Hermann Maier Sets New Record
Beating Sweden's Fredrik Nyberg by 86/100 of a second and Switzerland's Michael von Grünigen by over a full second in today's giant slalom, Maier surpassed the legendary Franz Klammer and became the most successful male Austrian skier of all time with his 27th World Cup victory.

Last week, it was "business as usual" for Hermann Maier in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The Austrian was again the true "Herminator" as he eliminated all of his rivals after a tremendous run in the season's most treacherous downhill.

Today, a much more relaxed Maier unexpectedly won a giant slalom in Todtnau, having decided to ski the second run more for fun than for victory. The title of his newest exhibition could be "How to enjoy a sunny day in the Black Forest."

	Hermann Maier

Today also marks the ninth win of the season for the Austrian superstar — his third giant slalom this winter. This newest success put the burly 27-year-old Austrian into fifth on the all-time list. Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark leads the prestigious list with 86 career World Cup wins. Maier is now tied with Phil Mahre of the United States for fifth place. Mahre won the Overall World Cup three times from 1981 to 1983 and an Olympic Gold medal in slalom in 1984.

Marco Buechel from Liechtenstein came in 4th today, his best result in this event since his silver medal win in Vail last winter. Skiers from seven nations skied among the top-10, and only three Austrian finished within the elite this time. Erik Schlopy crashed today, losing 27 seconds, finishing last and failing to score any World Cup points. American Bode Miller was 32nd in the first run and didn't qualify for the second one.

"I am thrilled to have the win today and the record. It makes me proud. It's a good feeling to beat Franz Klammer but most important was to win a giant slalom after having not raced it for so long...." — Hermann Maier (AUT)

"I didn't expect this after the first run because I was unhappy with the racing conditions," Maier said about today's race. "The snow was icy Friday when we inspected the course, but warmer temperatures last night have changed it dramatically. It was quite soft in the first run and I could not fight with my usual aggressiveness".

Maier, the reigning Olympic Champion in this event, had trailed his young compatriot Benjamin Raich by 22/100 after the first run. Von Grünigen was just behind him at 6/100. So Maier was not too optimistic going into the second run. Raich was also the fastest skier in the first run at Saalbach but in the end, he place 3rd, behind Christian Mayer and Maier.

The second run began under cloudless skies and spring-like temperatures, conditions that Maier generally dislikes. But he reacted positively and decided to enjoy the second run without being too obsessed by the issue of the race. "I told myself that I don't have to put too much pressure on myself this time, to get as much fun as possible out of this race. In the end I didn't worry too much about the result. In fact, I had a fluid second run and I was quite amazed to improve Nyberg's time by almost a second. I used a new model of skis today — apparently they are perfect to handle the steep narrow slopes."

	Nyberg

Raich had only 12th-fastest in the second leg and finished a disappointing 5th. Sweden's Nyberg, by contrast, had come in 9th after the first run, more than a full second behind Raich, but was just 4/100 of a second behind Maier on the second leg, bringing him to 2nd place. It was his best GS result in a long while. He was 2nd in a super G in Canada's Lake Louise in December.

Maier found a surprising advantage in the ruts. "The tracks proved to be an advantage for me on the second run," he said. "It is an excellent course. But it was even better yesterday with the beautiful icy conditions. That was spectacular. But it's great to celebrate a win that you didn't really expect."

Maier demonstrated his surprise and his genuine pleasure in executing a roulade in the finish area before jumping up and down in front of the great crowd. "I'm having such a great season, it's really incredible," he added.

The former bricklayer, who now holds a commanding 504-point lead in the World Cup standings ahead of Kjetil Andre Aamodt of Norway, should have no problem winning his second Overall trophy at Bormio where he also wants to win a 900 Ducati Monster Bike given out by Infostrada, an Italian telecommunication company, to the skier scoring the most points during the week of the finals. "I have already one at home but the racing model is very attractive, too," he said at the press conference.

He is also moved by the idea of meeting his Holiness the Pope Jean Paul II in Rome this April, when all the World Cup winners from Bormio will be blessed on St. Peter's place during a very special meeting. "I'm very religious and this would be a special day for me, but I first have to win the Crystal Globe."

Aamodt, who came 10th, will try to get closer to Maier in Sunday's slalom, which completes the weekend program. But the Norwegian already threw in the towel concerning the Overall World Cup. "I'll focus on the slalom title now, Hermann is too strong for us. He is moving at an incredible level this winter," he said.

Among the other favorites, Austria's newest star Mario Matt, Ole Kristian Furuseth from Norway and Switzerland's Didier Plaschy. Bode Miller and Sacha Gros have the best chances at the US Ski Team.

— Patrick Lang, MountainZone.com Correspondent