SEMMERING, Austria, 29 December 2004 — Marlies Schild restored Austrian pride in the women’s giant slalom yesterday, winning a difficult fog-bound race to the delight of her home crowd.
The 23-year-old had a tough 20th starting position but skied a magnificent first run on a piste already showing wear to finish the leg in second place just behind Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen.
In the second leg, run in thick mist, she kept her head to finish in a combined time of two minutes 15.97, pipping Poutiainen who clocked 2:16.08.
Schild’s team mate Elisabeth Goergl was third in 2:17.53, putting Austrians on the podium in women’s giant slalom for the first time this season.
The fog that made following a tight line on the lower half of the course very difficult, caused several mistakes.
The most high profile casualty was Anja Paerson, who started the second leg in third place but clipped a gate with her hand and tumbled out, losing her overall lead in the World Cup standings to Poutiainen. Experienced Renate Goetschl, in fourth place after the first run, also crashed out in an aggressive attempt for a podium finish. Neither skier was hurt but Goetschl stayed on the snow for several minutes and beat her ski poles against the side netting in frustration.
It was Schild’s first victory in giant slalom and her second in any discipline after winning the final slalom of the season in Sestriere last February.
“I just cannot believe I’ve won a giant slalom — it was one of my aims to improve in giant slalom this season,” the young Austrian said.
“It’s great to ski so well at home. The conditions were difficult but I had no problem with the fog in the second run.
“The last steep part needed smooth and precise technique. I had a problem at the middle of the second run when I jumped up before a left turn but it may have helped me to attack even more at the end.
Schild, whose boyfriend is men’s skier Benjamin Raich, winner of a slalom in Beaver Creek earlier this month, is the first Austrian to win in Semmering since Anita Wachter in 1998. Poutiainen said it felt good to be back on the podium after a back injury.
“I was ready for victory today. I think Marlies achieved a fantastic second run. I skied well too but not as well as I wanted,” the Finn said.
“I made some mistakes in the middle of my second run. “I almost lost my balance but I kept on fighting in the lower part.
“It’s great to get back the leader’s bib but there are still a lot of races ahead. Anja Paerson was unlucky today, but it can happen to any of us.”
The women’s circuit continues with a day-night slalom here on Wednesday.
