Zagreb will crown a queen — and a king in 2008

The Snow Queen Trophy race will be joined this season, presumably by a Snow King.
    Zagreb, Croatia, will be hosting its fourth and fifth World Cups this week, bringing in the men for the first time. The women race Friday night. The men race Sunday night.
    The Sljeme is a fabulous slalom hill, not particularly steep but long and fast. But it is the community that makes the race — or races this season — stand out.
    With about a million people in the immediate area, and with the races scheduled at night after work, the Snow Queen Trophy Race has attracted some of the largest spectator bases on the World Cup circuit.
    Ironically it is one of the few sites — at least on the women’s circuit — where a Croatian has never won. The FIS gave the World Cup stop to Zagreb because of the huge popularity of the now-retired Janica Kostelic. She won 30 races at 18 different sites, but never managed to pull out a win at home. She doesn’t even own the best finish by a Croatian as last season Ana Jelusic placed second, two tenths of a second behind Marlies Schild.
    The guys have never raced the site for World Cup, giving an advantage to Ivica Kostelic. He grew up training and racing on the hill and is riding a hot streak with three consecutive podiums. Favorites should be Jean-Baptiste Grange, Manfred Moelgg and Jens Byggmark. Ted Ligety, Mario Matt, Felix Neureuther and Benjamin Raich should also be in contention. Reinfried Herbst won the last slalom in no uncertain fashion so throw him in the mix as well.

THE SNOW QUEEN TROPHY race will be joined this season, presumably by a Snow King.
    Zagreb, Croatia, will be hosting its fourth and fifth World Cups this week, bringing in the men for the first time. The women race Friday night. The men race Sunday night.
    No U.S. women are scheduled to start Friday's race. Ted Ligety and Jimmy Cochran of the U.S. Ski Team should start for the men, barring injury.    
    The Sljeme is a fabulous slalom hill, not particularly steep but long and fast. But it is the community that makes the race — or races this season — stand out.
    Zagreb is the hub of all Croatia. It is the capital and has been since 1557. It is the largest city, the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental center of the republic. The proper running of the race is a matter of civic pride. It has routinely been the richest single race of the season since the 2005 debut, and all involved in the race are given a police escort to the Sljeme slope in a caravan through the city. The race is a major focal point.
    With about a million people in the immediate area, and with the races scheduled at night after work, the Snow Queen Trophy Race has attracted some of the largest spectator bases on the World Cup circuit.
    Ironically it is one of the few sites — at least on the women’s circuit — where a Croatian has never won. The FIS gave the World Cup stop to Zagreb because of the huge popularity of the now-retired Janica Kostelic. She won 30 races at 18 different sites, but never managed to pull out a win at home. She doesn’t even own the best finish by a Croatian as last season Ana Jelusic placed second, two tenths of a second behind Marlies Schild.
    Schild has been on the podium in all three World Cup races held at Zagreb, winning the last two and finishing third behind Tanja Poutiainen and Kristina Koznick in 2005.
    Nicole Hosp, with five slalom podiums this season, has to be considered a favorite, though she has to have the overall title in mind and may ski a touch conservatively. Schild also has five slalom podiums this season and rarely skis conservative. Chiara Costazza, Veronika Zuzulova and Poutiainen should also be considered as potential winners. And Jelusic, with the crowd behind her and plenty of incentive, could be a factor. Chances are good there will be a big spread in the times with the aggressive, talented skiers pulling away from the pack.
    The guys have never raced the site for World Cup, giving an advantage to Ivica Kostelic. He grew up training and racing on the hill and is riding a hot streak with three consecutive podiums. Click here for a link to an interview with Kostelic .
    Favorites should be Jean-Baptiste Grange, Manfred Moelgg and Jens Byggmark. Ted Ligety, Mario Matt, Felix Neureuther and Benjamin Raich should also be in contention. Reinfried Herbst won the last slalom in no uncertain fashion so throw him in the mix as well.