Olsson dances to Gardena finish well ahead

By Published On: December 15th, 2011Comments Off on Olsson dances to Gardena finish well ahead

Hans Olsson was not only fastest Thursday (Dec 15) down Val Gardena’s Saslong race track for the second training day in a row, he was five seconds faster than he had been Wednesday. Few could get within two seconds of his time and none truly challenged his result.

Klaus Kroell was second fastest 1.22 seconds back and German Tobias Strechert third 1.76 back.

Canada had Jan Hudec and Erik Guay finish among the top 10 fastest, Hudec in sixth and Guay 10th, both over two seconds out. Bode Miller led the Americans in 16th.

Weather was decidedly better than the opening training run when fog ravaged visibility and caused several delays that stretched the run to over four hours. This morning officials ruled the training run could go from the full length start, and while warm, the racers were even visited by sunshine during the event. Fog did cause an interruption, but the run pretty much came off without a hitch, though the forecast indicates it will snow again overnight.

“I can’t explain my lead,” said Olsson.” I felt I skied very well, but I can hardly believe I was so fast.” Hans Olsson said after having clocked the fastest time… “Today the slope was like a dance floor. I felt as though I was dancing into the finish.”

Olsson said he preferred the soft snow that layered the course. Others were not of the same opinion.

Local hero Werner Heel said, “It would not be the first time in Val Gardena/Gröden that some are faster in the second training run than in the actual race. …  I am looking forward to the races. The conditions of the slope are very different compared to three years ago when I won here. I hope it will get colder and the piste harder.”

Austria Mario Scheiber, in just his first training runs after a crash cost him the second half of last season, crashed into the nets at the Ciaslat meadow where the course appeared to be bumpy. He was quickly back on his feet and seemed none the worse for wear.

Olsson photo by Gepa

Place   Val Gardena-Groeden (ITA)   Discipline   Downhill
Date   15.12.2011   Category   Training
Race codex   0787   Gender   M
Valid for FIS Points   NO   TD Name   Bertsch Hugo (AUT)
       
  

