Feb 13

★VAIL DAILY

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS EDITION // DAY 12

TODAY

Gates open, 8 a.m., followed by live pre-show, Redtail Finish Stadium, Beaver Creek.

Men’s giant slalom, 10:15 a.m., Redtail Finish Stadium, Beaver Creek.

Medals Ceremony, 6:30 p.m., Championships Plaza (Solaris), Vail.

Ladies’ slalom Public Bib Draw, following Medals Ceremony, Championships Plaza (Solaris), Vail.

Matisyahu free concert, following Public Bib Draw, Championships Plaza (Solaris), Vail.

JUSTIN Q. MCCARTY | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

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Anna Fenninger, of Austria, keeps her line tight Thursday as she flies into the Abyss section of the women’s giant slalom race of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Beaver Creek.

Fenninger the fastest of the day, bringing a gold medal with time1/29/15 of 2 minutes, giving Austria its seventh medal.

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Fenninger nabs second gold The Austrian gold rush continues as Anna Fenninger takes first in Thursday’s women’s giant slalom in Beaver Creek. A30-38 ad_thriveMD_thriveMD_ad 7/29/13 2:47 PM Page 1

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Mikaela Shiffrin leans into her next gate during the second run of the FIS 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships women’s giant treatment, slalom on Thursday at Beaver outpatient which takes approximately 1-3 hour Creek. Shiffrin finished in eighth place with the fastest time for the Americans, while Austrian Anna Fenninger captured the gold.

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A30 | Friday, February 13, 2015 | The Vail Daily

20 15

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Even with a bobble, Fenninger wins Austrians take fifth gold at Championships

By Chris Freud cfreud@vaildaily.com

BEAVER CREEK — And for the slightest instant, most of Austria had a heart attack.

Starting with a 1.7-second lead, Anna Fenninger seemed only to need to get down in one piece for gold in Thursday’s giant slalom at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. As is her want, she skied aggressively, building her lead before nearly falling on Harrier, the second-tolast steep of the course, before rebounding to secure Austria’s fifth gold medal of the Championships.

“I was surprised because I made that mistake because, shortly, I thought my advantage is gone,” Fenninger said. “When I came to the finish line and saw I was in the lead, I can’t believe that. It was too much for me.”

And everyone in the Alpine Republic recovered and resumed normal cardiac and pulmonary functions.

Fenninger captured her third medal of Worlds, having already earned gold in super-G and silver in downhill, as Austria is starting to run away in the medal chase with eight overall. Viktoria Rebensburg gave Germany its first medal of the 2015 Worlds with silver, finishing 1.40 seconds behind Fenninger, while Sweden’s Jessica Lindell-Vikarby, the winner at the only previous women’s GS held here in 2013, punched in at bronze for her first Worlds medal.

Liechtenstein’s Tina Weirather was fourth, followed by Slovenia’s Tina Maze.

That means that Norway’s Lasse Kjus will remain the only racer to medal in all five individual events. He did so in 1999. Maze was 3-for-3 entering Thursday’s GS. “No, it wasn’t enough,” Maze said. “It felt not a 100 percent. I did a lot of mistakes in the first run. I didn’t find the right speed.

I was trying to push too much, and on this snow, if you push too much, you are slower.”

SLOW DOWN, ANNA Fenninger laid down her marker early, putting down a 0.9-second lead over Lindell-Vikarby. Austrian teammate Michaela Kirchgasser cut that to 0.81, charging from the No. 19 bib. While Kirchgasser fell off the podium after the second run, the Austrians ended up with three in the top 10 with Kirchgasser sixth and Kathrin Zettel seventh.

In a sobering thought, Fenninger finished fourth in the combined on Monday, just 0.54 seconds off the podium or she could be leaving here with four medals.

“I think you saw my slalom performance in the combined because there are so many girls who can do it better,” Fenninger said.

“For Tina, (Saturday)’s a chance to make a fourth medal. For me, it’s amazing I can reach three medals and one fourth place. I think it’s the best Championships ever for me.”

There’s no doubt about that, and her performance left her competitors in awe.

“Three medals? I’m very impressed with the performance of Anna,” Rebensburg said. “I told her to not be so fast, to take her

TOWNSEND BESSENT | TOWNSEND@VAILDAILY.COM

Anna Fenninger, of Austria, sees her race-winning time after her second giant slalom run of the FIS 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships on Thursday in Beaver Creek. Fenninger won her second gold medal of the Championships.

