This is such an awesome race!!! Known as the warm up for Kitzbuhel, it always takes place on the Thursday night before Kitzbuhel weekend so it attracts the top Slalom skiers from the World Cup, this year there were 15 of the top 30 world ranked racers at the start. The last 2 winners of the Kitzbuhel slalom have won this race before going on to win on the Sunday 20km along the valley in 'the Buhel'. This year the winner was Mitja Valencic, if any of you are gambling folk, he will be a big outsider for Sunday.
I was well up for this race as the steep, icy hill and turny course set was ideal for me to rip!!!! I left the start hut like a madman................... and straddled the 2nd gate!!!! OOPS!!! I'd rather do it here than in the World cup I guess. I can't even remember the last time I straddled, even in training!!!!
On my way to Oberjoch (GER) now for an EC SL. It was there I got my best EC result last year so I'll be looking for a repeat performance this year to set me up for the big WC races in Kitz and Schladming on Sun and Tue.
Cheers
