Maria or Marlies - Who will win the Slalom?

They dominated the Slalom World Cup the last four years. Austrian Marlies Riesch and local hero Maria Riesch are the big favourites for the Slalom competition.

In the last years, Marlies Schild has won most medals for Austria. The Austrian has won at least one medal at every World Championships and the Olympic Games. Besides, she achieved 28 World Cup victories, 26 of them at Slalom World Cups. She is the most successful competitor in Slalom after Swiss Vreni Schneider. However, she has never won a Gold medal at an individual competition. At the World Championships in St. Moritz in 2003 she was beaten by Janica Kostelic (CRO) and in 2007 by Šárka Záhrobská (CZE). In 2009 she wasn’t able to participate in Val d’Isère because of an injury.

Local favourite has to deal with the pressure of home event

In 2009 Maria Riesch won the title in Val d'Isère. In Vancouver at the Olympics she won against Marlies Schild. She was successful at seven World Cup Slaloms, but is she able to fulfill the expectations of the thousands of fans? The whole country hopes for the first Gold medal at the World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

A complete medal set

The most successful World Championships starter of the last years is the Czech Šárka Záhrobská. She won Bronze medal in Bormio, Silver medal in Val d’Isère and the Gold medal in Aare. Additionally she won the Bronze medal at the Olympics in Vancouver. She is also a hot favourite for a Slalom medal.

Further favourites

This season winners are also favourites for a medal, Tanja Poutiainen (FIN) and Maria Pietilae-Holmner (SWE). After her Giant Slalom title Tina Maze (SLO) is also a co-favourite for a medal. In 1978 German Pamela Behr won the Silver medal, so maybe Fanny Chmelar, Christina Geiger or Susanne Riesch can be her follow-up. They showed with podium places that they can get a medal. Austria won Gold and Bronze in 1978.

Gudiberg - a perfect scenery

There are no tickets available for the last weeks. In view of the big local chances for the Gold medal, the Gudiberg arena will be changed into a boiling pot. A perfect scenery for the last event of the ladies at the World Championships.

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