Alpine skiing: skiers want to take “positive momentum” with them

We want to take the positive momentum from the last speed event in Beaver Creek with us,”said Mathias Berthold, head coach of the men’s team before the upcoming races in Val Gardena and Alta Badia.

Two weeks ago, Thomas Dreßen, a downhill runner in the US state of Colorado, caused a big surprise with a third-place finish.

Dreßen is looking forward to the tradition-steeped track in the Val Gardena Valley “The Saslong is a very demanding downhill run that demands the complete downhill skier. I like the track, not least because there are so many jumps in it,”he said.

On Friday a Super-G will be played there at first, on Saturday the departure (both 12.15 o’ clock). The men then switch to Alta Badia for a giant slalom and a parallel giant slalom.

In Alta Badia, Stefan Luitz also wants to confirm his currently outstanding form. The Allgäuer finished third and second in the two giant slaloms so far and is one of seven German men who are already qualified for the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. Berthold therefore expects his drivers to start the coming races with “a lot of self-confidence”.

On Saturday and Sunday, the women will have a downhill and a Super-G in Val d’ Isere, France.

“After the wind blew us out of the race weekend in St. Moritz, we are now hoping for better conditions in Val d’ Isere,”said national coach Jürgen Graller. The team is led by Viktoria Rebensburg.

After the coming weekend, women and men will each have one more ward ahead of them. The women start before Christmas on Tuesday and Wednesday for a giant slalom and a parallel slalom in the French Courchevel. The men’s slalom in Madonna di Campiglio follows on Friday.

Women: Departure/Super-G: Viktoria Rebensburg (Kreuth), Kira Weidle (Starnberg), Michaela Wenig (Lenggries); Giant slalom: Rebensburg, Maren Wiesler (Münstertal), Jessica Hilzinger (Oberstdorf); Parallel slalom: Lena Dürr (Germering), violinist, Hilzinger, Marina Wallner (Inzell), Wiesler (Münstertal)

Men: Departures/Super-G: Thomas Dreßen (Mittewald), Josef Ferstl (Hammer), Andreas Sander (Ennepetal), Manuel Schmid (Fischen), Dominik Schwaiger (Königssee); Giant slalom/Parallel giant slalom: Fritz Dopfer (Garmisch), Stefan Luitz (Bolsterlang), Alexander Schmid (Fischen); Slalom: Dopfer (Garmisch), Sebastian Holzmann (Ober)