, for sure---and most will agree that kids' racing today is in fact the future of the sport tomorrow. But how well does USSA actually take care of this "important" segment of the racing community? Not well, if you are talking $$$/budget priorities. USSA's financial support of kids' ski racing is "meagre" at best. They just do not allocate $$ in a way which actually makes it more affordable for a kid to race, and to get good at racing. Even if a kid makes it to the top levels, and gets invited to the best USSA camps etc, the kid (and his lucky parents) foot the whole bill. USSA should walk the walk and put $$ into youth racing if they want the sport to thrive. But that is tough when USSA is focused on building a "center of excellence" which costs a ton--which most youth racers will never see, enjoy or use, and when the USSA board pays Marolt more than half a million $$ per year, a stratospheric salary for any nonprofit ceo, or even a for-profit ceo for that matter. Contradiction?? How do he and the Board of USSA justify his salary, when junior and NDS programs are self- funded by the athletes (parents)? The fact is that it has become prohibitively expensive for almost any family (except maybe for the Marolts and others making in excess of half a million $$) to support their kids to achieve high level of junior racing. Where are USSA's priorities?

WCSN.com

Carrie Sheinberg / WCSN.com

Team USA to bill skiers to compete

PARK CITY, UTAH -- In the next few hours, five members of the men's U.S. Ski Team are going to get something unpleasant under their Christmas tree: an invoice from the United States Ski Team for somewhere between $7,000 and $10,000. They'll pay it, assuming they want to race for the remainder of the 2007-08 season. Five women received a similar invoice this past spring, paying as much as $4,500 per quarter for the right to continue racing for their team.

This development, which will be announced to the male athletes in question three days before Christmas, could be seen as ironic: Each of the athletes currently on the team actually made the team. That is to say, their membership was earned based on what head alpine director Jesse Hunt called "the criteria" for U.S. Team selection.

It is a tough development for people who have dedicated their days and nights to training and competing at the highest international level in their sport.

"[The money] is coming straight out of my pocket," said B-Team member Caitlin Ciccone, of Bethlehem, N.H. "I don't make much of a salary being a ski racer. I have no parental support. I am a 22-year-old that lives on my own and has normal living expenses. It will be tough, but I love skiing so much I will find a way to do it." Ciccone will be obligated to reimburse her team for as much as $18,000 this year to cover her flights, hotel and meal expenses.

Rumors of a budget shortfall and funding concerns began to trickle out as early as May, 2007, and in subsequent team meetings, ski team officials confirmed that despite being officially named to the 2007-08 Alpine Team (typically a fully funded arrangement that costs about $75,000 per athlete), five men and five women would have to come up with $20,000 each to pay for their expenses for the upcoming season. In other words the men's and women's teams were about $100,000 short, respectively, on projected expenses for the year.

The team's solution was to have the athletes cover the difference.

"We had more things that we wanted to do than we had money for," said Hunt, although he was careful to emphasize that "it's not a budget shortfall. We have a certain number that we work with and it's up to us to put together a program how we see fit. We put together a program based on the priorities of the program and we're landing where we're landing."

Hunt went on to say that the monies were not missing, but rather the team had simply chosen to reallocate them to support development programs that have shown signs of decline. "In '04 we were first [in the junior ranks]," Hunt said. "In '05 we were second, in '06 we were third and in '07, we were fifth. So over time it's clear that we were not supporting that level in the ways we needed to."

Moving money to the development program is great news for the 15-and-under crowd in this country still working toward their dreams of one day making the U.S. Alpine Team, but for the athletes already on the team those dreams are now more expensive than they may be able to afford.

Perhaps the biggest paradox of the new policy is illustrated by first-year C-Team member Hailey Duke of Boise, Idaho. Duke's reward for leaping from the development team to the U.S. Team this past spring is a bill for as much as $20,000. Had Duke not made the team and continued racing in the development ranks, it actually might have cost her less to race. Duke's first year on the ski team has been spent in different ways than she had imagined.

"I've been going to businesses, sending out portfolios and just trying to find anyone locally who can help," said Duke, 22. "I'll go out and try to make some money. It's a little more stressful but it's not really bothering me."

