Maribor: Karbon downplays chances for 5 straight

By Published On: January 11th, 2008Comments Off on Maribor: Karbon downplays chances for 5 straight

MARIBOR, Slovenia — Denise Karbon could match Vreni Schneider's record of five straight giant slalom wins to begin a season back in 1989 if Karbon wins at a women's World Cup giant slalom on Saturday.

MARIBOR, Slovenia — Denise Karbon could match Vreni Schneider's record of five straight giant slalom wins to begin a season back in 1989 if Karbon wins a women's World Cup giant slalom on Saturday.
    Sweden's Anja Paerson won five straight GS races in 2004 but they weren't to start the season.
    The 27-year-old Karbon's career has been hampered by injuries, with several ankle, knee and leg problems keeping her mostly out of competition until 2006.
    She entered the current season with just one World Cup victory — at Alta Badia, Italy, in 2003 — but has won all four giant slaloms so far. They were in Soelden, Austria; Panorama, British Columbia; Lienz, Austria; and Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic.
    Paerson began her five-win streak in 2004 in Maribor.
    On Friday, Karbon downplayed her chances of equaling Paerson's achievement.
    ''The slope is very flat. That doesn't suit me too well,'' Karbon said about the Mariborski course.
    Mariborski was named eight days ago to replace the usual giant slalom course for the first time in the 44-year-long history of the classic Golden Fox races.
    ''This course is better, more dynamic, and the tourists skiing won't be distracted,'' race director Gorazd Bedrac said.
    Despite temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, organizers managed to quickly prepare the new course, which was approved by the FIS on Jan. 6.
    Karbon's best result at Maribor was in 2001 when she finished sixth. The Italian usually skips the speed races to concentrate on the technical disciplines.
    The giant slalom is her strongest event, while her best result in another discipline was 10th in slaloms in Santa Caterina, Italy, in 2000 and in Aspen, Colorado, in 2007.
    ''The giant slalom will be my discipline in the future, but I'll try to do a little bit better in slalom,'' Karbon said.
    Karbon is a strong favorite to win the World Cup giant slalom crystal globe. She leads the standings with 400 points. Elisabeth Goergl is second with 219 points, with Julia Mancuso third with 218.
    After Maribor, there are World Cup giant slaloms scheduled to be held at Ofterschwang and at Arber in Germany, and in Bormio, Italy.

    — The Associated Press

Share This Article

About the Author: Pete Rugh