World Cup Alpine Tour Arrives in Park City
Three weeks after the prologue glacier race in Soelden, Austria, the Alpine Ski World Cup tour resumes this weekend in Utah's snowy Park City. Four races are scheduled in the next four days. The women open the round of races with a giant slalom Thursday on the remodeled Olympic course to be used at the 2002 Winter Games. It will be followed by the men's GS on Friday, and the women's and men's slaloms over the weekend.

Last year, these races had to be canceled because of lack of snow, but it's not a problem this winter. The mountains are covered by several feet.

A very intense racing period will begin here. Park City has hosted the World Cup since 1985. A total of 27 competitions will take place in the coming six weeks until Christmas break in USA, Canada, France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Martina Ertl Under Pressure
This first competition should be placed under the sign of revenge. Three weeks ago, Martina Ertl leaped from 17th place to win the GS in Soelden in an astonishing defeat of other favorites. They'll fight back Thursday on the demanding course at Park City.

The top specialists are mostly concerned about the racing conditions - the course may not hold up to their aggressive skiing because of the fresh snow which has covered the runs since last Monday. We might see some surprises.

All the skiers starting in the first seed have a good shot for the podium, especially defending World Cup GS champion Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria, plus Sweden's Anna Ottosson, the fastest in the first run at Soelden.

The US Team hopes to excel on their home turf. In Soelden only Kristina Koznick scored points. Among the five US Skiers, Koznick, Caroline Lalive and Sarah Schleper have the best chance to qualify for the second run and score. Over this past weekend, Schleper won two Chevy Truck Super Series slaloms, giving her confidence to carry to the races in Park City.

— Patrick Lang, World Cup Correspondent

Also this weekend: Women's Slalom | Women's GS | Men's GS | Kjus Interview | Koznick Interview | Schlopy Interview

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