Italy's Isolde Kostner got double revenge today in the second downhill at Lake Louise, Canada, after losing the earlier downhill on Thursday to the little-known German, Petra Haltmayer. A conflict with International Ski Federation (FIS) race officials also fueled her determination to win.

Kostner was furious when an official in charge of material control failed to check the boots of another skier to verify that they were in comliance with FIS regulations.

According to FIS rules, there cannot be more than five centimeters between the bottom of the ski and the bottom of the skier's foot inside the boot (the athletes like to ski as high as possible to get the most leverage out of their carving skis, but according to FIS this is also related to an increase in knee injuries).

She felt the official didn't do a good job checking the boots of Austria's Renate Goetschl yesterday, who finished 3rd in the earlier downhill.

"It's even worse when an official closes his eye on such a problem."

Kostner said she told the official that she had seen Goetschl take a compensation device from the boot and hide it, and when she asked him to check the second boot, he refused.

Kostner said the controversy made her angry. After winning the race, she mentioned later how shocked she was that the official declined to do his job.

"I can't understand what a great racer as Goetschl can gain with this extra pad in her boots; she is such a great racer. But it's even worse when an official closes his eye on such a problem," Kostner explained.

"I was still furious today before my start," she continued. "I skied with a greater determination than usual. I wanted to steam down this hill as fast as possible when I saw that the sun was shining again. It was a good sign for me."

Race conditions were perfect for Kostner when the sun came out. "I express myself much better when I see where I'm going. I don't like to take risks in bad visibility. I was not anxious before coming here because I knew that I was well prepared, but there is nothing better than a victory to be relaxed looking ahead for the coming weeks." This was Kostner's 10th World Cup victory.

Kostner's coach Valerio Ghirardi asked FIS Race Director Kurt Hoch Thursday evening to resolve the issue, to be sure that the materiel used by the racers was perfectly checked after the race.

In fact, today, all the skiers had to give one of their boots and a ski to the FIS controller after ending their run in the finish area before getting changed. It was bad news for two skiers whose shoes failed to pass the exam: USA's Megan Gerety and the young German Isabelle Huber, who was skiing in her first World Cup race.

Megan, who opened the start gate too early with her poles, was not very upset. "I have added an extra pad, but apparently it was a few millimeters to high," she said. "Since I already blew my start, it's not big deal. It's better it happened today than yesterday. I'm still pleased by my season start."

Despite Megan's bad day, two US skiers still made it among the top-10: Jonna Mendes had an impressive 6th place and Kirsten Clark was 10th despite reduced visibility during her run because of fog.

Jonna was elated after her race, even when she heard that she has clocked the second fastest intermediate time at the top of the course. "I don't know what makes me so fast here, but this is definitely a great place for me," said the talented skier from South Lake Tahoe. "I like to be here and to live in this fabulous Chateau Lake Louise Hotel. I'm so relaxed; I feel like home. I have made a great move forward in these days. This time I missed the podium by only a few tenths of a second. I aim to have another good day on Saturday."

Saturday's super-G will be last North American race of the season for the women before the tour resumes in Europe. Skiers to watch will be top leaders such as France's Régine Cavagnoud, who finished twice in 4th place here this week and 2nd in Aspen, as well as Kostner, Rey-Bellet and Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister, the winner from Aspen. Among the strong outsiders: Canada's Mélanie Turgeon and Slovenia's Mojca Suhadolc, winner here last winter.

— Patrick Lang, World Cup Correspondent

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