ARE, Sweden, 22 February 2004 — Austria’s Renate Goetschl took the lead in the women’s World Cup super-G standings after winning a race yesterday in a time of one minute 9.22 seconds. Hilde Gerg, who had led the standings going into the event in Are, missed a gate and did not finish her run.
The German dropped down to third place in the standings behind 86 points behind Goetschl. There is one super-G race left this season, at next month’s World Cup finals in Sestrieres, Italy.
“It was a really tough course, maybe the most difficult one this season, but still it was perfect for me because it was so challenging, “ said Goetschl, who also leads the downhill standings.
Goetschl, unaffected by the icy slope and windy conditions, produced a near flawless run and finished 0.22 seconds ahead of France’s Carol Montillet, who moved into second place in the super-G standings.
Austrian Brigitte Obermoser was third in 1:09.50 for her first podium finish of the season. It was the third super-G win of the season for Goetschl and her 32nd World Cup success in total that put her fifth on the list for the most victories by a woman.
Goetschl, 28, also closed the gap on overall World Cup leader Anja Paerson to 23 points. Swede Paerson, the World Cup slalom and giant slalom champion, finished 20th in her first super-G race at Are after struggling to keep her balance early in her run. The 22-year-old technical specialist is likely to improve her overall lead in today’s giant slalom where she is the favorite.
“It was really difficult and I didn’t quite have the right confidence in the slope today...I was very nervous,” said Paerson.
“You can only enjoy watching (Goetschl), she skis so aggressively and beautifully,” Paerson said. “It’s all about watching and learning, and then maybe in a couple of years I’ll be able to ski as nice as this.”
Goetschl, despite her victory, said she thought Paerson was still favorite to the win her first overall title.
“Anja still has three races that are her specialty before the finals (in Sestrieres), so I think she can get a lot points before the finals. I got a little closer...I can just do my best. (But) it’s nice to be in this fight with Anja.”