FIS ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDALS COUNT Gold Silver Bronze TOTAL Austria

5

2

1

8

Slovenia

2

1

0

3

Switzerland 1

0

2

3

U.S.A.

0

1

2

3

Canada

0

2

0

2

Sweden

0

0

2

2

Germany

0

1

0

1

Norway

0

1

0

1

France

0

0

1

1

time in the second run.”

With the flip, Fenninger had 1.7-second advantage, and snow-plowing down the hill might have been an idea. But she went for it.

“I felt really good on my skis today,” Fenninger said. “It was hard work in the last weeks we made with the company Head, and I tried every time to get my GS days between the speed and keep my shape. It was a really smooth first run and I thought it will be a tight race today because it’s flat and not that much turns, I tried to push and keep on going. When I saw that

DOMINIQUE TAYLOR | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg catches air during the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships women’s giant slalom on Thursday at Beaver Creek. Rebensburg took silver, the first Championships medal of her career. advantage in the first race, I was surprised because I felt not that good. I felt not that I can make an advantage like nine-tenths (stand up).”

FIRST WORLDS MEDALS This is surprisingly Rebensburg’s first Worlds medal, despite a distinguished career, which includes 10 World Cup wins and Olympic gold in GS back in 2010.

While she is best known for her GS, Rebensburg had two podiums in downhill this season on the World Cup. “I always said to myself that the World Champs are over when the second run is

over from the giant slalom,” the German said. “I knew I had a chance to win a medal here. For sure, the giant slalom results weren’t that good in the season, but we worked hard with (Stoeckli) and coaches and put up good skis. I didn’t think it would work out for a medal when I came in to the finish. It worked out.”

Meanwhile, Lindell-Vikarby officially loves Beaver Creek after two races and a World Cup win and Worlds bronze.

“I’m really happy with what I achieved today,” the Norwegian said. “I tried a lot

WOMEN’S GS, A37

The Vail Daily

20 15

| Friday, February 13, 2015 | A31

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Shiffrin and Vonn finish top 15 in GS Without a giant slalom specialist, Americans fare well in first tech race

By Melanie Wong mwong@vaildaily.com

BEAVER CREEK — Thursday’s giant slalom marked the first race of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships for slalom specialist Mikaela Shiffrin and the last race for downhill champion Lindsey Vonn. Both ended the day having notched solid top 15 finishes, with Shiffrin in eighth and Vonn in 14th. Other Americans in the mix included Julia Mancuso in 26th and Megan McJames in 34th.

SHIFFRIN SPEED TRAINING Both Shiffrin and Vonn came back from disappointing firstround runs to climb back into the standings in their second run.

Shiffrin, who says she’s been speed training is still looking for consistent results in the giant slalom.

She ran a conservative first run, followed by a solid, fast second run that was only marred by an off-balanced turn on Redtail Jump.

“I know I have more speed in me. It’s just about getting the confidence to put my best runs out on the hill and keep looking for speed each turn. (On my first run,) I had a couple turns where I scrubbed speed,” Shiffrin said.

The slalom champion said she’s been dedicating some time to speed training, and that her next step is transferring that speed from training to competition.

“I feel like my skiing right now is actually way better than that (run) was. That was my old skiing coming out because I wasn’t sure of myself,” she said. “I felt like my second run was quite a bit better.

I was attacking more, I found my line a little bit better, I found the grooves a little bit better, but I have some work to do in the flats for sure.”

She admitted to being slightly uncomfortable on some of the blind jumps, saying that she backed off after bobbling at Redtail.

“I kind of took my foot off the gas to make sure I stayed in the course, but it was really straight down there. I should have just pinned it,” she said.

Shiffrin will be gearing up for her big race in women’s slalom on Saturday, for which she is a favorite.

VONN RETURNS TO GS Vonn was competing in her first giant slalom in more than two years, enjoying the speed of the wide-open course. While she didn’t find the redemption she was seeking after a disappointing week of

TOWNSEND BESSENT | TOWNSEND@VAILDAILY.COM

Mikaela Shiffrin stretches for the finish line during the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships women’s giant slalom in Beaver Creek on Thursday. Shiffrin came back from a disappointing first run to finish in eighth place.