OFFICIAL RESULTS – SECOND TRAINING
Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Total Time
 1  4  501076 OLSSON Hans  1984  SWE   1:57.48
 2  18  50753 KROELL Klaus  1980  AUT   1:58.70
 3  32  201811 STECHERT Tobias  1985  GER   1:59.24
 4  15  192746 THEAUX Adrien  1984  FRA   1:59.41
 5  16  51215 BAUMANN Romed  1986  AUT   1:59.46
 6  6  102271 HUDEC Jan  1981  CAN   1:59.54
 7  5  511529 GISIN Marc  1988  SUI   1:59.75
 8  20  510030 CUCHE Didier  1974  SUI   1:59.82
 9  25  51327 PUCHNER Joachim  1987  AUT   1:59.85
 10  12  102263 GUAY Erik  1981  CAN   1:59.95
 11  17  293006 INNERHOFER Christof  1984  ITA   1:59.97
 12  10  511139 KUENG Patrick  1984  SUI   2:00.00
 13  11  191740 CLAREY Johan  1981  FRA   2:00.09
 14  7  292514 HEEL Werner  1982  ITA   2:00.14
 15  41  53817 FRANZ Max  1989  AUT   2:00.20
 16  21  532431 MILLER Bode  1977  USA   2:00.24
 17  9  50742 REICHELT Hannes  1980  AUT   2:00.30
 18  2  560447 SPORN Andrej  1981  SLO   2:00.31
 19  26  50858 STREITBERGER Georg  1981  AUT   2:00.37
 20  1  192932 FAYED Guillermo  1985  FRA   2:00.47
 21  3  510767 HOFFMANN Ambrosi  1977  SUI   2:00.64
 22  30  191591 BERTRAND Yannick  1980  FRA   2:00.65
 23  22  421328 SVINDAL Aksel Lund  1982  NOR   2:00.68
 24  29  292455 FILL Peter  1982  ITA   2:00.83
 25  31  421483 JANSRUD Kjetil  1985  NOR   2:00.89
 26  8  380260 KOSTELIC Ivica  1979  CRO   2:00.98
 27  43  500150 JAERBYN Patrik  1969  SWE   2:01.07
 28  55  54005 STRIEDINGER Otmar  1991  AUT   2:01.17
 29  35  533131 SULLIVAN Marco  1980  USA   2:01.22
 30  14  510727 DEFAGO Didier  1977  SUI   2:01.31
 31  46  990081 CASSE Mattia  1990  ITA   2:01.32
 32  28  201606 KEPPLER Stephan  1983  GER   2:01.41
 33  33  534939 FISHER Erik  1985  USA   2:01.51
 34  23  510890 ZURBRIGGEN Silvan  1981  SUI   2:01.52
 35  42  53981 KROELL Johannes  1991  AUT   2:01.57
 36  27  102961 DIXON Robbie  1985  CAN   2:01.65
 37  36  530874 GANONG Travis  1988  USA   2:01.70
 38  61  510747 GRUENENFELDER Tobias  1977  SUI   2:01.73
 39  45  930024 MAPLE Wiley  1990  USA   2:01.78
 40  19  511383 FEUZ Beat  1987  SUI   2:01.84
 41  51  294911 PATSCHEIDER Hagen  1988  ITA   2:01.87
 42  65  193034 BOUILLOT Alexandre  1985  FRA   2:01.93
 43  57  294277 KLOTZ Siegmar  1987  ITA   2:01.96
 44  64  194190 ROGER Brice  1990  FRA   2:02.12
 45  62  53902 MAYER Matthias  1990  AUT   2:02.18
 46  52  191964 POISSON David  1982  FRA   2:02.20
 47  40  511142 LUEOEND Vitus  1984  SUI   2:02.30
 48  38  293550 MARSAGLIA Matteo  1985  ITA   2:02.41
 49  49  380292 ZRNCIC-DIM Natko  1986  CRO   2:02.42
 50  24  511313 JANKA Carlo  1986  SUI   2:02.53
 51  48  561087 MARKIC Gasper  1986  SLO   2:02.57
 52  44  53936 DUERAGER Markus  1990  AUT   2:02.73
 53  50  202059 FERSTL Josef  1988  GER   2:02.77
 54  39  200379 SANDER Andreas  1989  GER   2:02.81
 55  63  51401 GRAF Bernhard  1988  AUT   2:02.82
 56  70  220695 CRAWFORD Douglas  1987  GBR   2:03.06
 57  53  561067 PERKO Rok  1985  SLO   2:03.20
 58  34  530939 WEIBRECHT Andrew  1986  USA   2:03.38
 59  54  103271 THOMSEN Benjamin  1987  CAN   2:03.50
 60  56  561216 KLINE Bostjan  1991  SLO   2:03.72
 61  60  294904 PANGRAZZI Paolo  1988  ITA   2:03.93
 62  37  53837 KRAMER Manuel  1989  AUT   2:04.04
 63  59  193560 PASQUIER Alexandre  1987  FRA   2:04.22
 64  76  421650 BJERKESTRAND Iver  1987  NOR   2:04.26
 65  71  20267 ESTEVE Kevin  1989  AND   2:04.44
 66  74  561217 KOSI Klemen  1991  SLO   2:04.68
 67  72  220656 DRAKE Ed  1986  GBR   2:04.77
 68  66  202290 ACKERMANN Marvin  1991  GER   2:04.94
 69  75  531156 TARBERRY Ace  1988  USA   2:04.95
 70  58  103090 HELIE Louis-Pierre  1986  CAN   2:05.13
 71  73  220874 BALDWIN TJ  1990  GBR   2:05.18
 72  79  660021 DANILOCHKIN Yuri  1991  BLR   2:05.96
 73  78  20324 OLIVERAS Marc  1991  AND   2:06.87
 74  77  90131 GEORGIEV Georgi  1987  BUL   2:08.76
 75  67  561085 KRIZAJ Andrej  1986  SLO   2:18.52
Did not start 1st run
   69  511352 VILETTA Sandro  1986  SUI   
   68  290998 STAUDACHER Patrick  1980  ITA   
Did not finish 1st run
   47  180570 ROMAR Andreas  1989  FIN   
   13  51005 SCHEIBER Mario  1983  AUT   

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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.”

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