The men's team and the women's team members have gone about trying to solve their respective challenges in different ways. According to Olympian Steven Nyman, the men were informed in May that five of them would have to pay for expenses; they would be told which five in December. That decision would be based on early season performance and results, including considerations for injury recovery time and other unique situations. The five individual athletes on the women's team were told of their predicament in May and began efforts to fund their training and racing immediately.

The men's team rallied together and held a golf tournament to raise funds to support whichever teammates would be billed in December.

"It brought us together as a team," Nyman said. "We all did our part and it worked for the team. We gained a lot of trust in each other and showed our support. It was a good experience."

That money, pooled after the tournament, awaits the five men who will need it to pay for airfare, food and hotels in the coming months.

The women's team athletes -- those that needed funding -- went off on their own quests for financial support. By the December World Cup races in Aspen, Colo., none of them had raised the money they would need to cover their costs for the winter in Europe. Ciccone, Duke and B-Team member Katie Hitchcock organized a fundraiser, held two nights before the races started, that included auction items donated by equipment sponsors as well as other racing paraphernalia.

"I think our timing wasn't the greatest," Duke said. "Not a lot of people showed up but a lot of people donated stuff, we have plenty of stuff left over and we're still going to be selling it, on Ebay. We're setting up some other ways for people to contact us, too. We definitely did not raise enough to fund us all."

In response to his athletes' financial scramble, Hunt explained that financial pressures like the weak dollar, rising fuel costs and other issues have combined to make the move necessary. Rather than cut athletes who had qualified for the team, USSA came up with new criteria for making the team: next year's qualification standards.

"Going forward we just modified our criteria," Hunt said. "We funded [each athlete] off of next year's criteria. It was a very objective decision making process. We're providing resources if you've made this year's criteria, to the extent that we can. It really comes down to prioritization of resources. Right now the priority is to move the effort to the junior program. It's very clear that we need to pay attention to that level and that requires a shift of resources."

That shift has necessitated some very tough choices on the part of 10 athletes.

"We have stayed with teammates, or anywhere we can stay just trying to save money here or there," Ciccone said, "but it puts too much stress on us. We just want to go out and race and do what we loved when we were two."

To contribute to the athletes of the US Ski Team:
Men's Team: Go to www.mensalpine.com. Or mail a check to:

SFI Foundation Inc.
P.O. Box 682632
Park City, UT 84068

Women's team athletes:
Caitlin Ciccone: caitc16@hotmail.com.
Katie Hitchcock: khitcher12@hotmail.com.
Hailey Duke: hduke85@yahoo.com.
Mail checks to either:

PO Box 375
175 Cottage St.
Littleton, NH 03561

Or:

The Sugarbowl Ski Team Foundation
C/O Jim Hudson
PO Box 2590
Olympic Valley, CA 96146

B-Team member Lauren Ross is an accomplished photographer. You can purchase her photos at www.laurenrossphotography.com or contact her at: laurross@gmail.com.
Five men and five women -- all of whom made the U.S. Ski Team -- will have to pay up to $10,000 dollars for their right to continue racing for Team USA. They've taken to the streets to raise funds. More >
Caitlin Ciccone (left) and Katie Hitchcock are among the skiers who have to raise their own funds.
Getty

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Re: SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Reply #4 - 12/29/07 at 10:39pm
Bill Marolt is paid over $300,000 a year by USSA/USST, there has got to be $100,000 in his salary that could fund athletes named to the team!
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Re: SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Reply #5 - Yesterday at 5:49pm
I have to say that not funding athletes after they have been officially named to the team is pretty sad. It shows either a disregard for the athletes by appropriating funds elsewhere, or a lack of budget planning ability by allowing such an accounting error. Neither speak volumes about the professionalism of the USSA, and perhaps Marlot's leadership.

Either get the budget together with some accuracy and foresight, or only name so many athletes as you can afford.

It makes me wonder why I donate to the association at all. Angry
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Re: SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Reply #6 - Yesterday at 9:05pm
Yes I would agree that is pretty sad, skiing costs a lot annually to compete and when you make the team it should take the burden off your family. It just shows that american skiers don't get the same kind of respect as european racers. Lets face the facts here, the U.S. ski team is doing something wrong.

