Maze gets her championship in Worlds GS

By Published On: February 17th, 2011Comments Off on Maze gets her championship in Worlds GS

Tina MazeThe relief was palpable. After two silver medals at last season’s Olympic Games, a silver medal at the last World Championships, and a silver medal here, “Silver” Tina Maze finally got her gold, winning the giant slalom today (Feb. 17) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, the first gold in history for Slovenia.

The first skier out of the start in the first run of the delayed GS, Maze smoked the course, then stood stoically in the leaders box, straight-faced watching 116 skiers from 48 nations try to best her time. Few even came close. Italian 20 year old Federica Brignone got within a third of a second and Elisabeth Goergl was 0.71 in the first heat, but it was clear Maze – a nine-time World Cup winner – was the premier racer of the run.

“It felt like forever up there,” said Maze about the two-hour first run delay caused by a fog that drifted up and down the course. “Every half hour it was delayed again. … It was not good for the concentration.”

When the time finally came to start, Maze said, “I felt like a bull. I couldn’t wait to get going. I wanted the speed and to show what I could do.”

What she could do was dust the bulk of the competition.

In the second run, French wonder Tessa Worley, only 19th fastest in run 1, saw no reason to hold back. The winner of three straight World Cup GS’s from November through January, Worley smoothly attacked, putting up a time that would withstand racers with more than a second and half advantage on her from the first heat and earned her the bronze medal.

“I put all my hear in the second run. I was so disappointed after the first run,” said Worley, a leader on the winning French team in yesterday’s team event . “I am so happy. This is the biggest success of my career so far.”

Brignone, with just nine World Cup scoring results to her credit including two podiums, came after Worley with an enthusiasm fueled by a four medal performance from Italy’s men. She was the first to take Worley’s lead away, by 0.39 seconds. Her mother Maria Rosa Quario, a four-time World Cup winner in the late 70s and early 80s, was close at hand in the finish area working as journalist for the Italian magazine Sciare.

“My mom and grandmother were there in the finish and I had no idea what was going on,” said Brignone. “I knew I had to just clear my head from how well the first run went and go for it.”

The real lead, however, was still in the starthouse and Maze was not to be denied the top step again. The Slovene got the win by a scant 0.09 seconds and her stoic facade vanished. A smile radiated her face and she strode to the center of the finish area before the packed stadium, waved to the crowd and did a handspring celebrating like a teenager.

“It is the first gold medal for Slovenia,” said Maze “and I thought, ‘That’s over now. That’s enough’.” (Yugoslavia won a gold medal with Mateja Svet in 1989). For my country I finally show that even if it is a small country we can still be on top. It makes a difference. … we can show a little arrogance.”

Behind Brignone the Italians were a force with Denise Karbon – a two time medalist in GS – in fourth and Manuela Moelgg sixth.

The German women were well supported with a crowd of 15,000 on hand. World Cup overall leader and two-time bronze medalist at these Championships, Maria Riesch had recovered from her flu to finish fourth in the first run but slipped to her left hip while attacking a tight turn and failed to recover. Winner of this season’s only two World Cup GS races not topped by Worley, Viktoria Rebensburg ended up leading the home team in fifth. Lena Duerr landed 18th.

The best American hope was Julia Mancuso and she simply could not find the speed to challenge, winding up 16th. Sarah Schleper finished 21st. Megan McJames was saddled by missing the top 30 flip and finished 34th. Lindsey Vonn pulled out of the event after taking silver in the downhill to continue to recover from a recent concussion,

“The second run was really turny on the pitch and this hill has such a long flat that I think it just makes such a difference if you’re carrying speed or not,” said Mancuso of the course. “The snow is softer today, so you can’t generate any speed, you just have to take what you have from the pitch and hold on to it.”

“When you’re looking at a GS course especially, it’s a matter of hundredths per turn. In a GS, there are 50-60 gates and when you’re on, you’re on,” continued Mancuso, who skied down to James Brown’s Living in America. “If you’re off, you add up those hundredths from all those gates and you’ve lost a second.”

The Canadians struggled all day and placed in a bunch with Marie-Michele Gagnon in 23rd, Marie-Pier Prefontaine 24th and Britt Janyk 28th.

Women’s World Championship competition will conclude Saturday Feb. 19 with the slalom.