DOMINIQUE TAYLOR | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

JUSTIN Q. MCCARTY | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

Lindsey Vonn lines up for her next gate during her second run on the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships women’s giant slalom course on Thursday in Beaver Creek. Vonn finished 14th and announced that she will compete in World Cup giant slaloms this season.

Julia Mancuso, of the United States, blasts through a gate after passing the Golden Eagle Jump during the women’s giant slalom event of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships on Thursday in Beaver Creek. Mancuso finished 26th in the race.

speed events, she managed to come from a 2.67-second deficit after the first round to put down one of the top five fastest runs of the second round. In the first round, Vonn had a major misstep midway down the course that nearly brought her to a complete stop.

“That was the goal, to ski that way in the first run, but I just made a big mistake on the pitch, and I had too much ground to make up. But I kept fighting, and didn’t give up. I knew I could get in the top 15, and I did that,” she said, adding that there will be more GS racing in her future. “It may not have been my best performance, but I’m still taking away

front of my home crowd. I’m still leaving here with a very special feeling. Even though I didn’t get as many medals as everyone was expecting me to, I’m still happy with my performance.”

some positives from it and looking forward to Maribor (the World Cup race in Slovenia) and the rest of the technical GS places.”

Vonn struggled through some of the Championships with a sore knee that she said was exacerbated by icy conditions, as well as some equipment troubles. Still, she said she’s very proud of her super-G bronze and enjoyed racing for the home crowd.

“I think I wanted to do well too much. Things just didn’t work out, and no matter how hard I tried it wasn’t working. I’m still happy with these World Championships,” said Vonn, who lives in Vail. “I’m honored to be racing in

WRAPPING UP THE CHAMPS The giant slalom was also the last race of the Championships for Mancuso. She said she plans to either find some powder skiing or head to Maui to rest for a few days before returning to the World Cup circuit.

“It was definitely a lot of fun competing. I didn’t have the best results, but I had a lot of fun watching the other athletes

compete,” she said. “When you cross the finish line, you always have that moment of your own expectations, but I’ve been able to also just be a fan and watch the other girls perform.”

McJames, 27, is a Park City, Utah, native who was competing in her third World Championships. The tech skier trains and travels apart from the U.S. Ski Team and arrived at Beaver Creek as one of the top racers on the national circuit.

“It wasn’t my best run,” she said after her first round. “But coming in this event third in the country and not being part of the team, I’m pretty proud of what I’ve done.”

A32 | Friday, February 13, 2015 | The Vail Daily

20 15

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Schleper scrubs speed after jump in GS Vail local racing for Mexico disappointed in her result Thursday but will roar again in slalom

By Shauna Farnell Special to the Daily

BEAVER CREEK — Sarah Schleper’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championships did not start quite as she hoped, but she’ll still be the first one donning the party hat — er, sombrero.

Representing Mexico, the Vail local launched into the high point of phase No. 2 of her professional ski racing career in Thursday’s World Championships giant slalom race, but after a huge mistake on the jump in the first run, barely made a second run, more than 8 seconds back. Barely making the second run as the 58th starter, she skied with no visible mistakes but still ended up 50th, 12.57 seconds off the winning pace.

Officially the oldest athlete of the 116 that entered the race Thursday, Schleper’s 36th birthday is looming in six days.

After marrying Mexican native Federico Gaxiola in 2007, the Vail local who grew up in her father Buzz’s Ski Shop in Vail Village acquired dual Mexican-American citizenship last year. She did so expressly because she wanted to race professionally again, to compete in these home World Championships.

A mother of two — Lasse, 7, named after the great Norwegian skier Lasse Kjus and Resi, 2, named after Resi Stiegler, Schleper’s best friend on the U.S.

Ski Team — Schleper retired from racing in 2011. But after being cleared for Mexican citizenship, she restarted her career this season wearing red, white and green.

She entered the season opening World Cup GS race in Soelden, Austria, and also competed in the Aspen World Cup race. She failed to make the second-run flip in both races but entered a couple of Nor-Am races in Aspen and finished in the points, 29th in one race. She also landed a couple of top 15 results in FIS races in Utah.

“I’m skiing better than my time shows. I’m a little disappointed, but you just have to be happy to race.”