"Lets face the facts here, the U.S. ski team is doing something wrong"

Alpine year 2007 concludes in Lienz and Bormio

The last of the ladies’ Audi FIS Alpine World Cup December races will take place in Lienz (AUT). The giant slalom and slalom races will be held on the re-modeled Dr Kurt Schlick course on the Hochstein on 28th-29th December. Besides an attractive side event program, the organizers have launched a new marketing concept focused on “Krampus,” known as a helper of St. Nicholas. They will also rely on some 15’000 spectators to create a magical atmosphere with the help of thousands of bells that are intended to help the athletes to top performances. For more information, visit www.skiworldcup-lienz.at.

The final December venue on the Alpine men’s Italian tour will be the traditional New Year’s downhill in Bormio on Saturday, 29th December. The (in)famous Stelvio piste, known as one of the fastest and most demanding on the Tour with its more than 1000m of altitude drop, will challenge even the best of the racers. This year, Bormio will also host the “FIS Grand Finals 2008”, which encompass the FIS World Cup finals for Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard. The Grand Finals week will start with the men’s and ladies downhill races on 12th March 2007. For more, check out www.bormioonline.com and www.grandfinals2008.com. www.fisski.com

"Best Paid CEO Don't Always Produce The Best Results":

2007/2008 NATIONS CUP

1 AUT 4888
2 SUI 2636
3 ITA 2449
4 USA 2291 (NOTE: Help from Bode Miller & Team America)

SOURCE: WWW.SKIRACING.COM/Forums

"100% the result of Marolt's ineptitude as an executive."

"The World's Most Biased and Xenophobic Journalist, Gary Black Jr, rarely writes a column without slagging the Austrian Team. Just look at the facts, Gary. Peter Schröcksnadel, the target of so many of Black's salvos, is qualified to run the Austrian Team by virtue of world-class executive expertise (made not one but two huge fortunes, one in real estate and one in advanced media) and is one of the fastest Masters racers in Austria. Marolt's qualifications to run the US Team, on the other hand, are.....he was once a good college coach.

One example of this coming home to roost:

The reason many relocated World Cup races go to Reiteralm is because Schröcksnadel OWNS Reiteralm; when a World Cup event is canceled he, in effect, writes a $350,000 personal check to cover the event's costs and (perhaps) gets reimbursed months later by the team out of the event's TV revenues. Instead of protesting this by walking out of FIS meetings, the US Team should find a chief exec who is smarter, richer, more savvy, and tougher than Schröcksnadel (if they can).

Another example:

Schröcksnadel serves as head of the ÖSV for a ceremonial salary. Marolt's $300K a year, on the other hand, would cover the expenses of the 5 male and 5 female racers caught in the shortfall, and then some. With all the amazing business expertise in the US, one of the things the US Team needs to do to compete with AUT is get rid of a punter like Marolt and find someone like Steve Jobs or Bob Stapleton to run the team in a world-class way for $1 a year.

The Austrians are the real Best In The World for a lot of very good reasons. Write a column on THAT, Gary, instead of ridiculous fish wrap demanding that the Nation's Cup point distribution be changed so that a country other than AUT can win it." TMSH
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Re: SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Reply #8 - Today at 12:26pm
I think two items stand out on the funding issue:

1) USSA builds a monument to themselves, the Center for Excellence (otherwise known as the Taj Marolt). How many days will the athletes and coaches (the core of a successful team) actually use this facility? Or, instead does it mean the bureaucrats have subperb digs?

2) Losing Bode. I have to believe it is easier to negotiate with sponsors (e.g. Chevy, VISA etc.) when you have a marquee athlete. No slight on the other guys as skiers but Bode is a bigger media draw than the rest combined. Everyone will say Bode was hard to manage but c'mon how hard do you think it is managing Terrel Owens?

It's "STINKING THINKING" by Marolt & Co. & Beattie needs to take his "boy" and tell him it's over.