The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Women’s World Championship Giant Slalom, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Feb. 17, 2011
Equipment

Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
2 Brignone, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
3 Worley, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
4 Karbon, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
5 Rebensburg, Nordica/Nordica/Marker
6 Moelgg, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
7 Lindell-Vikarby, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
8 Schild, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
9 Paerson, Head/Head/Head
10 Barioz, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
10 Goergl, Head/Head/Head

Women’s World Championship Giant Slalom, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Feb. 17, 2011. … It is the seventh of 11 scheduled events. … The fourth of five women’s races. … It is the 45th giant slalom held in World Championship history.

It is the first World Championship fotr Tina Maze and her third World Championship medal having won silver medals in GS in 2009 and in combined four days ago. … She also owns two silver Olympic medals, both from 2010, in super G and GS. … It is the first World Championship for Slovenia, although Mateja Svet won gold in slalom in 1989 before her region of Yugoslavia became Slovenia. … Maze has won nine World Cup races. … eight of them in GS.

It is the first career World Championship medal for Federica Brignone. … the 52nd for Italy and the fifth for Italy at these World Championships. … She has two career World Cup podium results including her personal best 2nd in GS at Arber-Zwiesel Feb. 6.

It is the first career World Championship medal for Tessa Worley. … Her only other result a seventh, also in GS, from 2009. … She has five World Cup GS wins, three from this season. … It is the 96th French World Championship medal including the team medal from this championship.

Medal Count
Austria 5 (3gold, 2 silver)
Italy 5 (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
Slovenia 2 (1 gold, 1 silver)
France 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze)
Canada 1 (1 gold)
Norway 1 (1 gold)
USA 2 (2 silver)
Switzerland 1 (1 silver)
Germany 2 (2 bronze)
Sweden 2 (2 bronze)
Croatia 1 (1 bronze)

Place   Garmisch-Partenkirchen
(GER)
  Discipline   Giant Slalom
Date   17.02.2011   Category   FIS World Ski Championships
Race codex   5073   Gender   L
Valid for FIS Points   YES   TD Name   Bedrac Gorazd (SLO)
       
