Maria Riesch – a new star is born

Haus im Ennstal, Jan.30th. German teenager Maria Riesch confirmed her huge talent today in celebrating her first World Cup victory in the downhill of Haus im Ennstal marked by several spectacular crashes. The 19-year-old Bavarian from Garmisch-Partenkirchen beat by almost half a second Italy’s former speed queen Isolde Kostner while Austria’s Renate Goetschl was 3rd ahead of another German, Hilde Gerg. France’s Carole Montillet and Michaela Dorfmeister, two other top-favourites, only managed to finish 7th and 9th.

Sweden’s Anja Paerson, who suffers from a flue, didn’t compete in that first of two downhills yet she kept the lead in the overall World Cup standings in front of Goetschl. The slalom specialist hopes to be at the start of the Super-G on Sunday.

Over half a dozen of racers fell on the fast course, two of them got severely injured. Among them, USA’s Kirsten Clark, an established specialist, who tore her cruciate ligaments at her left knee and her right arm. Two of her team-mates, Libby Ludlow and Lindsey Kildow, also skied out yet without hurting herself.

Seven medals for Riesch at the junior Worlds

Riesch, one of only four skiers to have scored points in all specialties this season, is considered for years as one of the up-coming talent in the German team. From 2001 to 2003, she won seven medals in all the disciplines at the junior World Championships including three golden in combined and Super-G. She also claimed the overall Europacup standings in 2002.

Last winter she achieved promising results in her first full-time World Cup season including an excellent 5th place in combined at the World Championships in St Moritz. None of her team-mate did better in the other disciplines. Her 2004 season start was impressive with training best times in Canada’s Lake Louise and her first podium in a downhill in St Moritz prior to Christmas.

She was again on the podium in a Super-G in Cortina d’Ampezzo where she clocked again a best training time prior to the downhills-. But she didn’t get onto the podium.
In Haus, Riesch was finally able to remain focused and aggressive down the entire Krummholz course. “I felt more relaxed today than in the other downhill races,” she said after the race. “This time, I could ski at my best which was not the case in Lake Louise or Cortina d’Ampezzo where I was too nervous. I had no problem to handle the pressure and to attack the course as I wanted. I was hoping for a strong result but I’m surprised by ma huge winning margin,” the tall and friendly Bavarian added.

“I nailed the first part perfectly and I kept a high rhythm until the end. It was wonderful to see that my name was on the top of the board after I crossed the finish line. I felt much emotion afterwards – it’s just too bad that my parents are only coming here this night. It would have been great to share my joy with them.”

Skiing is Maria’s main passion

Riesch, who moved up to 9th place in the overall World Cup standings, has the potential to win the big Crystal Cup in the coming seasons. Until last year, Maria could not dedicate all her time to ski racing as she kept on studying to conclude her German Matura in Berchtesgaden.

“I really enjoy to fully focus on skiing, it’s my main passion,” explains the soap-opera fan who likes so much to follow her preferred series on TV. “Today it will be tough because the prize giving take place at the same time, somebody will have to tape it,” she said with a laugh.

In Saturday’s competition, Riesch will have another opportunity to prove the strength of her nerves in the second downhill. Renate Goetschl has a chance to regain the lead in the overall standings with another strong performance.

The Austrian veteran, who lives only one hour drive away from Haus, was not so happy after the race. Riesch and Kostner prevented her to score more points in the overall standings and she has only a lead of 15 points in the downhill World Cup. “I don’t know why I lost so much time in the upper part, maybe I caught some wind,” she said. “I had a pretty solid run and I will now closely watch the line followed by Maria to see if I can improve my level.”

She has a chance to strike back in the second race.

Patrick Lang