"The above US Ski Team press release was published yesterday on the Team's Web site after Bode Miller's first win of the season...for Team America, not for the United States Ski Team. Which brings up this question: should the US Ski Team be reporting on Miller's results? And at what point, if any, are Miller's results and record attempts no more relevant to the US Team than Austrian racer Michael Walchhofer's?"

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Re: SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Reply #13 - Today at 3:10pm
Interesting that the USST (see message below) says that the money that might have gone to the C team has gone instead to fund the juniors to help them improve since they need it. NOt that I don't believe their good intentions, I do--definitely--I am very sure they mean well, but I wonder where the $$ is actually going, specifically. In other words, what choices are being made. Because the $$ is not seen by the juniors --it is not going to NDS projects or camps (in the field/on the hill/where I as a parent think it is needed), ie it is not going directly to help the promising kids who are in that top echelon that might become really great skiers. The kids/successful juniors I know who make it on the "clear path" and are thus presumably the top juniors, and are invited to the elite events and camps, have to fund their attendance to them themselves--in fact, they are entirely self-funded from what I understand. My friend whose kid was invited to Topolino was told--Congratulations, your daughter won the shootout, and here is a bill for over $2,000 for your kid to go (pays for coaches room/travel, the kid's hotels/entries/life tickets (but athletes pay their own travel on top of the other gigantic bill). She (the mom) was shocked (and of course happy too--but it was a very big deal financially for their family). ,Perhaps Hunt is speaking of making videos for instruction when he speaks of allocating money to the younger ones. This is meritorious. But seriously, even though the videos etc are good products, how much do they actually help a good junior get better, who needs to figure out how to pay for travel, entry fees, gear, and get time on the hill with other good skiers? I realize you can't do it all, but I think parents and racers should be questioned as to best use of the money to help their kids become better racers if the goal is for the juniors to improve.
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Re: SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Reply #14 - Today at 3:27pm
Wow...this last entry is really revealing. If the money is supposedly going to junior development, and yet there are no real visible means of that happening...where is the money going? I have a bad feeling, not unlike the one I had during the Watergate Era, that there's a lot more funny business going on than we really know about. I forget who the USST staff is accountable too...isn't it the trustees? Does anybody think it might be about time for some of Concerned Citizens to get in touch with them, directly, and find out what they think? If anything?

Angry
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Reply #19 - Today at 9:47am
I think we ought to fund everybody we possibly can, and right now, we're falling short in terms of the Topolino racers all the way through the USST on the World Cup. I mean, come on...we're paying so-called steroid athletes hundreds of millions of dollars to play football, baseball, and so forth, where half of one of these players multi-year contracts would easily fund the USST to the tune of twice the budget we have now. Don't tell me the money isn't out there somewhere...it's just that the USST doesn't know how to go after it. Go take a look at the funding staff for the USST...there's a national funding coordinator, regional funding coordinators, and so forth...how much is that costing us, and how much has it produced?

It's not clear to me who Marolt is responsible to, whether it's the board, trustees, or whomever. I can't believe that whomever he's accountable to isn't concerned about the budget shortfalls, but maybe they're not. So the next question is...who really runs the USST and who are they accountable to? I'd say it's us, the ski racing community, meaning all of us who have competitor licenses, plus all the parents, supporters, local coaches and programs, etc. I've sent emails with my concerns to a couple of contact emails on the USST site, and I'll be curious to see what, if any reply, I get. Watch this space if I do...meanwhile, isn't the press supposed to be the voice of truth and reason in matters such as this? What does Ski Racing think about all this? Surely they can't be unaware of what's going on, yet there's absolutely nothing on the SR website to indicate that the USST has, in fact, a problem...
www.skiracing.com
Angry

"According to a December 6, 2006 article in the NY Times authored by Nathaniel Vinton, USSA paid Marolt $559,880 in 2004, according to tax records. I have no personal knowledge of this matter, but this is what the NYT reported." www.skiracing.com/forums

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Re: SKI TEAM MEMBERS HAVE TO FUND THEMSELVES
Reply #14 - Yesterday at 3:27pm
Wow...this last entry is really revealing. If the money is supposedly going to junior development, and yet there are no real visible means of that happening...where is the money going? I have a bad feeling, not unlike the one I had during the Watergate Era, that there's a lot more funny business going on than we really know about. I forget who the USST staff is accountable too...isn't it the trustees? Does anybody think it might be about time for some of Concerned Citizens to get in touch with them, directly, and find out what they think? If anything?

