In the giant slalom crisis there is nothing to talk about

Considering the fact that Austria’s female ski racers did not get a podium place in the last 29 World Cup giant slalom, it is not surprising that nothing brilliant came out of this discipline at the 47th Alpine World Championships in Méribel.

The result is sobering. In the shadow of Mikaela Shiffrin, who will receive her seventh World Championship gold medal tonight, Franziska Gritsch finished twelfth, Katharina Liensberger was 24. Ricarda Haaser, who injured her knee while threading, and Julia Scheib were eliminated .

Of course, the sting of disappointment runs deep. Also with ÖSV alpine boss Herbert Mandl, who did not beat around the bush in his analysis. “We’re not going any further. You keep falling into old patterns. The main issue is that they just can’t attack. They try to drive very safely. But that is far too little in giant slalom.”

How do you release the button? “You have to work methodically, stick with it. A Scheib, a Gritsch, they can do it. They can learn something new in giant slalom. With Ricarda Haaser it no longer works as soon as there is pressure from expectations. She can do it and has shown it in training. I figured she’d be easy going after her combo medal, but it was cramping from above.”

“Of course things aren’t going the way they’re supposed to”

Liensberger remains a problem child. “There is a lack of trust, she is always too early with her swing,” said Mandl: “It was to be expected that miracles would not happen.” The 25-year-old from Vorarlberg does not think about putting her head in the sand put. It goes on, on and on.

“The focus is on Saturday and the slalom. Every race is a new opportunity. Of course, times weren’t easy. I still enjoy skiing. Of course, things aren’t going the way they’re supposed to. They say you learn the most from the toughest situations and come back stronger.”

Scheib was disappointed: “It could have gone better, I wanted to go all-in in the second round. There was a shadow inside, I misjudged it a bit and I was out,” said the West Styrian: “I’m trying to take the good things with me now. The first World Cup was a learning process, I struggled a bit with the snow. That wasn’t quite my thing,” said the 24-year-old.

Gritsch’s performance was very solid, and without a serious mistake in the first round she would have ended up further up the field. “I’m more or less satisfied,” said the marathon woman, who had contested her fourth race in these title fights. “I feel good here.”