World Cup Finals: Kostelic wins final giant slalom as Paerson gets the title

World Cup Finals: Kostelic wins final giant slalom as Paerson gets the titleARE, Sweden – Janica Kostelic of Croatia won the final women’s World Cup race of the 2005-06 season, a giant slalom that was shortened because of snow and rain that whipped across the slope.

Kostelic also received the crystal-globe trophy for the women’s overall World Cup title, and Benjamin Raich received the men’s title.

“I’m very happy with my season and everything that was going on,” said Kostelic, although she said she was upset no one played her nation’s anthem during the awards ceremony.

Anja Paerson of Sweden won the women’s giant slalom title, even though she was just seventh in the race.

For the women, Lindsey Kildow did not start (because of fatigue, said coaches) and several bobbles bumped Olympic giant slalom champion Julia Mancuso back to 12th in the race, more than three seconds out.

“I had a lot of mistakes first run, because I didn’t know they’d changed the intervals,” said Mancuso, who scrambled to get her equipment ready just before kicking out of the gate on the first run. “I was not even close to being in the gate with a minute to go.”

Genevieve Simard was second behind Kostelic, giving the Canadians two podiums in one day (Thomas Grandi was third in the concurrent men’s slalom).

“We’re coming on good, the guys and the girls,” said Simard. “I talked with Thomas after the first run, and said we should do a double podium.”

Dorfi bows out
It was the last World Cup race for the great Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria. The Austrian speed specialist won 25 World Cup races in her career, and has taken discipline-title globes in downhill (2003, 2006), giant slalom (2000) and super G (2005, 2006). She won the overall World Cup in 2002.

“It was a long time in the World Cup circus,” said Dorfmeister, who is 33 years old. “It was hard work and a hard life and now I’m ready to enjoy my life.”

Her avid fan club cheered her on from the stands all week, dressed in their yellow and blue uniforms, waving banners with a rat on skis (Dorfmeister used to travel the circuit with pet rats).

“For sure they will have to find another hobby,” said Dorfmeister, who finished off her career with two Olympic gold medals in February. “I think it was the best way to make a finish line to my career,” she said.

Kostelic sets a new benchmark for women
The Croatian skier set a record for the women’s World Cup by finishing the season with 1,970 points. Had she finished second in the day’s race, Kostelic would not have surpassed Sweden’s Pernilla Wiberg, who won 1,960 points in 1997.

Since the points system was redesigned in 1992, no one has had a more dominant season than Hermann Maier of Austria in 2000, when he won 2,000 points.

“That’s cool,” said Kostelic. “Maybe next year someone will say 10 more points to beat Janica’s record.”

Kostelic, 24, won three gold medals and a silver at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, making her a hero in her home nation of Croatia. This season, in Torino, she won the combined and finished second in the super G.

She won the overall title in 2001 and 2003, sat out 2004 with a thyroid condition, and returned last season to earn 1,356 World Cup points, losing the overall title to her friend Anja Paerson of Sweden by just three points.

Women’s giant slalom
Are, Sweden
March 18, 2006
1. Janica Kostelic, CRO 2:06.41
2. Genevieve Simard, CAN 2:07.02
3. Tanja Poutiainen, FIN 2:07.95
3. Nicole Hosp, AUT 2:07.95
5. Manuela Moelgg, ITA 2:08.32
6. Michaela Kirchgasser, AUT 2:08.50
7. Anja Paerson, SWE 2:08.58
8. Maria Jose Rienda, SPA 2:08.96
9. Martina Ertl-Renz, GER 2:09.26
10. Nadia Styger, SUI 2:09.44
11. Nadia Fanchini, ITA 2:09.47
12. Julia Mancuso, USA 2:09.52
13. Michaela Dorfmeister, AUT 2:09.56
14. Ingrid Jacquemod, FRA 2:09.70
15. Tina Maze, SLO 2:09.82
16. Kathrin Hoelzl, GER 2:09.84
17. Karen Putzer, ITA 2:09.89
18. Ana Drev, SLO 2:10.06
19. Eveline Rohregger, AUT 2:10.69
20. Andrea Fischbacher, AUT 2:11.36
Other North Americans:
DNS: Lindsey Kildow, USA.

THE SCOOP

Equipment
Women’s GS, Are, March 18, 2006
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1. Kostelic, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2. Simard, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol 3. Poutiainen, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
3. Hosp, Volkl/Fischer/Marker
5. Moelgg, Fischer/Lange/Fischer
6. Kirchgasser, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
7. Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
8. Rienda, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
9. Ertl-Renz, Rossignol/Nordica/Rossignol
10. Styger, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

Women’s giant slalom, Are, Sweden, March 18, 2006 … It is the final race of the women’s 34 race, two combined World Cup schedule. … It is the ninth of nine giant slaloms.

It is the 30th career win for Janica Kostelic. … She is one win behind Erika Hess for seventh on the all-time win list among women. … It is her second career GS win, the other coming Dec. 21, 2005, at Spindleruv Mlyn. … It is her 10th win of the season, including an Olympic gold in combined. … It is her fourth win in her last seven races.

It is the fifth career podium for Genevieve Simard. … The fourth in GS. … It is her second podium of the season, the other coming in the Cortina GS Jan. 29. … It is the 12th Canadian podium of the season, one shy of the record set in ’82 by Steve Podborski, Ken Read, Gerry Sorensen, Dave Irwin and Todd Brooker and matched in ’85 by Brooker, Podborski, Sorensen, Laurie Graham, Lisa Savijarvi and Brian Stemmle.

It is the 18th career podium for Tanja Poutiainen. … Her seventh in GS. … It is her second podium of the season (not including the GS silver medal at the Olympics), both in GS and both since the Olympics (was also third at Hafjell-Kvitfjell March 5).

It is the 24th career podium for Nicole Hosp. … Her 13th in GS. … It is her eighth podium of the season. … The fourth in GS. … It is her fourth podium in the last five races, the fifth result a fourth place in the Are DH March 15, where she was .38 from the win. … It is the 86th Austrian World Cup podium of the season.

It is the 35th time Julia Mancuso has finished in the top dozen of a World Cup race. … The 15th time this season. … It was her fifth career placing at a World Cup Finals event.

Janica Kostelic wins the World Cup overall title 1,970-1,662 over Anja Paerson (seventh in race). … Michaela Dorfmeister (13th in race) is third in the overall standings at 1,364 and Nicole Hosp fourth at 1,112. … Lindsey Kildow (did not start race) is the top American on the final overall list in fifth place with 1,067 pts. … It is the third overall title for Kostelic, the others in 2001 and 2003. … Only Annemarie Moser-Proell (six) among women has won more World Cup overall titles. … Kostelic joins Vreni Schneider and Petra Kronberger as a three-time winner.

Anja Paerson (seventh in race) wins the GS title 586-537 over Maria Jose Rienda Contreras (eighth in race). … Kostelic is third at 464 and Hosp fourth at 461. … Canada’s Genevieve Simard is the top North American in the final GS standings in fifth at 343. … Julia Mancuso (12th in race) the top American at 11th in the standings with 212 points. … It is the third GS title for Paerson, having also won in 2003 and 2004. … Winning margin is .61 of a second. … Third place is a second and a half out. … Top five skiers are within two seconds.

The United States (men and women) finished second in the Nations Cup behind Austria 15,049 to 6,221. … Italy was third at 4,748, Sweden fourth at 4,482 and Switzerland fifth at 3,771. …
The U.S. women were third behind Austria and Sweden.