Zrinka Ljutic is the favorite in the race. The Croatian shooting star could become the first hat-trick winner in the Slalom World Cup in 15 years who is not named Mikaela Shiffrin or Petra Vlhova. Back then, Marlies Schild (now Raich) even celebrated five victories in a row from 2011 to 2012. After the victories on Semmering and in Kranjska Gora, the Croatian’s self-confidence seems to be huge.
The 20-year-old recently said that she had already felt a hint of power and dominance in Slovenia. In the absence of the two convalescent skiing grandees, she is also the first contender for the crown as the new “Snow Space Salzburg Princess” on the Hermann Maier circuit.
Liensberger wants to impress in Flachau
On Tuesday the women’s ski world cup stops in Flachau. The ÖSV ladies are hunting the outstanding Croatian Zrinka Ljutic. Katharina Liensberger in particular has big plans.
A fixture on the calendar since 2010
This title also brings record prize money of 59,500 Swiss francs (63,300 euros) this year. A total of 169,000 francs (180,000 euros) will be distributed. World Cup races have been held in Flachau since 1993. The series of floodlit slaloms began in 2010 and has since become the most highly prized women’s World Cup race. In the most recent six races, either record winner Shiffrin (5 Flachau wins) or Vlhova (3 wins) picked up the winner’s check.
“Attack right from the start”
Austria has been represented on the podium twice by Liensberger in the recent past. The Vorarlberg native is aiming for this again after second place (2021) and third place (2019), she has a fixed plan in the starting house. “It’s important that I attack right from the start and find the limit straight away,” said the former world champion. Then, according to her, the first ÖSV victory since Marlies Raich in 2011 is possible. “It takes a great day for that, a lot of things have to come together. I know it’s possible.” She has triumphed three times in the World Cup so far.
TV note
Tuesday:
Slalom
5:05 p.m.: Countdown
5:45 p.m.: 1st round
6:55 p.m.: Analysis
8:15 p.m.: Countdown
8.45 p.m.: 2nd round
9:50 p.m.: Analysis
Various construction sites
“Sleepy first rounds, good second rounds – maybe it really helps that we go in the evening,” ÖSV head coach Roland Assinger expressed hope. However, no serious attention was paid to his biorhythm thesis during the preparation.
The waves characteristic of Flachau were unexpectedly simulated on a small drag lift slope in Neukirchen am Großvenediger after the weather in Saalbach didn’t cooperate. Each of the top trio worked on their own construction site: Liensberger the start, Katharina Huber the final spurt and Katharina Troupe the combinations.
Still a lot of room for improvement
“If you see how Ljutic or Rast push through the hairpins and verticals, there is still a lot of time left,” said Troupe. With eighth place, the Carinthian, who turns 29 on Wednesday, recently noticed “that I can still ski.” She is looking forward to the home game with anticipation.
“When I think of Flachau, I get goosebumps. It’s just a cool cauldron, you can hear people screaming from the middle of the steep slope. It’s always a spectacle.” Huber finally wants to achieve her first single-digit result of the season. “The most important thing is that I drive relaxed and free. That I don’t get in my own way and try too hard.”
