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High-flying Americans Rahlves helps U.S. regain confidence in Austria
Updated: Wednesday January 31, 2001 12:27 PM
ST. ANTON, Austria (AP) -- As a flustered Austrian team competes with an increasingly weighty albatross around its neck, the Americans have become outright bold eagles. The Americans had arrived at the world championships undaunted by the topflight Austrian squad, which was riding on the wings of success and benefitting from home advantage to boot. But after Daron Rahlves swooped in to snatch the super-G gold from Stefan Eberharter's clutches in Tuesday's super-G, dropping home hero Hermann Maier to a mortifying third, the American racers became out-and-out defiant. The day before, under the weight of the nation's expectations and the pressure of competing at home, the Austrians failed to place a woman among the top seven, while American Megan Gerety soared to an impressive fourth. "It's the best possible start to the championships and a great example that you don't have to come in as favorite to win," said a confident Bode Miller, who will compete in the men's downhill Saturday. "It shows we can put it down and we are up there with every one. We can compete against anyone. Even the Austrians. "We come here and we tell them we don't give a damn. It doesn't matter that they once placed nine skiers in the top-10," he said, referring to Austria's sweep of the top-nine places at a super-G at home in Innsbruck in 1999. With Austria's women slightly less dominant, the desire to top them was less intense. "It's not your goal to shut out the Austrians, but to get yourself on the podium," said American allrounder Caroline Lalive. "But it is better if they're behind you. "Of course it's better if everyone is behind you." In a way, the Americans and Austrians are really birds of a feather. Both are enormously confident -- sometimes brash -- and both are very capable of winning when it counts. The two train also together regularly, which has helped dispel some of usual awe that the Austrian team's power often inspires. "We've learned from the Austrians," Rahlves said. "We learned that they're not unbeatable. It's good for us to know they aren't machines. Pretty close, but not quite. "They do make mistakes." In addition to dealing with the formidable clan, visiting teams also have to contend with the masses of Austrian fans flocking to the resort, piling into the tribunes and lining the course to support their local heroes. During the super-G, some 20,000 Austrians made the trip. But even that could not intimidate the stars-and-stripes racers, who appeared instead to thrive on the crowd's fervor. "I feel I compete better when there are a lot of people out, I get totally stoked to do it," said Rahlves. "It's more exciting, I feel more motivated. I feel the energy and have a good time. "It's more fun skiing and putting yourself on the line when people are out there."
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