12 JAN 2001 > Races Cancelled
Fog Shrouds Courses
Both the men's and women's events planned for today have been cancelled due to weather. The women were slated to race at Haus im Ennstal in Austria and the men in Wengen, Switzerland.

Check out the exclusive interview with US racer Picabo Street.

11 JAN 2001 > Preview
Speed Events Hit Austria and Switzerland
Isolde Kostner and Josef Strobl are ready for wins in the first downhill races of the New Year this Friday at Haus im Ennstal and Wengen... weather permitting. The forecasts are bad for this weekend in the Austrian and Swiss Alps.

The women had two acceptable training runs in the small Austrian resort located southeast of Salzburg while the men struggled on the famous Lauberhorn course set at the foot of the famous and beautiful Eiger mountain.

Kostner, of Italy, Switzerland's Corinne Rey-Bellet, Canada's Melanie Turgeon and France's Regine Cavagnoud were the fastest and the most consistent skiers on Thursday and Friday on the 3,000-meter "Krummholz" speed course. They sit, along the reigning World Champion Renate Goetschl, a quiet 9th on Friday, among the top favorites for this fifth downhill of the season. The four previous downhills have been won by Germany's Petra Haltmayer and Isolde Kostner at Lake Louise, and Brigitte Obermoser and Goetschl at St Moritz.

"If it freezes this night, we will have to use crampons to be able to slow down our speed..."

Four US skiers, including Picabo Street, a promising 14th on Friday, finished among the top-15. Picabo, at ease on the long and smooth racing track covered by fresh snow, hopes to reach the top-10.

Also returning to downhill competition is Croatia's Janica Kostelic, who has not trained in downhill since her terrible crash at St Moritz a year ago. Twice she clocked the 48th fastest time - five seconds behind the winner the first day and less than four seconds behind on Friday. The first day was hard for her.

"I was quite cautious, but not afraid," she said. "The course is rather slow and easy for the moment. I hope not to lose too much time on Renate Goetschl to have a chance to win the combined on Sunday in the slalom. But I don't feel any pressure. I'm here to collect some experience and get used to high speed again. I may race the combined at St Anton."

In January 1999, Janica celebrated her first World Cup win in a combined at St Anton. It could bring her a first medal this year.

Men: Rain in Wengen
In Wengen it has been snowing and raining, forcing the men to practice only on parts of the 4,300-meter long course, which has hosted the Lauberhorn competition since 1930. On Thursday, they cruised on the lower section of the slope and on Friday, the upper portion. Austria's Josef Strobl, last year's winner, was the most consistent during these two days with a 2nd and a 1st place.

Hermann Maier, the two-time winner of the season and 2nd here a year ago, was 3rd on Friday, but he didn't give great importance to this result.

"It was nice to be out here to get some fresh air and to see that my skis are running fast on this wet snow, but this has nothing to do with a real race," he said. "If it freezes this night, we will have to use crampons to be able to slow down our speed on the icy course," he added with a grin.

"The Herminator" has looked particularly relaxed since his recent win at Adelboden. He is also happy to see that his form is improving before the coming World Championships at St Anton.

Also fast for once was Daron Rahlves, a promising 4th. The Californian, double winner in Kvitfjell last year, hopes that his new downhill skis will be faster and more efficient that the ones he used in December. He has scored some points in recent GS races, proving he is in good shape and quite focused for the moment.

Between Christmas and New Year, Daron and his girlfriend were involved in a car accident on an Italian highway. "I was quite lucky and now I'm enjoying more what I'm doing now," he said. "It could have been quite bad for both of us."

On Saturday and Sunday, a super G and a Slalom are planned in Austrian while the men should race another downhill and a slalom in Wengen. A combined event is also in the program of both events. Goetschl and Norway's Lasse Kjus, 7th on Friday, are the favorites for the victory in that "paper race."

— Patrick Lang, World Cup Correspondent

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