Alpine Ski: Maria in the hunt for medals

Vancouver 2010 Enlarge image (© dpa/ picture alliance) Things couldn’t look better at the moment for Germany’s most successful Alpine skier: Maria Riesch is almost invincible on the slopes this season and currently leads in the overall World Cup score. The 26-year-old double Olympic champion has just demonstrated her excellent form in Italy at the World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo at the end of January: first in downhill, second in the Super G event, and much recognition from her greatest rival Lindsey Vonn from the USA: “It’s hard to beat Maria. She’s definitely this year’s favourite.”

Right on time at the season’s climax Riesch is racing down the ideal line, and she’s one of the top favourites in the Alpine Ski World Cup from February 7 to 20 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Riesch is the German World Cup face. And she’s looking forward to the championships at the foot of the Zugspitze with anticipation and excitement, because they’re taking place on “home ground”: Riesch comes from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and her career began with the ski club SC Partenkirchen. The German sportswoman of the year 2010 celebrated her greatest ever triumph at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In Canada she won gold in the slalom and in the super combination to become one of the outstanding German athletes.

Maria Riesch Enlarge image Maria Riesch (© picture alliance/APA/picturedesk.com) The will to win and mental strength are two of Riesch’s chief qualities. In addition to this, she’s an all-round talent. Her versatility is her key to success; not only in the technically challenging slalom but also in the fast disciplines of Super G and downhill. This all augurs well for the hunt for medals in the World Cup. In the slalom Riesch is starting as the Women’s World Cup defender. If she manages to make first place on the podium on February 13 in the supreme discipline, downhill on the famous Kandahar run, a big dream would come true. “The season’s going almost perfectly for me, so it would be great if I could top it off at the World Cup on home ground,” says Riesch. After all, it’s not often there’s a chance to win a gold medal on your own doorstep.