Struggling Goetschl has storied history in Cortina

Renate Goetschl has dominated on the Olympia delle Tofane course for the last several years. This season, nobody is quite so sure what to expect from the Austrian.

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Renate Goetschl has dominated on the Olympia delle Tofane course for the last several years. This season, nobody is quite so sure what to expect from the Austrian.
    Nearly a full week of stormy weather has dumped heaps of fresh snow on the course, creating super soft conditions that contrast with the usual packed surface.
    ''It is different from the last [few] years. It's getting sticky,'' Goetschl said Friday after a downhill training session that was delayed for 2 1/2 hours as workers finished clearing snow off the course.
    ''But tomorrow we're starting much earlier and the snow will get much harder.''
    A downhill race is scheduled for Saturday, followed by super-G's Sunday and Monday.
    Goetschl has 10 victories in Cortina — five downhills and five super-G's — which is the record for one resort. However, she hasn't won a race yet this season and placed only 20th in downhill training.
    ''I don't know, it's so different from the last years,'' Goetschl said.
    Three-time world champion Anja Paerson has won one giant slalom and one super-G here. She's skeptical of Goetschl's chances.
    ''Maybe not this year. Last year she had [Michaela] Dorfmeister's skis, this year she has her own, but you never know with her,'' Paerson said. ''I'll pick her as the joker.''
    Dorfmeister retired after winning the downhill and super-G at the 2006 Torino Olympics and Goetschl used her skis last season. That's no longer possible with new rules in place this season that altered the specifications of racers' skis
    ''She can say it, it doesn't matter,'' Goetschl said of Paerson's comment. ''These skis are also fast.''
    Emily Brydon of Canada led training, followed by Elisabeth Goergl of Austria and Daniele Merighetti of Italy.
    ''I think Goergl is on her way, and Merighetti for the home crowd,'' Paerson said when asked to pick the race favorites.
    Paerson was named Sweden's female athlete of the year on Monday, largely due to her three gold medal performance at last year's World Championships in her home country.
    She has struggled to find motivation this season, with no worlds or Olympics on the schedule.
    ''I set my goal for the World Championships and after that I didn't really know what to do,'' Paerson said. ''I'm missing that little last bit of energy you need to win. I'm getting closer and closer to it. I want to start winning more races.''
    Paerson won a downhill and super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland, last month, but has battled knee problems and sickness since then.

    — The Associated Press
    ''Everything is OK. My body is starting to feel strong,'' Paerson said. ''I feel I'm starting to get back in shape and push harder in training.''
    Still, Paerson is also uncomfortable on soft snow. At 69 kilograms (152 pounds), she is one of the heavier skiers on the women's circuit.
    ''I try to be light on the snow, but I drifted out a couple of times,'' Paerson said after placing fourth in training. ''I hope tomorrow [the snow] is going to be much harder and I'll have a better chance.''
    Lindsey Vonn leads the downhill standings with two victories this season. She fell twice during last year's downhill here.
    ''I just want to stay calm this year and not push it to the limit,'' Vonn said. ''I don't want to have a date with the nets again.''
    Vonn, who was sixth in training despite standing up out of her tuck as she crossed the line, said a big part of the puzzle for the downhill would rest with how athletes prepare their skis
    ''Totally. You have to be exact with your equipment,'' the American said. ''Hopefully my ski man knows what to use tomorrow.''
    Vonn's ski man, Niclas Cronsell, formerly worked with Swedish standout Pernilla Wiberg