Austria ski coach calls for slower course settings

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INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP) -- The head coach of the Austrian women's ski team called for slower World Cup course settings on Monday, two days after former overall champion Nicole Hosp badly damaged her right knee in a crash at the season-opening giant slalom in Soelden.

"We have to slow down the pace by the course setting, braking is very difficult on today's equipment," coach Herbert Mandl said.

Hosp, the 2007 overall World Cup champion, tore ligaments while falling in the opening run of the race. She underwent surgery the same day and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

"It's difficult to find the right thing to do," Mandl said. "The technical developments in skiing are definitely positive, however, in racing they are dangerous."

Hosp, who won the giant slalom gold medal at the 2007 world championships in Sweden, also criticized the setting of the gates for Saturday's race.

"Soelden could have been set slower for sure. Maybe there will be a rethinking after all the severe injuries," said Hosp, who missed a large part of last season after damaging her left knee during warmups for a slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, in January.

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