Women's Super G
Italy's Karen Putzer clinched the first World Cup race of her career on Sunday in the last speed event of the year held by difficult weather conditions in St Moritz.

	Karen Putzer

The petite 21-year-old racer from South Tyrol, the German speaking part of Northern Italy, was able to make the best out of the technically demanding course to beat her teammate Alessandra Merlin by 16/100 of second while France's Régine Cavagnoud reached an important 3rd place, only 23/100 behind Merlin.

The Austrian skiers, who dominated the speed events last winter, had another difficult day today. Four of them finished among the top-10 but Stefanie Schuster, a bronze medal winner in Vail last February in downhill, was only 5th. Renate Goetschl, the reigning downhill World Champion came in at a far 9th place.

But they were not the only favorites to face disappointment after that race. Pernilla Wiber, the winner in Saturday's downhill who was competing with a painful knee injury from that race, was only 11th this time. Italy's Isolde Kostner, the winner on Friday as well as in the super G in Vail d'Isère, had to be content with 12th place. Yet, she retains the lead in the Overall World Cup standings ahead of the Austrian.

"I took a lot of risks and I made so many mistakes. I didn't want to look at the timing. I'm so surprised as I had a bad feeling when I finished...." — Karen Putzer (ITA)

For the Americans, Kristen Clark reacted well after her crash in the previous race to finish at a strong 20th place. Jonna Mendes also scored a point, taking 30th place.

Putzer, in her third season in the World Cup and a former super G and giant slalom junior World Champion, was lucky to start in 19th position on this overcast and blustery day. The visibility was slightly better for her than for the previous top specialists who raced earlier on the treacherous Corviglia piste, covered by fresh snow in the morning. Her determination, her fine technique and her small stature certainly helped her master the difficult turns in this run which created so many problems for most of the athletes.

In fact more than 20 racers crashed here over the weekend, and some of them have serious injuries, including Croatia's Janica Kostelic, who tore all the ligaments in her right knee while training on Thursday.

When Karen Putzer crossed the finish line she didn't look at the clock, convinced she had set a slow time. "I can believe I have won this race," she said. "I took a lot of risks and I made so many mistakes," she added with her usual big smile. "I didn't want to look at the timing. I'm so surprised as I had a bad feeling when I finished. I didn't think I was even close," she said.

The tiny Italian also said the technical nature of the Swiss resort's Corviglia piste helped her. "I like it when the course is really technical and when you have to fight," she said. Putzer's previous best was a 2nd at Copper Mountain in a giant slalom last November. She also placed 3rd in a super G in Cortina d'Ampezzo in January 1998.

It was also tough for her to wait at the finish line until the other skiers completed their runs. Some of them, such as her compatriot Alessandra Merlin, starting 27th, had fast intermediate times.

The "Squadra Azzura" Italian team celebrated the second win in three races in St. Moritz, where the 2003 Ski World Championships will be held. Isolde Kostner began the weekend on a winning note for her team, taking the first of back-to-back downhills on Friday. In total, the Italian skiers have won four races since the start of the season, while the powerful Austrian team had only one!

Régine is Back
France's Régine Cavagnoud, winner of a giant slalom in Copper Mountain last month reached her first podium in a speed event since her double win in Cortina d'Ampezzo last January. It's an important result for her to remain among the top contenders in the fight for the Overall World Cup. "I was angry because I really messed up in the downhill," she said. "Today the visibility was not very good and I don't usually do well under those conditions. I was tired at the end. I still need to train more in the speed events before finding back my old form. I hope to be back in shape in January. This result is for sure very encouraging for the next races."

	Merlin

Sweden's Pernilla Wiberg competed on Sunday, despite fearing that an aggravated knee injury would rule her out for several weeks. "I'm not 100 percent and I had some problems today," said the former World and Olympic Champion. "I think for sure that it's the meniscus. I know I didn't ski too well." She plans to have an x-ray over Christmas and said on Saturday she might need knee surgery.

Austria's Silvia Berger was the latest victim claimed by an unforgiving Corviglia piste and was airlifted off the course with torn ligaments in her left knee. Half a dozen skiers injured themselves over the weekend in St. Moritz.

The next women's race, a giant slalom and a slalom, will take place in a week in Austria's Lienz.

— Manuèle Joyce, MountainZone.com Correspondent