  
Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time FIS Points
 1  1  565243 MAZE Tina  1983  SLO   1:07.05  1:13.49  2:20.54  0.00
 2  9  297601 BRIGNONE Federica  1990  ITA   1:07.39  1:13.24  2:20.63  0.56
 3  3  196928 WORLEY Tessa  1989  FRA   1:09.17  1:11.85  2:21.02  2.97
 4  20  295445 KARBON Denise  1980  ITA   1:08.24  1:13.04  2:21.28  4.58
 5  6  205218 REBENSBURG Viktoria  1989  GER   1:08.04  1:13.38  2:21.42  5.45
 6  13  296259 MOELGG Manuela  1983  ITA   1:07.99  1:13.44  2:21.43  5.51
 7  26  505632 LINDELL-VIKARBY Jessica  1984  SWE   1:08.94  1:12.61  2:21.55  6.25
 8  19  55590 SCHILD Marlies  1981  AUT   1:09.16  1:12.58  2:21.74  7.43
 9  16  505483 PAERSON Anja  1981  SWE   1:08.23  1:13.52  2:21.75  7.49
 10  14  196725 BARIOZ Taina  1988  FRA   1:09.59  1:12.20  2:21.79  7.74
 10  8  55576 GOERGL Elisabeth  1981  AUT   1:07.76  1:14.03  2:21.79  7.74
 12  5  55838 ZETTEL Kathrin  1986  AUT   1:08.04  1:13.80  2:21.84  8.05
 13  2  185140 POUTIAINEN Tanja  1980  FIN   1:08.59  1:13.29  2:21.88  8.30
 14  12  196793 MARMOTTAN Anemone  1988  FRA   1:08.54  1:13.80  2:22.34  11.14
 15  31  705287 ZUZULOVA Veronika  1984  SVK   1:09.76  1:12.81  2:22.57  12.57
 16  11  537545 MANCUSO Julia  1984  USA   1:08.82  1:13.77  2:22.59  12.69
 17  27  506399 HECTOR Sara  1992  SWE   1:10.37  1:12.30  2:22.67  13.19
 18  24  206355 DUERR Lena  1991  GER   1:08.94  1:13.75  2:22.69  13.31
 19  29  196726 BARTHET Anne-Sophie  1988  FRA   1:09.55  1:13.18  2:22.73  13.56
 20  17  516138 GUT Lara  1991  SUI   1:08.91  1:13.92  2:22.83  14.18
 21  21  536481 SCHLEPER Sarah  1979  USA   1:09.75  1:13.12  2:22.87  14.42
 22  10  505760 PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria  1986  SWE   1:09.15  1:13.87  2:23.02  15.35
 23  22  105269 GAGNON Marie-Michele  1989  CAN   1:09.95  1:13.37  2:23.32  17.21
 24  25  106825 PREFONTAINE Marie-Pier  1988  CAN   1:09.91  1:13.58  2:23.49  18.26
 25  15  55750 FISCHBACHER Andrea  1985  AUT   1:09.13  1:14.40  2:23.53  18.51
 26  39  565320 FERK Marusa  1988  SLO   1:10.35  1:13.70  2:24.05  21.73
 27  23  296509 CURTONI Irene  1985  ITA   1:09.56  1:14.50  2:24.06  21.79
 28  35  106022 JANYK Britt  1980  CAN   1:10.18  1:15.55  2:25.73  32.13
 29  41  516280 HOLDENER Wendy  1993  SUI   1:10.63  1:15.17  2:25.80  32.56
 30  28  206174 STABER Veronika  1987  GER   1:10.80  1:15.12  2:25.92  33.30
 31  32  495065 RIENDA Maria Jose  1975  SPA   1:11.24  1:15.13  2:26.37  36.09
 32  48  495763 JARDI Andrea  1990  SPA   1:11.03  1:15.52  2:26.55  37.20
 33  36  495318 RUIZ CASTILLO Carolina  1981  SPA   1:10.93  1:15.98  2:26.91  39.43
 34  30  538284 MCJAMES Megan  1987  USA   1:11.13  1:16.49  2:27.62  43.83
 35  43  515997 FEIERABEND Denise  1989  SUI   1:11.37  1:16.61  2:27.98  46.06
 36  44  705377 SAALOVA Kristina  1991  SVK   1:12.22  1:16.44  2:28.66  50.27
 37  51  155699 PAULATHOVA Katerina  1993  CZE   1:12.10  1:16.71  2:28.81  51.19
 38  52  705349 GANTNEROVA Jana  1989  SVK   1:12.01  1:17.29  2:29.30  54.23
 39  46  485525 BUREEVA Vladislava  1989  RUS   1:12.83  1:16.63  2:29.46  55.22
 40  37  306096 HOSHI Mizue  1985  JPN   1:10.43  1:19.53  2:29.96  58.31
 41  34  306249 HASEGAWA Emi  1986  JPN   1:12.67  1:17.58  2:30.25  60.11
 42  62  715123 NOVAKOVIC Zana  1985  BIH   1:13.05  1:17.24  2:30.29  60.36
 43  42  385041 NOVOSELIC Sofija  1990  CRO   1:13.18  1:17.40  2:30.58  62.15
 44  49  705378 SKVARKOVA Jana  1991  SVK   1:13.63  1:17.22  2:30.85  63.82
 45  40  35079 SIMARI BIRKNER Maria Belen  1982  ARG   1:13.14  1:17.84  2:30.98  64.63
 46  50  305962 HANAOKA Moe  1984  JPN   1:13.20  1:18.56  2:31.76  69.46
 47  65  665009 SHKANOVA Maria  1989  BLR   1:13.86  1:18.28  2:32.14  71.81
 48  55  435142 KARASINSKA Katarzyna  1982  POL   1:13.92  1:18.46  2:32.38  73.29
 49  59  155431 MARKOVA Daniela  1985  CZE   1:13.78  1:18.87  2:32.65  74.97
 50  58  315187 IGNJATOVIC Nevena  1990  SRB   1:14.38  1:18.56  2:32.94  76.76
 51  80  95050 KIRKOVA Maria  1986  BUL   1:13.70  1:19.56  2:33.26  78.74
