Weather Bug
After fog and wind shut down Sestriere, Marlies Schild and Viktoria Rebensburg battle
the elements in Zwiesel to emerge triumphant. BY ERIC WILLIAMS PHOTOS BY GEPA
Weather has taken a toll on the women’s alpine
tour in 2011, with four races lost to natural circum-
stances. The Maribor tech weekend (Jan. 15-16)
got scrapped when weeks of warm temps turned
the course to slush. A fortnight later, the downhill
and super combined in Sestriere were both lost
to winds and fog. And the FIS women’s race di-
rector, Atle Skaardal, admitted that not all of this
season’s cancellations would find their way back
on the schedule.
A week after the wasted trip to Sestriere, the tour
rolled into Arber-Zwiesel, Germany, for some final
tech tune-ups just before the World Championships
down the road in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The
weather fought again but the skiers prevailed.
Everything was ready to go for the
Sestriere downhill — except fair
conditions.