Sarah Schleper

Four-time Olympic ski racer

NEW DUDS Schleper started Thursday’s World Championships race donning her Mexico race suit, painted to resemble a mariachi band player and wearing bib No. 54. The big screen didn’t show the beginning of her first run, so the full stadium — included dozens of Schleper’s friends and family — didn’t get to see the Vail skier launch out of the start with her signature lion’s roar. They also missed her skidding to nearly a stop after a jump at the top of the course, which essentially took her out of the race.

“I blew it on the jump. I had to ski back onto the course. I watched girls fly off of it and I was like, ‘I’ll have enough direction.

I’ll be fine.’ But it came up (fast).

I thought it was a couple more gates down. All of a sudden I was like ‘Woah!’,” she said.

DOMINIQUE TAYLOR | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

Local ski racer and four-time U.S. Olympian Sarah Schleper, now representing Mexico, goes off kilter during the first run of the women’s giant slalom at the FIS 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships on Thursday at Beaver Creek. Schleper finished 50th.

Schleper ended the first run in 57th place, 8.36 seconds behind leader and eventual winner Anna Fenninger. Training with her younger brother, Hunter Schleper, Sarah said her speed has increased a lot since the beginning of the season and she was sorry she couldn’t have displayed her skills better in Thursday’s race.

“I’m skiing better than my time shows. I’m a little disappointed, but you just have to be happy to race. I’m racing as a mom of two and a lot of people couldn’t do this so, I’m just happy to be here,” she said.

SCHLEPER, A33

TOWNSEND BESSENT | TOWNSEND@VAILDAILY.COM

Hometown ski racer Sarah Schleper reacts at the bottom of the race course on Thursday after one of the women’s giant slalom runs during the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships in Beaver Creek.

Gisin returns to racing three weeks after injury Olympic downhill champion, while not thrilled with her performance Thursday, is happy her knees are back to doing what they love

By Shauna Farnell Special to the Daily

BEAVER CREEK — In all the talk about injuries and comebacks, one story that may have flown under the radar the FIS

Alpine World Ski Championships is that of Swiss skier Dominique Gisin. You might remember her from the Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where she tied Tina Maze for the downhill gold medal.

The 29-year-old veteran, who was poised to become the first female fighter pilot in the Swiss military if not for her ski racing career, was hoping to find some of that Olympic fire in these World Championships.

But on Jan. 19, Gisin crashed in a World Cup race in Cortina, Italy, fracturing the tibia bone in her right knee. After a career riddled by crashes that led to nine knee surgeries, for once, things were looking up this time for the

Swiss skier, and no surgery was required.

However, with a recovery period that still called for several weeks of rest, it looked unlikely that the Swiss skier would be able to race in Vail/Beaver Creek. After ramping up her recovery plan to an around-the-clock commitment, Gisin had to miss the downhill and super G last week, but was cleared to start in the giant slalom on Thursday.

“It was just too early,” Gisin said of starting in last week’s speed races. “A week later was all I needed. The (fracture) is in a place where there’s not a lot of pressure.

GISIN, A38

JUSTIN Q. MCCARTY | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

Dominique Gisin, of Switzerland, charges during the giant slalom of the Alpine World Ski Championships on Thursday in Beaver Creek. Gisin was competing just three weeks after fracturing the tibia in her right knee.

The Vail Daily

20 15

| Friday, February 13, 2015 | A33

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The men’s giant slalom: Ted Day or not?

SCHLEPER

From page A32

Riding chairlift No. 95 before the race, Schleper’s memory harkened back to the year of 1995, when she made her World Cup debut as a teenager at home at Vail/Beaver Creek.

“I’m really superstitious about chairlift numbers. I started having all of these reminiscing

Men’s Weather Downhill Start Start Elevation: 11,155’ | 3,400 m Finish Elevation: 8,954‘ | 2,730 m Vertical Drop: 2,201’ | 671m Distance: 5,494’ | 1,675m Avg. Slope: 35% | 19.3° Max. Slope: 63% | 32.3°

Start Elevation: 10,945’ | 3,337 m Finish Elevation: 8,954‘ | 2,730 m Vertical Drop: 1,991’ | 607m Distance: 6,163’ | 1,879m Avg. Slope: 35% | 19.3° Max. Slope: 68% | 34.0°

Start Elevation: 10,247’ | 3,124 m Finish Elevation: 8,935‘ | 2,724 m Vertical Drop: 1,312’ | 400m Distance: 4,887’ | 1,490m Avg. Slope: 31% | 17.0° Max. Slope: 50% | 26.7°

Schleper has competed in four Olympics and plans to make it five in 2018 in South Korea.