Angry

Zahrobska hurts eye in champagne mishap

Eurosport - Wed, 02 Jan 18:39:00 2008

World slalom champion Sarka Zahrobska could miss her home World Cup event in Spindleruv Mlyn this week after injuring her eye in an accident involving a champagne bottle.
ALPINE SKIING 2006-2007 Aare Zahrobska - 0
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* All the Alpine Skiing news

The Czech resort is hosting a giant slalom on Saturday and a slalom on Tuesday, but Zahrobska could miss her first World Cup event on home soil since winning the slalom at last year's Are world championships unless her right eye improves.

The 22-year-old needed four stitches after a shard of glass from a champagne bottle narrowly missed her eye at a ceremony to name one of the resort's six slopes after the Czech star.

"I trained today, but my eye is still sensitive," Zahrobska said on Wednesday. "I will decide on Thursday or Friday about my participation at Spindleruv Mlyn after having one more talk with my doctor."

Zahrobska is currently lying in fifth in the World Cup slalom standings, which are being led by Austria's Nicole Hosp.
Eurosport

"I missed the second run because it wasn't listed as live, so I stupidly thought it was a re-run of the first...

The first run by the Swiss team was a beauty to watch. Enjoyed this one very much." Swiss Ski Fan

Established ski publication seeks Editor in Chief PDF Print E-mail
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Ski Racing International, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, seeks an experienced journalist to become editor-in-chief of Ski Racing, the Journal of Snowsport Competition, published 12 times each year, and daily on the Web. The ideal candidate will combine a comprehensive knowledge of ski competition with a solid track record in magazine or newspaper editorial management, including top-notch communication and organizational skills and exceptional writing and editing abilities. Responsibilities include planning and producing content for both the print and online editions of Ski Racing; budget management; supervising staff and freelance editors, writers and photographers; and working with printers and publication and web designers. Please e-mail cover letter, resume, three published writing samples (PDF, Word format, or URL), three references and salary requirements to editorsearch@skiracing.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , or mail to, Editor Search, Ski Racing International, 75 East 400 South, Suite 204, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. No phone calls, please.

Poll Question: Should there be women's competitions in ski jumping?Yes

62 Votes (85%)
No

11 Votes (15%)
Your vote was Yes on 1/5/08 8:45 PM www.wcsn.com

ADELBODEN, Switzerland: Mario Matt won his eighth World Cup slalom race on Sunday, beating Austrian teammate Benjamin Raich by 0.10 seconds.

Nations Cup

1 AUT 5892
2 SUI 3004
3 ITA 2954
4 USA 2553
5 FRA 1554
6 CAN 1553

EXCELLENT NEWS FROM THE SWISS ALPS:

#8 COCHRAN Jimmy 1981 USA/VT 56.37 53.35 1:49.72 7.14

09.01.2008 442 Wengen SUI Downhill M TRA
10.01.2008 459 Wengen SUI Downhill M TRA
11.01.2008 472 Wengen SUI Downhill M COM
11.01.2008 473 Wengen SUI Super Combined M WC
12.01.2008 488 Wengen SUI Downhill M WC
13.01.2008 504 Wengen SUI Slalom M WC

USSA should remember--Pigs get fed, hogs get slaughtered. By ColoradoGirl @ www.skiracing.com/forums

