FIS race season kicks off with a Finnish win in Solden

Solden FIS race opening - © www.skiingaustria.co.uk

With clouds breaking around 2800m in the Otztal Valley today the Rettenbach glacier was a dramatic place to be with clouds in the valleys and bright sunshine across the glaciers. Further snow had fallen over night and the start was delayed slightly as snow was cleared from the course. Austria came in 2nd but an injury to Nicole Hosp and poor performances from her team members made it a mixed day for the host nation.

1    POUTIAINEN Tanja      FIN       2:24.96
2    ZETTEL Kathrin      AUT       2:24.97
3    KARBON Denise      ITA       2:25.28
4    MAZE Tina      SLO       2:25.80
5    PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria      SWE       2:25.84
6    PAERSON Anja      SWE       2:25.91
7    HOELZL Kathrin      GER       2:26.16
8    REBENSBURG Viktoria      GER       2:26.28
9    VONN Lindsey      USA       2:26.35
10    ALFIERI Camilla      ITA       2:26.43
11    KOEHLE Stefanie      AUT       2:26.50
12    SUTER Fabienne      SUI       2:26.57
13    WORLEY Tessa      FRA       2:26.63
14    BREM Eva-Maria      AUT       2:26.67
15    GOERGL Elisabeth      AUT       2:26.71
16    BARIOZ Taina      FRA       2:26.77
17    FISCHBACHER Andrea      AUT       2:26.86
18    RIESCH Maria      GER       2:26.90
19    ALCOTT Chemmy      GBR       2:27.15
20    GIANESINI Giulia      ITA       2:27.24

The womens GS from Solden, Austria - © www.skiingaustria.co.uk

That did not dampen the spirits of the locals who were well into the swing of things by early afternoon – Solden tonight is rocking and I am about to leave the calm and industry of the press centre and dive head-long into the mayhem of Solden après ski. The men race tomorrow - I won’t.