Second consecutive triumph for Karen Putzer

Only four days after her superb victory in Super-G at Lake Louise, Italy’s Karen Putzer celebrated another impressive victory – but this time in giant slalom!
The tiny yet aggressive skier from North-Italy dominated some of the best specialists in the event in the “classical” race of Val d’Isère. She simply beat three former World Champion and one reigning Olympic champion at the end of two strong runs.
Three of them are also former winners on that slope which requested great determination and a flawless technique.
Sonja Nef, the 2001 World Champion from St Anton, came in 2nd with a delay of 26/100 while Austria’s Michaela Dorfmeister and Alexandra Meissnitzer share the 3rd place ahead of Janica Kostelic.

Spain’s Maria Rienda-Contreras was a near 6th while America’s Sarah Schleper ended 10th .
Germany’s Martina Ertl was disappointed by her 12th place only half a second behind the podium because she missed a great occasion to move up in the world rankings. Today, she wore bib # 32 but she definitely belongs again to the top-10 of the discipline.

Five years after the great Deborah Compagnoni, Karen is the second Italian to clinch this important French race . Only a few skiers in the past were able to ski so well in Super-G and then in GS within a few days.
In fact, the champion from Alto-Adige achieved an amazing performance in the first run which she won with an advance of 70/100 on Nef – already a great achievement!

She fought hard in the afternoon to successfully defend her lead in front of the Swiss who was desperately needed a good performance to overcome her disappointing season start.
“I was quite nervous before my second start, but in the same time I also felt confident and relaxed after my recent success in Canada” Putzer admitted.
“I fought hard to remain in the lead because I felt I had nothing to lose. It was not the first time that I clocked the fastest time in the first run of a giant slalom and I was ready to give my best. I didn’t ski as well as this morning because the course was already damaged when I raced but everything went on fine at the end”.
“I was looking for this win in GS because I often went on the podium in part years – including two years ago at the St Anton Worlds”.
“I guess that everything expects that I achieve the hat-trick tomorrow in the Super-G but I don’t want to put pressure on me. I would be happy with another top-10 place. I spent a lot of energy to win this race today and I might be quite tired tomorrow – yet who knows?”.