Wengen Slalom

Second run results from the slalom are in:

1- Rocca
2- Palander
3- Vogl
5- Ligety
8- Miller

I'll have just a few quick remarks this morning. First, for Rocca, this makes it five in row. He should have all but mathematically clinched the slalom title today, and barring unforseen issues, he is everybody's favorite for the gold medal in slalom at Torino. I think only three other people have a realistic shot at knocking him off. You have to start with Benjamin Raich of Austria. Today Raich won his fourth first run of the season and blew out on the fifth gate of the second run. That's unfortunate because he has been skiing so well and showing that he is the world's best overall skier so far in the World Cup this year. While consistency is not usually an issue for Mr. Raich, he has a bad streak going in second runs right now. If he can change course and hold it together for two, there's no reason why he couldn't take gold. The second person who has a shot is Ted Ligety. He came in fifth today after being in third spot in the first run. While this seems like almost a let down, let's keep in mind that top five in any World Cup is pretty solid, and recall how far Ted has come this year. In less than half a season he has held onto second place in the slalom standings since the first or second race of the year, he made the top seven first seed, and he's only 21! What's on Ted's side is that he won't have any of the media attention or expectations that will be placed on Italian native son Rocca during the Torino games, and furthermore, he won't even be garnering the most press love on the U.S. side given that Daron and Bode will have most of the microphones stuffed in their face. Ligety can go to the games, gain confidence in the GS (I believe he will be named to the GS team on coaches discretion) and let it rip in the slalom. The third man who is a threat is none other than Bode Miller. He snaked his way through the first run today, made a wild recovery to qualify for the second run and then lit up the field with the fastest second run to finish eighth. Just yesterday I pointed out that he should be gaining confidence after the fast skiing marred by the DQ in the super combined slalom. I called for a podium or top 6 in slalom in the next few races due to his increased confidence (and improved boot set-up); I figure eighth is pretty close to the mark. Bode is a big event skier and if he is properly motivated, he will throw down some fast runs. (Slalom is the only event in which he has not won an Olympic or World Championship medal.)

For the other Americans, it was a so-so day. Tom Rothrock qualified for the second run after finishing 17th he but skied out early in the final course. Chip Knight and Jimmy Cochran just missed qualifying, coming in 34th and 35th while Erik Schlopy was 46th (don't give him too much grief, he started 76). Knight really needed to finish to make a case for the olympic slalom team, but there are two left for him to prove himself before Torino.

Last item: is there any bigger class act than Daron Rahlves in ski racing or any other sport for that matter? Check out this interview on Eurosport from yesterday. He is the man.

http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s48/sport_lng0_spo48_sto813578.shtml


See you at Kitzbuhel.