"The racers and the bureaucrats who are on the USSA gravy train, ie the ones who are given the spoils of it (by and at the discretion of USSA/, are really very very fortunate that they have anyone to administer to, anyone left to play with/compete against in this sport of ski racing, because the allocation of resources and privilege is so top heavy. It's surprising the other (non-USSA-supported) racers, after about the J2-1 level, don't just pack up and go home. The system at the elite and junior levels is very slanted in favor of the few who get the USSA resources. It is so hard for a non-USSA-sponsored racer to compete at any reasonable level against a fully supported racer--and it's not just $$, because even if they had unlimited $$ from parents, the USSA-sponsored kids get all the great skis, the service men, the priority to get into the good races, the training you can't buy, etc. Once they are "in" the system they keep this advantage, because they they don't have to win the most races to stay on the USST, just get a couple of good point results per year. In fact, most of the higher level USST skiers are not even making "criteria"--the college guys are doing almost as well, or better, WHILE GOING TO COLLEGE FULL TIME. But once a racer is on the team, it's just a lot easier (so sayeth kids on the team btw).
In my opinion USSA's resources for elite and development (junior) skiing should be spread around. More juniors should be given a chance to excel by allocating more $$ to junior training and opportunities, and those opportunities should be kept open until the racers are in their 20's--ie, after college. USSA should keep in mind that many kids develop on very different schedules, and that kids are and should be going to college. I strongly believe USSA should give more support to college racers--and respect, and attention--and that it is sorely lacking. USSA does not give one penny to the 6-10 college students who represent the United States at World Winter University Games every 2 years. NADA. These guys/girls are great skiers, scrappy and determined, footing the bill to be there and get there etc on their own, at an event attended by over 1500 athletes from around the world. The USSA track is not set up to encourage kids to go for a serious education--another reason it will probably become obsolete, as only a fool in this day and age would not go to college. It is VERY hard to be on, or get to be on, the D or C team if one is pursuing a serious education, or any education for that matter.
The strength of ski racing in the US is built on the the efforts and energy of those who work for it for free, and ski on their own nickel . If you held a dinner party and one group of people were given food, wine, a ride, and great clothes, and the others had to find a ride to get there, bring their own food and wine, and buy their own clothes--how long do you think the latter would want to attend?
The USSA system would not work without the great unwashed, the bit players, the kids with 120 points, or the kid who's trying to go to college and figure out how to get one free pair of skis from a sponsor--and sometimes they still beat the USST kids. Good for them!!!
USSA should remember--Pigs get fed, hogs get slaughtered." www.skiracing.com/forums

The strength of ski racing in the US is built on the the efforts and energy of those who work for it for free, and ski on their own nickel . If you held a dinner party and one group of people were given food, wine, a ride, and great clothes, and the others had to find a ride to get there, bring their own food and wine, and buy their own clothes--how long do you think the latter would want to attend?

From www.fisski.com

New Men's program in Wengen (SUI)

Due to the extended weather forecast the Men's schedule in Wengen (SUI) has changed.
The SL has been moved to Saturday, 12.01.2008 at 09:45 / 12:30 and the DH will be held on Sunday, 13.01.2008 at 13:00. The Super Combined remains as scheduled, Friday, 11.01.2008.

Didier Cuche wins super-combined downhill but Albrecht ready for second win in Super-combined
Patrick Lang 11.01.2008 13:37 Uhr
Switzerland Didier Cuche clearly dominated the downhill leg of Wengen’s Super-combined event this morning, but his teammate Daniel Albrecht seems ready for his second win in the specialty this season.

Cuche, 2nd in the downhill here last year, beat by 69/100 of a second his training colleague Marco Buechel and by 1,33 France’s Adrien Theaux.

Bode Miller, way ahead his rivals in Thursday’s last training run, came in 4th after struggling in the icy middle part of the Lauberhorn course which had to be shortened prior the start because of strong gusts of wind in the upper part of the slope. Miller, who has never won a Super-combined so far, lost 1,37 on Cuche . His advance on slalom specialists Rainer Schoenfelder , 7th at 15/100 from the US American, or Daniel Albrech, 8th at 22/100 from Miller is pretty narrow considering his weak slalom form in recent seasons.

Ivica Kostelic, 12th with a delay of 32/100 on Schoenfelder or Raich, 14th only 13/100 behind the Croatian champion will also be fighting for victory this afternoon.

Most of the top downhill specialists as Cuche, Buechel, Hermann Maier (only 11th) or Michael Walchhofer, a distant 19th, will not compete this afternoon in the slalom portion of the Super-combined.