The 2015 World Championships marks her sixth, though she had to miss the 1999 event at home after breaking her leg – one of

+

448’ | 136m 1,059’ | 323m 47% | 25.1° 54% | 28.5°

P

RUSSI’s Ride

Vertical Drop: Distance: Avg. Slope: Max. Slope:

Goshawk Jump

461’ | 141m 1,945’ | 593m 25% | 13.8° 42% | 22.8 °

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Men’s SLALOM Start H

Golden Eagle Jump

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The Abyss

Vertical Drop: Distance: Avg. Slope: Max. Slope:

Men’s Combined Slalom Start

Harrier Jump

Start Elevation: 9,627’ | 2,935 m Finish Elevation: 8,935‘ | 2,724 m Vertical Drop: 692’ | 211m Distance: 2,263’ | 690m Avg. Slope: 33% | 18.2° Max. Slope: 46% | 24.6°

unt ain

Mo

Redtail Jump

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697’ | 212m 2,224’ | 678m 33% | 18.4° 50% | 26.7°

LEGEND Men’s FIS Alpine Course LADIEs’ FIS Alpine Course

Lift

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use

Start Elevation: 9,627’ | 2,935 m Finish Elevation: 8,935‘ | 2,724 m Vertical Drop: 692’ | 211m Distance: 2,263’ | 690m Avg. Slope: 32% | 18.0° Max. Slope: 50% | 26.7°

We all missed on Fenninger, so we don’t know why we’re still doing this.

Shauna Farnell, Vail Daily: Ligety Chris Freud, Vail Daily: Hirscher Pat Graham, AP Denver: Ligety.

Melanie Wong, Vail Daily: Ligety.

OLYMPICS NO. 5?

Vertical Drop: Distance: Avg. Slope: Max. Slope:

Westfall Road

PICKS

thoughts. I was thinking, ’95 was a good year. Most of these girls weren’t even born. I was in high school,” Schleper said.

404’ | 123m 956’ | 292m 47% | 25.1° 65% | 33.1°

Pete’s Arena

Peregrine Jump

Screech Owl Jump

PEOPLE TO WATCH Contrary to the last 480 words or so, there are other racers in the mix today. Check out France’s Alexis Pinturault (2), Germany’s Fritz Dopfer (5) and France’s Thomas Fanara (4). Austria’s Reich (1) is also a contender. We would like to see him medal in what is likely his final Worlds.

Americans: Ligety (6), Tim Jitloff (9), Brennan Rubie (33), Tommy Ford (34) and David Chodounsky (40).

Vertical Drop: Distance: Avg. Slope: Max. Slope:

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Goshawk Co nne cto r

174’ | 53m 493’ | 150m 38% | 20.9° 54% | 28.5°

The Talon

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Men’s Super-G Start

Men’s GIANT SLALOM Start

295’ | 90m 1,857’ | 566m 16% | 9.1° 24% | 13.4°

The Brink

Vertical Drop: Distance: Avg. Slope: Max. Slope:

Gro

Format: The best combined time of two runs wins. The top 60 of the first run get a second run, but focus on the top 30, who will make the flip. The fastest in the first run goes 30th in the second run.

Stats: The course starts at 10,247 feet and drops 1,312 feet over nearly a mile (4,887 feet.)

Birds of Prey GS winners: Lasse Kjus (2004); Bode Miller (2005); Massimiliano Blardone (2006); Daniel Albrecht (2007); Benni Raich (2008); Carlo Janka (2009); Ligety (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) and Hirscher (2011).

Weather: Forecast high of 49 degrees. The course has been holding up well recently for afternoon runs.

Vertical Drop: Distance: Avg. Slope: Max. Slope:

sL ift

THE NUMBERS

The Flyway

Start Elevation: 11,424’ | 3,483 m Finish Elevation: 8,954‘ | 2,730 m Vertical Drop: 2,470’ | 753m Distance: 8,603’ | 2,623m Avg. Slope: 31% | 17.0° Max. Slope 63% | 32.3°

Birds of Prey Lift

BEAVER CREEK — It’s starting to get a little scary at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Welcome to Day 12, the men’s giant slalom — and the Americans do not have a gold medal.

