Strong Performance from Speed-Stars and Slalom Ladies
Benni Raich with Special-ski Second in Super G and World Cup!
Four among the top 7 in downhill, four among the top 6 in super G – what kind of a weekend for the ATOMIC Speed-Stars in Lake Louise. Benni Raich raced on a special-ski from the D2 RACE series, placed second in super G and carried himself in a good position for the overall World Cup again. Great success also for the ATOMIC Ladies in Aspen: Kathrin Zettel became second in giant slalom, third in slalom; Marlies Schild second in her second Comeback-Race (“I have never been so happy before!”). Also impressive: two shooting stars – Eva-Maria Brem finished the giant slalom as fifth, German Marianne Mair finished twelfth in slalom after starting with number 40. So many magic moments – and unfortunately also tragic moments: John Kucera will miss the Olympics after his crash in the super G ...
„Sad and magic moments in Lake Louise“, summarizes ATOMIC Team Manager Eric Wolf the races. As much as he feels happy about his stars’ strong team performance at the Speed-Opening in Lake Louise, he is also shocked from the sad news concerning John Kucera: the Canadian, who completed with rank 6 the top-result from the ATOMIC Speed-Stars in the downhill the day before (Carlo Janka 3., Michael Walchhofer 4., Patrick Järbyn 7.), will miss the Olympics due to a cnemial injury after his horrible crash in the super G. Wolf with the best wishes from the whole team: “He had focused on the Olympics in his home-country and had been in a real good shape: All the best from all of us, and that he may come back very soon.”
Ingenious ski-Coup & super Super G from Benni Raich – now second in overall World Cup
Kucera’s ATOMIC teammates showed a very strong team performance: four athletes among the top 6! For Benni Raich an ingenious ski-coup paid off: “Last year all athletes who raced with a downhill ski had been very fast, and therefore we developed a special D2 RACE only for this race – a plan that totally paid off. With his second place Benni Raich also sees himself in a good position for the overall World Cup again – second place with 61 points behind. Only five points behind another ATOMIC aspirant for the overall World Cup: Carlo Janka collected important points in downhill (3.) and super G (6.) – his third place in the downhill is as well the first place on podium for the new D2 RACE, the next ski-generation in doubledeck-technology. A ski that also Michael Walchhofer counted on: “As it is very important to find a good start into the season, I am really satisfied with my first races.” Patrick Järbyn as seventh in downhill and Eric Guay, fourth in super G, brought two more top-results for the overall team success.
Zettel strong as always, Schild stronger and stronger, Brem now with the strongest
And the ATOMIC-Ladies did the same in Aspen: Kathrin Zettel had „a great weekend: It’s only a matter of time that I am at the top“, she glared after her second place in giant slalom and a third in slalom. Marlies Schild continued her sensational comeback as second in the slalom: “I just have to let it happen. I have never been so happy before.” And: A new encouragement from the Youngsters! Eva-Maria Brem finished the giant slalom on the fifth place („The best race in my career!”) and qualified for the first time for a second run in slalom. Young German Marianne Mair collected first World Cup points as twelfth in slalom – even with starting number 40.