 52  77  695063 MATSOTSKA Bogdana  1989  UKR   1:14.21  1:19.18  2:33.39  79.55
 53  68  245059 DOEME Zsofia  1992  HUN   1:14.57  1:18.93  2:33.50  80.23
 54  67  155728 DUBOVSKA Martina  1992  CZE   1:14.62  1:19.95  2:34.57  86.85
Disqualified 2nd run
   56  355058 BUEHLER Anna-Laura  1994  LIE         
Disqualified 1st run
   104  235133 MAVRIDOU Paraskevi  1990  GRE         
   102  125016 LIU Yu  1985  CHN         
   84  125026 LIU Yang  1988  CHN         
Did not start 2nd run
   7  205993 HOELZL Kathrin  1984  GER         
Did not start 1st run
   98  715132 KLEPIC Maja  1988  BIH         
   18  515766 SUTER Fabienne  1985  SUI         
Did not qualify 1st run
   115  575006 BAUER Laura  1993  RSA         
   114  775003 VOLKOVA Irina  1987  KGZ         
   113  175038 LIBAK NIELSEN Anne  1992  DAN         
   112  265005 KALHOR Mitra  1985  IRA         
   111  345070 EKMEKEJIAN Sarah  1991  LIB         
   110  265004 KIADARBANDSARI Fatemeh  1982  IRA         
   109  775002 ZVOZNIKOVA Lida  1988  KGZ         
   108  215019 BARANOVA Tatjana  1993  UZB         
   107  265013 KALHOR Ziba  1991  IRA         
   106  215020 BARANOVA Svetlana  1993  UZB         
   105  245062 HELLNER Donata  1993  HUN         
   103  245048 HELLNER Szelina  1986  HUN         
   100  175024 FJELLVANG-SOELLING Sophie  1981  DAN         
   99  265006 KALHOR Marjan  1988  IRA         
   97  555016 FIMBAUERE Liene  1989  LAT         
   96  85024 MARANO Chiara  1993  BRA         
   95  955000 OETTL REYES Ornella  1991  PER         
   94  215007 GRIGOREVA Kseniya  1987  UZB         
   93  285015 KIEK-GEDALYAHU Ronnie  1993  ISR         
   92  175042 MADSEN Malene  1993  DAN         
   91  285014 HIRSHFELD Yom  1991  ISR         
   88  235230 VALCAREGGI Nicole  1991  GRE         
   87  525033 DASDEMIR Tugba  1985  TUR         
   86  145003 KRONE Kristina  1990  PUR         
   85  465058 CRACIUN Iulia Petruta  1988  ROU         
   83  465060 NAREA Sandra-Elena  1988  ROU         
   82  65090 VAN BUYNDER Isabel  1991  BEL         
   81  555018 GASUNA Lelde  1990  LAT         
   78  685018 TSIKLAURI Nino  1993  GEO         
   75  35156 BANCORA Salome  1993  ARG         
   74  35089 SIMARI BIRKNER Macarena  1984  ARG         
   73  125021 XIA Lina  1987  CHN         
   72  45216 CHRYSTAL Lavinia  1989  AUS         
   66  415128 JARVIS Sarah  1986  NZE         
   64  435189 KLUS Aleksandra  1986  POL         
   61  245051 BERECZ Anna  1988  HUN         
   45  385052 PALIC Tea  1991  CRO         
Did not finish 2nd run
   69  255258 GUDMUNDSDOTTIR Iris  1990  ISL         
   47  355052 SCHAEDLER Vanessa  1990  LIE         
   38  355055 BUEHLER Rebecca  1992  LIE         
   4  206001 RIESCH Maria  1984  GER         
Did not finish 1st run
   116  745007 MAGHAKYAN Siranush  1992  ARM         
   101  235110 RALLI Sophia  1988  GRE         
   90  125022 QIN Xiyue  1988  CHN         
   89  555017 BENHENA Evija  1989  LAT         
   79  35112 QUIROGA Julietta  1988  ARG         
   76  255284 KRISTJANSDOTTIR Katrin  1991  ISL         
   71  45268 PILAT Elizabeth  1992  AUS         
   70  85022 HARRISSON Maya  1992  BRA         
   63  405092 HERWERDEN VAN Michelle  1990  NED         
   60  155586 KMOCHOVA Tereza  1990  CZE         
   57  107068 PHELAN Brittany  1991  CAN         
   54  25096 GUTIERREZ Mireia  1988  AND         
   53  435245 CHRAPEK Karolina  1990  POL         
   33  435210 GASIENICA DANIEL Agnieszka  1987  POL       

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About the Author: Hank McKee

In memoriam: The veteran of the staff, McKee started with Ski Racing in 1980. Over the seasons, he covered virtually every aspect of the sport, from the pro tours to junior racing, freestyle and World Cup alpine competition. He wrote the first national stories for many U.S. team stars, and was still around to report on their retirements. “Longevity has its rewards,” he said, “but it’s a slow process.”