Usually, men’s GS day would be money in the bank. Men’s GS, of course, is Ted Ligety time. Ligety, wearing bib No. 6, won his last four starts on Birds of Prey, and five of six when it comes to GS. But …

Ted’s title of Mr. GS is being usurped by Austria’s Marcel Hirscher (Bib no. 3). December’s GS here was the only giant slalom this season that Hirscher hasn’t won. Hirscher was downright slovenly, finishing, gasp, third, behind Ligety and France’s Alexis Pinturault. Not only is Hirscher 4-for-5 in the GS this season, but in his four wins, he has won by more than a second.

Hirscher is a smiling assassin.

Every year, he comes to Beaver Creek in December and talks about how Ligety is, “Mr. GS.” Hirscher says that Ted is unbeatable. Hirscher also generally says that whoever is leading in the overall in the early season can’t possibly be caught.

If he knew who Lou Holtz was, Hirscher would be the second coming of Holtz.

“The way Aksel Lund Svindal or Kjetil Jansrud or whoever is racing, he can’t be caught.”

And then, you look up the World Cup points at around this time of year, and Hirscher is leading, this year on his way to his fourth overall championship.

Then, throw in the fact that Hirscher saw Teddy come away with three gold medals at the 2013 Worlds in Schladming, Austria, to his one, and well, Hirscher sees a chance to turn the tables.

The Austrian already has gold in the combined and is the prohibitive favorite in the slalom on

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Men’s Downhill & Downhill Combined Start

res

cfreud@vaildaily.com

2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Mens’ Course Map - Beaver Creek

hE xp

By Chris Freud

Sunday. GS today would be three golds, four if you count the Nations Team Event.

The one thing Ligety’s got is that this is his hill. This GS course is a bit more speed oriented and less technical. Ted’s technically from Park City, Utah, but this is his home hill.

So, can Teddy make his stand here or is this going to turn into Hirscher’s Worlds? The first run is at 10:15 a.m. with the second at 2:15 p.m.

Cin c

Americans still looking for first gold

+ Medical Point H Helicopter Landing Zone P

Pumphouse

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several injuries that plagued her career. She came back strong in 2000 for her first pair of World Cup podiums, following up with another in 2004 and her first and only victory in 2005 in the Lenzerheide, Switzerland, slalom.

Competing in these World Championships take the veteran racer back to a familiar state of mind, a similar adrenaline charge she’s had throughout the years in

all of her other big medal events.

“It’s funny because I get a lot of the same feelings,” she said. “I still feel like I have a chance. I still get nervous and really want to get the speed going. You kind of relive your childhood.”

Schleper will compete in Saturday’s slalom race, likely with another late start number. But for the local mother, who has had Mexican skiers following her around all week wanting photos,

Schleper is not here for the medals.

“Everyone is like ‘Suerte! Viva Mexico!’ It’s just cool to be part of another culture — a culture with a lot of passion. I’m proud to represent Mexico,” Schleper said. “I’m obviously proud to be an American. I didn’t want to have that mistake today. I wanted to have a legitimate time. I want to ski the best that I can. We’re just going to keep going.”

A34 | Friday, February 13, 2015 | The Vail Daily

FIS ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

Giant slalom qualifiers a meeting of nations Haiti and Jamaica will both be represented in today’s World Championships race

By John LaConte

Carvallo said.

His teammate, 20-year-old Henrik Von Appen, was elated as well.

“I’m so happy to share the moment with this guy,” Von Appen said.

jlaconte@vaildaily.com

‘CHILEANS ARE ALWAYS HAPPY’

VAIL — Competing against racers from small countries like Haiti, Macedonia and Kyrgyzstan, Slovenia’s Klemen Kosi won the giant slalom qualifiers Thursday at Golden Peak for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

About 100 racers in total tested their skills at the Vail venue. The top skier to finish from every country, in addition to the top 25 ski racers overall qualified for today’s World Championships giant slalom at Beaver Creek. After the first run, the top-30 racers ran the course in reverse order for the second run, before going back to the finish order of the first run for the remaining 60 or so racers to finish the first run.

The last nation to qualify a second racer was Chile, with Nicolas Carvallo’s 24th-place performance.

“I’m so happy I made it,”

Von Appen, who crossed the finish line in first and held the lead through a few racers, received the largest ovation on the day from the 200 or so fans in attendance.