“It’s not worth it, I don’t want to risk hurting again my back in the slalom this afternoon, I rather rest and start to prepare Sunday’s downhill,” explained Cuche who was pleased with his run. “It was good to test the course again today because the snow is harder now, especially in the trick turns of the “Kernen-S” situated on top,” the Swiss added. “I feel ready for a great race on Sunday, I felt really comfortable and confident this morning.”

Albrecht, who aims to be the first Swiss winner in Wengen for a long time, was also satisfied with his performance considering the fact that he didn’t dare to take all risks in that treacherous section where many skiers crashed including his teammate Marc Berthod or Austria’s Christoph Dreier who apparently injured himself badly at a knee.

“I planned to be more aggressive in that part after watching Bode Miller’s run yesterday,” the young Swiss said, “But the course was faster today and I knew that many skier had troubles there today so I took it easier, I could have been faster but also skied out so my time is not too bad,” he added. “It will certainly be tough this afternoon in the slalom leg, but I feel strong and I’m excited about fighting for victory in front of my fans. I would really enjoy another podium finish in Switzerland.”

Grange again in the lead
Patrick Lang 12.01.2008 11:33 Uhr
A few hours after celebrating his first ever victory in a Super-combined thanks to a stunning slalom run, Jean-Baptiste Grange successfully returned on the treacherous “Maennlichen” course to clock the fastest time in the first run of today’s slalom.

The 23-year-old Frenchman from Valloire had no problem dealing with poor visibility because of heavy snowfalls to beat by 46/100 of a second Austria’s reigning World Champion Mario Matt and by 58/100 Sweden’s Jens Byggmark. Matt won last week’s slalom at Adelboden.

Benjamin Raich, a multiple winner here in past years came in 4th ahead of Finland’s Kalle Palander and Italy’s Giorgio Rocca.

Bode Miller, 3rd in Friday’s Super-combined, was a strong in 15th, losing only 1,16 seconds on the leader. He didn’t reach the top-10 in a World Cup slalom since finishing 8th here backing January 2006.

Grange, who won a slalom at Alta Badia four weeks ago after dominating both runs, likes the difficult slalom slope at Wengen where he only raced a few times since the start of his career.

“It’s perfect for me, very steep and technical demanding too, I felt comfortable this morning even thought I spent much energy yesterday with all my obligations and presentations I had to go through until late in the evening,” he explained. “I could not rest and relaxed as much as I use to so I’m pretty pleased with that solid run this morning.”

“I hope the course conditions remain fair for the second run, it could well be pretty tough for the last starters,” the Frenchman added.

A foot of fresh snow covered the slope around Wengen in the morning yet the numerous course workers managed to take out most of the new snow from the course.

No French skier won the slalom at Wengen since Jean-Noel Augert’s triumph in January 1972 – and triple Olympic champion Jean Claude Killy is the last Frenchman to have captured both the slalom and the combined here in 1967 – after also winning the downhill.
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NATIONS CUP
1 AUT 6069
2 SUI 3143
3 ITA 3119
4 Team America + USA 2775

"Any body hear Bode Miller let slip on Eurosport's coverage just before his second run? On being told about a delay for a pole to be reset, he replied colourfuly that he didn't care and that he'd jump over the said pole!" Snowheads

Take Bode Millers Production, Team AMERICA Out Of The Nations Cup (1030) Points:

Standings look like this:

#1. Austria 6069
#7. Canada 1567
#8. Bill Marolts U.S. Ski Team 1245 (-Bode Miller Team America)
#9. Germany 1197

What kind of ROI production by Marolt is this?

Bode Miller = PRICELESS)

"Any body hear what Bode Miller let slip on Eurosport's coverage just before his second run? ....On being told about a delay for a pole to be reset, he replied colourfuly that he didn't care and that he'd jump over the said pole!" Snowheads

Bode Miller = PRICELESS)

Hosp fastest in Maribor first run

World Cup champion Nicole Hosp blazes to the fastest time in the first run of the Maribor slalom, as Veronika Zuzulova is second and Tanja