Does Kranjska Gora hold the key to the season?
This week Nick and Konrad head to the Slovenian resort of Kranjska Gora for the
penultimate Giant Slalom race of the season.
Sunday February 27 08:00am - World Cup Skiing
With the season coming to a thrilling conclusion across all disciplines, this
weekend could see Bode Miller make a huge jump towards the Overall title. This
weekend sees the Giant Slalom from Kranjska Gora - if Bode can get a win here,
he will all but wrap up the Giant Slalom title and further extend his lead in
the Overall. It is a resort and a course that he likes, having won the GS here
for the past 2 seasons.
He wont have it all his own way however, as the recently crowned World
Champion, Herman Maier will want to give all the assistance that he can to fellow
countryman Benni Raichs bid for the GS and Overall crowns. Tomas Grandi
of Canada and Italys Massimiliano Blardone, who are currently second and
third in the GS rankings, will also be looking to put pressure on the flying
American.
Monday February 28 - 2.05 am - World Cup Skiing
The full round up from Kranjska Gora. With Benni Raich comfortably ahead in
the Slalom rankings from fellow Austrians Manfred Pranger and Rainer Schoenfelder,
he will be looking to claw more ground back in Bodes lead in the Overall
World Cup.
Coverage also of the womens DH from San Sicario in Italy, an important
couple of days for the women as its the last weekend of racing before
the World Cup finals with 300 points for grabs.. Tania Poutiainen started last
weekend at the top of the overall standings, but sadly she crashed out in the
Are Giant Slalom and effectively blew her chances of capturing the overall title.
The smart money is on Anja Paerson, Janica Kostelic, Renate Goetschl or Micky
Dorfmeister.
Wednesday March 2 2.35 am - World Cup Skiing
Ski Jumping from Japan and cross-country Skiing from Italy. After the drama
of Zakapone, the two men at the top of the standings Janne Ahonen and Adam Malysz
have decided to miss out the Japanese leg of the tour, to rest before the World
Championships in Oberstdorf. Not so Norways Roar Ljoekelsoey who is defending
the two titles he won in Japan last year.
Its also a golden opportunity for the Japanese to prove themselves on
home snow, several of whom missed recent World Cup events to prepare themselves
for these two competitions.
Friday March 4 3.20 am- World Cup Snowboarding
A massive jump has been constructed in Turin city centr efor the Big Air event
which is always a big crowd puller. 10 riders are through to the final, 5 from
Finland, the team that has dominated the Big Air standings this season. Coverage
also from Sauze Doulx of the two Olympic freestyle skiing disciplines
of Aerials and Moguls. The field includes the world best. . The Americans have
never had a team as strong as this and they really are gunning for gold ahead
of this seasons World Championships and of course next years Olympics,
but the Finns are doing all they can to hold them back.