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www.skiworldcup.org/Soelden (AUT) 26.10.2003
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Men's Giant Slalom - Race report
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| Report I Race results I SWC GS I Overall |
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Bode Miller at the top.
You out-beat the rest of the field
in that 2nd run!
"In the second run I was a lot
more used to the snow. The first was
the first time I really had taken a
run on that kind of icy snow. At least
after that I had a little bit of knowledge
and was able to change my tactics a
bit.
"There was plenty of opportunity
in each run for things to go differently.
But I had great preparation from our
Team and today it really worked for
me."
The courses today were really icy –
how you liked it?
"For myself, personally, I would
rather have changing conditions. But
it definitely makes it more fair for
the later guys. You saw that in the
first run today with a lot of guys from
outside the first 30 starters qualifying.
I think that's great and much more exciting
to give those guys a chance to show
what they can do."
How difficult were the courses?
"I was actually really surprised.
The first course was nothing like I've
ever seen before. Extremely fast too.
And especially with the snow conditions
the way they were. If it had been softer
it would have been a lot easier. But
you were going down the hill so directly
and the speeds were so high, but the
snow was also a little grippy. But you
can't just slide into the turn to control
your speed because your ski would catch.
I like this kind of course personally.
It was so nerve wracking how it was
set, especially with it being the first
race of the season."
This victory puts you in the lead in
the Overall World Cup standings –
a good move no?
"The overall World Cup isn’t
something to talk about after one race.
I wish they would give it to me right
now, but I don't think that's going
to happen -- at least no one's approached
me with that option. I guess there were
a few guys who won the first race and
went on to win the overall title. But
I think it's a good foundation for the
season. I feel relaxed, though, and
I feel I have more control on the things
around me this year."
How much of a difference are the skis
making this year?
"I was really impressed with the
change and the progression in the past
seasons. Rossignol is working really
hard all the time testing. I'm actually
on a very similar ski this year to what
I was on last year. On every condition,
especially on flatter sections of the
course, this ski is far and way the
best ski out there. It’s a big
advantage for me to use Rossignol, the
best choice to have a chance to clinch
the Overall title.
Last year some said your technical skiing
suffered because you skied speed events.
"I heard a lot about how my technical
skiing suffered last year. I think it
was just one of those years. I was still
second in GS and in slalom I was still
in the top seed despite having a lot
of mistakes and DNFs. So it couldn't
have suffered that badly. I feel in
good shape."
USSA/PL
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