Bansko Kranjska Gora
“I skied a lot of races to get what I want,” said Kasper, recalling that he did eight races in 11 days in January. “There is something to be said about [racing] every day. It’s something you can’t get in training.” Another strong American result was put forth by Tim Jitloff in the Ban- sko combined as he finished eighth, his best Cup result in two sea- sons. “Jitloff did a hell of a job in the first run,” said Rearick, “skied clean and moved with the terrain well. It was a rough course. It held up but was rough with changing snow conditions.” Also significant from the North American viewpoint was the Bansko slalom result of Michael Janyk — a fifth, his ninth career finish of five or better. He was happy with the placing, but frustrated with missing the podium. “It’s so clear in my mind what I need to do,” said Janyk. “I know I can be on top of the podium.” And also clear was that as the Cup leaders struggled, there were plenty willing to step up, even if just a placing or two. As good as the second place finish was for Kasper, it was equally good for Baeck. They tied, and it was the first World Cup podium for each. There were plenty of stronger than usual showings to go around: 12th in the Kranjska Gora GS was a career best for German Fritz Dopfer. Bulgarian Georgi Georgiev scored in combined at Bansko for the second time in his Cup career and the first time since 2008. The Bansko slalom was the second Cup podium of the season for Reinfried Herbst, last season’s slalom champion. Canadian Patrick Biggs scored for the second time this season in the Bansko slalom. Thomas Mermillod Blondin got his two best finishes of the season between third in the Bansko combined and 11th in the Kranjska Gora GS. Felix Neureuther was second in combined and fourth in slalom at Bansko, his best two showings of the season. Sixth in the Kranjska Gora GS was the best result of the season for Matts Olsson. Eleventh in the Kranjska Gora GS was the best of season for Maxime Tissot; he scored in both Bansko races, bringing his total scoring finishes of the season to six. Mitja Valencic’s sixth in the Kranjska Gora slalom was his best result of the season, and Swiss Markus Vogel got his best slalom result of the season at Kranjska Gora and second-best at Bansko. Now, like Innerhofer, these guys just want to keep it rolling. With a strong third-place finish, Ligety needs to place 11th or better in Lenzerheide to win his third GS crown. Nolan Kasper was crazy fast in winning the second run at Kranjska Gora for his first Cup podium.
Felix Neureuther notched his best
two results of the season at Bansko
and Kranjska Gora.
SkiRacing.com MARCH 17, 2011 | 21