“The reason for that,” Von Appen said of the big fan celebration at his run, “is one — that Chileans are always happy and cheering no matter what the reason — and two, people love our suits.”

After the top 30 had finished and it seemed Carvallo’s top-25 result would hold, the Chileans were hesitant to celebrate.

“At the 2013 World Championships, Henrik was knocked out by the 39th racer,” Carvallo said.

When it became apparent they would both be competing in the big show on Friday, the two embraced in satisfaction.

“We go to college together, we play football together and we ski

race together. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have there with me tomorrow,” Van Appen said.

GRANDFATHERED IN For some countries, competition for the top spot was tight, regardless of those top-25 automatic advancers.

India’s team had three guys competing for one spot, “I’m just happy to be in Vail, it’s beautiful,” said Hira Lal, who finished two spots behind his teammate Arif Mohd Khan in 79th.

From Macedonia, Antonio Ristevski said he skied the best giant-slalom run he has laid down yet this season to take the top spot on his team in 36th.

Israeli ski racer Itamar Biran was the youngest competitor at 16. He finished 51st.

“We’ve received a very warm welcome from Jewish community here in the Vail Valley,” his father, Doron Biran, said from the finish stadium.

The final showdown on the day was, literally, the final showdown on the day, as Haitian ski racer Jean-Pierre Roy battled it out with the Jamaican Mike Williams for last place.

Williams’ friend, Butch Mosby,

LIFE

STYLE

JOHN LACONTE | JLACONTE@VAILDAILY.COM

Haitian ski racer Jean-Pierre Roy, left, and Mike Williams, of Jamaica, celebrate after finishing the FIS 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships giant slalom qualifier on Thursday in Vail. Roy will compete again today at Beaver Creek in the men’s giant slalom race. of Texas, surprised the Jamaican by showing up unannounced for his race.

“I just wanted to come support him so I did what I could to get here,” he said. “Regardless of where he’s from, I’m just impressed he’s still out here doing it in his 40s.”

Williams was excited to finish, but more excited to see Mosby.

“You just made my week,” he said to his friend upon seeing him

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In the end, it was Roy who took the Caribbean title on the day, beating out Williams and guaranteeing himself a spot at today’s race by finishing the race for Haiti.

“It’s amazing, first run, second run,” he said. “I will be the first in the world to participate in the World Championships as a grandfather!”

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The Vail Daily

| Friday, February 13, 2015 | A35

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FIS ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

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Austria’s Eva-Maria Brem gets kicked off balance as she flies trough the Screech Owl section of the women’s giant slalom during the FIS 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships in Beaver Creek. Brem skied off the course and did not finish the race.

DOMINQUE TAYLOR | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

Complete women’s GS results 18 MOWINCKEL Ragnhild NOR 2:22.81 19 GISIN Dominique SUI 2:22.88 Daily staff report 20 MOELGG Manuela ITA 2:22.95 newsroom@vaildaily.com 21 LAVTAR Katarina SLO 2:22.99 22 TOMMY Mikaela CAN 2:23.09 1 FENNINGER Anna AUT 2:19.16 23 GAGNON Marie-Michele CAN 2:23.17 2 REBENSBURG Viktoria GER 2:20.56 24 DREV Ana SLO 2:23.34 3 LINDELL-VIKARBY J. SWE 2:20.65 25 STUHEC Ilka SLO 2:23.55 4 WEIRATHER Tina LIE 2:20.71 26 MANCUSO Julia USA 2:23.79 5 MAZE Tina SLO 2:20.90 27 PREFONTAINE M.-P. CAN 2:24.14 6 KIRCHGASSER Michaela AUT 2:20.91 28 HASEGAWA Emi JPN 2:24.34 7 ZETTEL Kathrin AUT 2:21.31 29 CRAWFORD Candace CAN 2:24.45 8 SHIFFRIN Mikaela USA 2:21.63 30 VLHOVA Petra SVK 2:25.69 9 PIETILAE-HOLMNER M. SWE 2:21.84 31 SOPPELA Merle FIN 2:25.72 10 HECTOR Sara SWE 2:21.96 32 GISIN Michelle SUI 2:26.09 11 LOESETH Nina NOR 2:21.99 33 ROMANOVA Anastasia RUS 2:26.19 12 HANSDOTTER Frida SWE 2:22.14 13 WORLEY Tessa FRA 2:22.27 34 MCJAMES Megan USA 2:26.85 14VONN Lindsey USA 2:22.38 35 TILLEY Alexandra GBR 2:27.06 15 BAUD Adeline FRA 2:22.43 36 SMALL Greta AUS 2:27.38 16 FANCHINI Nadia ITA 2:22.63 37 POPOVIC Leona CRO 2:27.57 17 HOLDENER Wendy SUI 5.qxp_Layout 2:22.70 38 MISAK Iva 7:59 AMCRO 2:27.76 Encore-Vail Daily Ad 1 2/2/15 Page 1

