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Vindication Austria's Obermoser wins first women's downhill
ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) -- Brigitte Obermoser led an Austrian sweep of the top two places in a women's World Cup downhill Saturday to clinch her first career downhill victory and silence the team's critics. Coming back from North America with just one podium finish in two downhills -- a third place by Renate Goetschl in Lake Louise -- the Austrian team had been the target of scathing criticism from the national media. But starting back in 27th place, Obermoser charged down the Corviglia I course in 1 minute, 38.68 seconds to win the downhill and prove critics wrong. The fact teammate and reigning overall World Cup champion Renate Goetschl finished runner-up in 1:39.03, only made the answer that much sweeter. "I don't think there was a real problem with the team in the U.S.," said Obermoser. "But when the team is criticized, it comes out even stronger afterwards. "With such a strong team as the Austrians it's very difficult to win, especially in the downhill," said Obermoser, whose only other World cup win was in the more technical giant slalom at the World Cup finals in Bormio, Italy, last season. "So it's a great satisfaction to be able to do that." The Austrian had finished fifth in the season-opening downhill in Lake Louise and 15th in another downhill the following day at the Canadian resort. The victory not only added clout to Obermoser's resume but helped atone for the Austrian men's team which failed to even land one man on the podium in the downhill in Val d'Isere earlier in the morning. Canada's Emily Brydon, the 44th skier out of the start hut, prevented an Austrian sweep of the top five places with a sizzling performance, crossing third in 1:39.11. The young Canadian bumped Michaela Dorfmeister off the podium, the Austrian forced to settle for fourth with 1:39.15. Alexandra Meissnitzer, the 1998 overall World Cup champion, slipped to fifth in 1:39.16 and Tanja Schneider, sixth in 1:39.44. "It's surreal. I can't believe it yet," said Brydon, who only began on the World Cup circuit last season, competing in two speed events and three technical. "I wasn't expecting anything this year. This year was only to build up confidence. "Once you place in the top-10 then it's just a matter of self-belief to get onto the podium," said Brydon. "I guess that just came early for me." The 20-year-old Canadian began building on that confidence early this year, placing ninth in a super-G in Aspen, as well 13th and 16th in the two previous downhills. "My career has been on stepping stones. Last year, though I did five World Cup races, my focus was on the world juniors," said Brydon, who won the juniors combined title, finished second in the slalom, sixth in the super-G and seventh in the downhill. "I did one or two Europa Cup races also and then I knew I was ready for the World Cup. "I took each level as it came. I didn't rush anything. I started from the bottom up." Italy's Isolde Kostner, the winner of the previous downhill in Lake Louise, finished back in seventh in 1:39.53. Despite her disappointing result, the Italian remained atop the downhill standings where she leads with 216 points. The victory boosted Obermoser from 10th to second in the discipline rankings, with 161, ahead of Goetschl, third with 153. Germany's Martina Ertl, who finished out of the points in 48th, still tops the overall World Cup standings with 560 points, with France's Regine Cavagnoud in second on 449 and Dorfmeister in third with 446. American Picabo Street, racing in her first downhill since her horrific crash at the World Cup finals in Crans Montana in 1998, placed 24th in 1:40.53. It was a marked improvement for Street, an Olympic and world champion, who made her comeback to competition in a super-G last week in Val d'Isere, finishing out of the points in her first race since shattering her left femur and shredding right knee ligaments on Swiss snow over two years ago. "I don't like Crans Montana, but the rest of Switzerland is wonderful," said Street, looking happy in the finish area. "It's not so much a geographical thing, just which courses. "I didn't think about being afraid or waiting for the course to come to me. I kind of charged and went for the course more. I planned what I wanted to do and I executed this plan. That's what I feel is a success for me today and not being afraid and a victim to the course. I was in control of myself today."
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