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By Tom Boyd
Headline RSS FeedAlbrecht takes another victory while fans take a look at fresh powder
December 2, 2007 —
It’s hard to deny that Daniel Albrecht (SUI) is having a spectacular weekend, but fans at today’s Birds of Prey World Cup giant slalom might have been just as impressed with Beaver Creek’s big powder and bluebird skies (more on that in a moment).
Albrecht took his first-ever World Cup victory Thursday in the super combined, and his second today with a win in the giant slalom. He was followed up by Mario Matt (AUT) and Dideir Cuche (SUI). American Ted Ligety made up 0.4 seconds in his second run, but it wasn’t enough to make the podium. He finished fourth. For those of you on the Bode Miller watch, he skied off course on his first run after flying into the Golden Eagle section of the course, where sunlight promptly turns to shadow and leaves racers with a brief “black-out” period in the race. Miller tagged a gate, missed the next gate, hiked back up and finished with a time which put him 10 seconds out of the running.
Tomorrow I’ll be covering the super-G, which will start at 10 a.m., but anyone who can get the day off should definitely get up on the hill. I spent most of my time between runs checking out the fresh powder in Larkspur Bowl and all over the rest of Beaver Creek.
Lifts open at 9 a.m. in Beaver Creek until December 13, when they will begin to open at 8:30 a.m. Unfortunately for me, I won’t have time for a run before the race, but count on seeing me up there in the afternoon … hope to see ya up there.
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Cuche, Blardone, Moelgg and Raich leading giant slalom
December 2, 2007 —
What do the best racers in the world eat between runs of giant slalom? Soy milk and cereal. At least, that’s what Benjamin Raich was eating today when he agreed to take a moment to talk to us during our live RealVail and KZYR, 97.7 Birds of Prey World Cup coverage.
Raich, of Austria, is currently tied for third with Manfred Moelgg (ITA) after the first run of giant slalom. Didier Cuche (SUI) is leading with a time of 1:13.06, followed by last year’s BOP giant slalom winner, Massimiliano Blardone (ITA). The USA’s Ted Ligety is fourth (1:13.66).
Raich said course conditions were, “quite good, but soft in some places,” and agreed that the morning’s course was straight and fast.
He also said he had visited with rival Aksel Lund Svindal (NOR), who is in the hospital here after crashing during his training run in downhill.
Bode Miller nearly skied off course this morning after hitting a gate coming off the treacherous Golden Eagle jump, and did not qualify for the second run.
Hope is high among USA fans that Ligety can pull off some more of his second-run magic. The 33-year-old notched a second place at the first giant slalom of the year at Solden, and made up more than a second during the slalom leg of the super combined here at Beaver Creek last Thursday.
The second run of the giant slalom gets under way here at 12:445 p.m. Conditions should be sunny and bright, as they are right now up here at Red Tail Camp.
1 Comment on "Cuche, Blardone, Moelgg and Raich leading giant slalom"
mike — June 19, 2008
I had a chance to visit The Ski Channel and they are having all sorts of contests for prizes such as: 3 nights in Crested Butte and much more. Be sure to check it out at http://www.theskichannel.com
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World Cup racing back on schedule after heavy snows
December 2, 2007 —
Greetings and salutations from Birds of Prey World Cup as the giant slalom is about to get under way. I’ve got a lot to write about this morning, starting with the copious amounts of snow being pushed and shoveled and blown all around the Red Tail deck here at the Beav’ … kinda makes me wish I was up there making turns.
But OF COURSE I’d rather be here with KZYR providing race coverage for all the fans out there (most of whom are probably enjoying some freshies right about now).
So here’s the news: The super-G was postponed yesterday and will be run tomorrow at 10 a.m. The giant slalom course will be a bit softer today than it would be if, say, there had been a super-G yesterday.
Guys to watch for: Bode Miller (USA); Ted Ligety (USA); Massamiliano Blardone (ITA); Kalle Palander (FIN); Didier Cuche (SUI); Daniel Albrecht (SUI).
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Shrine Mountain, Vail Pass almost ready for prime time
December 1, 2007 —
People were pouring onto Vail and Beaver Creek mountain almost as fast as the snowflakes this morning when I heard the World Cup super-G had been postponed to Monday at 10 a.m., but I decided to blow against the wind this time, avoid the rush, and head into the high country.
Cost: $6 per day, $40 for season pass
With no further obligations at RealVail race headquarters I felt the kind of freedom one can only feel when an event has been cancelled and suddenly, in a moment, the day’s calendar becomes completely clear. I was still in the Beaver Creek parking lot when I looked up at the stormclouds, which seemed to be devouring Vail Pass, and I thought to myself: “That’s where I want to go.”
So into the storm we went: my wife, Renee, brought snowshoes, and I gathered up the skins and skis to get my first taste of backcountry this season.
We discovered a shallow covering over Shrine Pass’ ski terrain. Snowmobilers are already out en force, blazing trails up to the ski terrain which awaits at higher elevations. Inspired to smell fresh pine rather than eu de tailpipe, we skinned off track and let my 8-month-old dog, Bode, tear tracks through his first-ever powder day.
I managed a few turns, but also managed to clip a few rocks. The beta on this baby is as follows: bring the rock skis and a relaxed attitude, Shrine Pass isn’t quite ready for prime time. But just to be there was the thing, and it felt good to be up in the heart of the storm.
And tomorrow it’s back to Beaver Creek for the giant slalom … I’ll be on KZYR, 97.7, starting around 8:45 a.m., prepping listeners for the big race.
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