38GASIENICA-DANIEL M. POL 2:27.76 40 MIKLOS Edit HUN 2:27.90 41 KIRKOVA Maria BUL 2:28.21 42 IGNJATOVIC Nevena SRB 2:28.43 43 GUEST Charlotte GBR 2:29.74 44KOMSIC Andrea CRO 2:29.99 45CHRYSTAL Lavinia AUS 2:30.68 46 BANCORA Salome ARG 2:30.95 47 SIMARI BIRKNER M. B. ARG 2:31.52 47 BARAHONA Noelle CHI 2:31.52 49 MATSOTSKA Bogdana UKR 2:31.59 50 SCHLEPER Sarah MEX 2:31.73 51 SIMARI BIRKNER A. ARG 2:32.82 52 TRSINSKI Sasa CRO 2:32.88 53 NOVAKOVIC Zana BIH 2:32.99 54 CAILL Ania Monica ROU 2:34.94 55 CAPOVA Gabriela CZE 2:35.35 56 VILHJALMSDOTTIR H.M. ISL 2:35.54

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A36 | Friday, February 13, 2015 | The Vail Daily

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DOMINQUE TAYLOR | DAILY FILE PHOTO

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JUSTIN Q. MCCARTY | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

Jessica Lindell-Vikarby, of Sweden, stays low to the ground while cranking through a turn of the women’s giant slalom during the FIS 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships on Thursday in Beaver Creek. Lindell-Vikarby won the bronze medal.

WOMEN’S GS

From page A30

of Championships to reach a medal. The last months have been a tough journey. ... Last year, I didn’t succeed. People didn’t believe I could do this. My closest (friends) believed and I did, so that’s the difference.�

American medal chances were sunk by bad first runs. Mikaela Shiffrin was 1.72 seconds off the pace and tied for 12th after

the first run, also won by Fenninger, while Lindsey Vonn was 27th, 2.67 seconds back.

Both bounced back with superb second runs. Shiffrin landed in eighth and Vonn jetted to 14th.

The Championships continue today with men’s giant slalom at 10:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934, cfreud@vaildaily.com and @cfreud.

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A38 | Friday, February 13, 2015 | The Vail Daily

FIS ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

GISIN

From page A32 That’s why I can ski.”

Gisin ended up 19th on Thursday, a result she was frustrated with, particularly after all the work she put into the last three weeks of preparation following her crash.

“It was hell of a ride the last three weeks,” she said after the race. “It’s crazy I made it.

It’s been crazy for three weeks. We trained all day. We recovered all day. I had my physiotherapy like three times a day, water therapy … everything. I just worked the hardest I could to get here.”

‘VERY THANKFUL’

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The Olympic downhill champion, in spite of her best efforts, was in tears after the first run Thursday, after which she ended up in 25th place, 2.59 seconds behind leader and eventual race winner Anna Fenninger.

“I trained really good in the past days and today I just wasn’t ready. I couldn’t find my

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courage,” she said. “The knee is good. It just hurts that in the end I worked so hard and then couldn’t make my mind up. I couldn’t figure it out. It’s not easy to come back all the time … after one more crash. You just have to figure it out.”

The queen of coming back from injury, when asked how many knee surgeries she’s had, Gisin said, “too many to count.”

But her Olympic gold — the first medal of her long career after a four-year hiatus of victories that included at least one ACL surgery and long recovery — proves that she resilience few other ski racers possess. Even if she isn’t walking away from Vail/Beaver Creek with any medals, she’s skiing away, and that’s what matters most.

“I wish I could have skied a little more free in my mind but in the end I’m very, very thankful to my knees that they were so good,” she said. “I’ll try to get it back. It’s not what I was aiming to do here, but it’s a good step into the right direction. There will be other races this season so I will keep trying to go down that path. And hope to

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