Alpine skiing: rarity opens up the Lauberhorn spectacle

A Super-G international Lauberhorn has been on the event three times in the history of the race, but the race actually took place only once at Wengen. Mark Giradelli finished for Luxembourg in 1994 ahead of two Norwegians Jan Einar Thorsson and Ethel Skardal. Six years before that, in 1988, Lauberhorn races were held in Lückerbad with the Super-G as an alternative. Very few people will remember Canadian winner Felix Belzic. A replacement was made in the Val d’Isère in 1990. Günther Mader was third in the win over Swiss Steve Locher.

In any case, none of the currently active players have World Cup experience in the Super-G in Wengen. What the Super-G will look like is “really hard to say,” said Meyer, who won the combination at Wengen 2020. However, due to the terrain the course is subject to natural limitations. “Some routes, especially at the beginning like the Kernen-S, will certainly be similar to descent. But in the Langentragen section you can run a little more curves,” Carinthian said.

Olympic and world champions chase Kilde

Based on the results of the race so far, Meyer is the hottest Austrian iron on fire. After two second places (Beaver Creek I and Val Gardena) and fourth (Beaver Creek II), the 31-year-old is currently 70 points behind second-placed Norwegian Alexander Aamodt Kilde in the Super G World Cup. He failed only in the race held in Bormio and came in 13th place.

Kilde, who has won three of four Super Gs this season, is also the logical favorite for Meyer at Wengen. “As it currently looks, Clyde will drive home. But of course I will try and speed everything up,” said Meyer. “Kilde is a favorite in every Super-G, as he presented himself this year Was.” The Norwegian was looking forward to the special task: “It’s a Super-G that no one has done before. it will be exciting. Hope it works for me.”

But not only Olympic champion Meyer, but world champion Vincent Critchmire is also chasing the current Mr. Super-G from the far north. It will also be the only appearance at Wengen for the Upper Austrian. Because following a coronavirus infection, Krichmeier missed two runs of training on Friday and Saturday and did not travel to Switzerland until Wednesday. The 30-year-old has been fifth twice this season and third on the podium twice. With a win over Lauberhorn, where he was the last Austrian to win the downhill in 2019, Krichmayer can forget the sadness of the past few days.

Battle for Olympic Ticket

Max Franz, who set the fastest time in the second downhill training session on Wednesday, is also curious about a rarity called the Super-G at Wengen. “I can’t imagine it will look much different in some passages, but I’m excited and looking forward to it,” the 32-year-old said. After failing twice at Beaver Creek, he was seventh in the Super-G at Val Gardena and twelfth this World Cup winter in Bormio. With a view to qualifying for the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, Franz still needs a presentable result.

“I ski ruthlessly well. If everything fits together, I can ride with you. I’ve already shown it. It’s definitely a goal to prepare everything so that I I can totally attack”, said Carinthian. No one cares. What turns out to be,” said Tyrolean, as calm as ever.

Predictions promise the season of dreams

In any case, everything has been arranged from the Bernese Oberland to the spectacular paintings. Cloudless skies are forecast from Thursday to Sunday, and temperatures are now expected to rise in the minus range of double digits. Like last weekend in Adelboden, spectators will also be allowed to take part in the Lauberhorn race, but not yet on Thursday. The race can be viewed free of charge from other slopes along the route. However, the auditorium at Girmschbiel and the Finnish arena will remain closed as the organizers did not have enough time to implement the official requirements.