Young Austrian gate racers consider adding World Cup speed events

Young Austrian gate racers consider adding World Cup speed events{mosimage}Austrian gate-basher Nicole Hosp and teammate Elisabeth Goergl are taking aim at racing speed events, and honed their skills this week in two FIS super G races in Austria.

While the top downhillers are in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, this weekend, Hosp and Goergl were proving they’re no flakes when it comes to the speed events. Goergl edged Hosp to claim a super G on Tuesday, while Hosp won a super G on Wednesday.

“The plan is to start a [World Cup] super G before the season is over,” Hosp, 20, told Austrian TV. “I am becoming slowly accustomed to the longer skis and the faster speeds.”

Hosp, who is part of the battle for the overall title with Anja Paerson of Sweden and a gaggle of teammates, said she’s eyeing the super G scheduled for February 1 at Haus im Ennstal, Austria, as her possible launching pad into the speed events.

Paerson has been skiing speed events this season for the first time, to gain additional points for her title chase. She finished 14th in the super G at Cortina on Friday.