Kostelic, others rehabbing well

Ivica Kostelic is taking a slower route than usual for perhaps the first time in his dozen World Cup seasons in rehab from right knee surgery three weeks ago. It was at least the fifth surgery on the same knee.

The 2011 overall World Cup champion said some micro fractures have slowed the recovery process. “It takes time, patience and I have to be careful with this knee. This rehab is different than previously because we have more time for relaxation and programming work. So we do everything well, step by step.”

Rehab is expected to continue through mid-June when more athletic training can begin. He anticipates being on-snow in mid July.

He said he would continue to consider starting in all disciplines saying it was the only way he could “squint at the World Cup.”

“For us the essence of the sport is the achievement of the impossible. … It displeases me to see that some skiers do not see it that way. They achieve good results in the technical disciplines, during which they see in the speed disciplines the impossible, which represents our dream.”

Italian super G star Matteo Marsaglia underwent hernia surgery and hopes to be pain free when he starts up dry land training.

Defending World Cup overall champion Marel Hirscher had lazer surgery on his eyes to improve myopia. He said one eye was tracking at less than 30 percent. The improved vison should improve his chances for a third straight World Cup title.

Romed Bauman reports being pain free due to a therapy on a knee damaged at Sochi in 2012 two Februarys ago.