This being the fourth women's race of the winter, and the first speed event, it hasn't take long for Michaela Dorfmeister to confirm her intentions battling for this year's Overall World Cup trophy. The 27-year-old Austrian beat France's Régine Cavagnoud by 29/100 of a second and Switzerland's Corinne Rey-Bellet by 30/100.

Michaela dominated the giant slalom tour last winter, but, while she was at it, lost her touch for the speed races (super G and downhill). Last season she only won one super G race in February. This prevented her from seriously challenging her teammate Renate Goetschl in the Overall standings.

This win in Aspen is good for Dorfmeister — she was looking for a strong start. "Last year I had to wait such a long time to win my first super G, and I was hoping to do better this season since we have worked hard on our skis," she said. She also finished a solid 4th place in the GS in Park City last weekend.

"Last year I had to wait such a long time to win my first super G."

Last winter, Michaela had some gliding problems on dry snow conditions, causing her to lose points. Here in Aspen, she had apparently no difficulties maintaining the fastest speed from top to bottom.

"It's great to win so early; it's important for my moral. I know now for sure that I can move at a better level than last winter in the speed events," she added.

She will have to if she wants to be a serious contender against other strong women such as Martina Ertl and Régine Cavagnoud, who have had good starts — especially Martina, who finished in the top-10 in every race so far.

Martina Ertl, winner in the first GS of the season and 2nd last week in the slalom at Park City, missed her third podium by only 13/100 of a second - but the Bavarian skier reinforced her lead in the Overall World Cup standings. If she clocks more good results next week in Lake Louise's two downhill races, Ertl might become the skier to beat in this season's points-competition.

Last winter's Overall winner, Renate Goetschl, scored a disappointing 8th place ahead of Italy's double World Champion Isolde Kostner, only 10th.

American Jonna Mendes reached a career best 13th, ahead of teammate Caroline Lalive, 19th. Mendes was ecstatic with her result. "I was aiming for a top-20 place today, but I had an incredibly good run down this beautiful course," she said. "This is my best result on the World Cup tour and I'm so happy to have done so well in the US. It's great to start the season with such a great result. Now I have momentum for the speed events at Lake Louise (next weekend). I want more!"

On Saturday, a slalom is planned at Aspen. Kristina Koznick hopes to improve her results after a disappointing race at Park City, Utah. The skier to beat will be Croatia's Janica Kostelic, the winner in Park City last weekend. If she comes through fine in both runs, France's Saioni, Slovenia's Pretnar and the other favorites may well only fight for 2nd and 3rd places.

— Manuèle Lang, World Cup Correspondent

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