Season swings in at Sölden

By Marina Knight

After a long spell of waiting, World Cup action returned this weekend in Sölden, Austria.
The tour kicked off with a men’s and women’s giant slalom high on the Rettenbach glacier in Ötztal, Austria. As usual, in the days leading up to racing the whole valley became a hotbed of rabid ski fans. Sölden is a great place to hold the first races because it’s just a few hours drive from Innsbruck, Zurich and the Sud Tirol of Italy. Easy access combined with months of racing chastity brings in zeal and a party-like atmosphere. Fan clubs compete just about as hard as the racers themselves in who can be the loudest and most boisterous, whether it’s out on the hill or in the nightclubs.
So, the masses cheered with cowbells and beers in hand as Aksel Svindal, of Norway, and Denise Karbon, the Italian veteran, won the first races.
Americans Ted Ligety and Julia Mancuso each placed second. Ligety was in the lead after the first run, but could not fend off Svindal, who came from sixth place and over a second behind to win. Mancuso was tied for 12th after the first leg, but leaped to second overall.
Former Stowe racers Jimmy Cochran and Lauren Ross raced, but did not qualify for a second run.
For Ross, it was her first race back after knee reconstruction. Ross said she had been skiing fast in training and will race the upcoming slalom in Levi, Finland in November.
Cochran started number 61 and finished 51st, 1.26 seconds from second run qualification.

Miller’s impressive second run

In case anyone was curious about whether former overall champion Bode Miller would be in the running this season, his second run should have laid all doubt to rest.
After finishing the first run 17th he blazed to fifth overall with the second fastest second run.
More impressive was watching the second run itself. It’s clear that Miller is the fittest he’s been in three years, able to hold and balance in unnatural positions while keeping his body and momentum in the fall line.
It’s this that separates Miller from all the rest; his ability to inspect a course and cut off lines that no one else sees, or dares to attempt. In seasons past, he hasn’t been strong or fit enough to pull off the lines he sees with frequency. This season, judging from his electric second run, will be much different.
His race was more impressive considering he hadn’t skied much leading up to it because of a back injury sustained about three weeks ago. In fact, he had only used his race skis one or two times before the opener and at nowhere near race intensity.
During the first run he didn’t know what to expect from the skis (they were his design by the way, very thick in the tip and stiffer than most racers would care to ski). After just one run he had learned how to use them, knew what angle and stance use and where to pressure them, and executed a fantastic second run.

The racer formerly known as Kildow

Lindsey Vonn, Kildow before getting married this September, started the season by finishing 13th. Considering giant slalom is her weakest event, this bodes well for the year ahead. Perhaps the name change has brought her good luck. It is her second best giant slalom result to date.
Vonn’s season was cut short last year by a partial ACL tear. It was particularly difficult to end the season given she was in the running for the overall title.
“It’s nice to get back on the horse. I really wanted to get in the top 30 and now I think I’m going to be in the top 15,” Vonn said at the finish.

Spencer returns

The entire World Cup field was uplifted by Dane Spencer’s return to skiing at Sölden.
In February of 2006 Spencer suffered a broken neck and pelvis during a crash at Big Sky, Montana. Needless to say, the injury was life threatening and Spencer had to endure life in a “halo” (a metal brace screwed into his skull to stabilize his fractured vertebrae) before having the two broken bones fused.
His comeback is an inspiration to teammates, coaches and fans alike.
Spencer did not qualify for a second run at Soelden, (that would have been a bonus in his mind) but getting the first race out of the way was more important. Flat light, bumpy terrain and the fact that Spencer had to wait nearly five minutes in the gate because the racer before him crashed and had to be taken off the hill, were all factors working against him.
Still, he skied an aggressive run.
“I would be lying if I didn’t say it was fairly difficult on the course,” Spencer said. “The light conditions were tough and it’s a demanding course for sure but, for me it felt really good to go through the whole process for the first time in two years. It was a big moment for me either way. I’m psyched to get it out of the way and move on and really focus on just racing.”

Levi’s up next

With the first race out of the way, racers will prepare for a men’s and women’s slalom in Levi, Finland on November 10-11. Normally, there is along pause after Sölden, which breaks the kickoff momentum, but this year the pace rolls on.

Click here for men's results.
And here for women's results.