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ISF World Tour GS Finals
Laax, Switzerland - Sunday, November 29
HP Quals: Thost and Sommer Boost
HP Finals: Taggart Steals It
Sunday was the big day for the alpine riders. The weather was not as good as the day before, but it was okay. The GS course was really very long with technical difficulties and nearly everybody was out of breath in the finish area.
All the riders got a first run, where the top 12 women and top 24 men were qualified for a 2nd run. In the women's 1st run Katharina "Ena" Himmler/GER - winner of the BX in Sölden - had best time, followed by Austrian Gitti Köeck - bronze medal winner at Nagano - and, second Austrian, Maria Pfurtscheller took 3rd.
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| "It was a spectacular, exciting race which opened the ISF World Pro Tour for the Alpine Riders..." |
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In the men's qualification, one rider dominated the field - Dieter Happ/AUT had a fabulous best time followed by Nicolas Conte/FRA and Sigi Grabner/AUT. At 1:00 pm the 2nd run with the best 12 women and 24 men started. The best riders had to start at the end of the field, so it was really exciting for both riders and spectators.
At the last gates of the course you could see that the riders, especially the girls, had to fight with the length. Katharina "Ena" Himmler/GER was probably quite motivated after her BX victory in Sölden and managed again to be on top followed by Burgl Heckmair (also GER), 3rd was Gitti Köeck with a nearly perfect 2nd run.
In the men's second run Sigi Grabner/AUT risked everything and was faster than Dieter Happ/AUT at the end. So Austria had a double victory on the men's podium. Andre Grütter, a talented young Swiss rider got 3rd place and was of course more than happy about it. It was a spectacular, exciting race which opened the ISF World Pro Tour for the Alpine Riders...
Laax, well known for perfectly organized events - offered once again perfect conditions for riders and spectators. Great, exciting and spectacular contests and a fantastic evening and night program! Everybody was stoked and happy to be here...the "opening" of the ISF World Pro Tour couldn't have been more perfect!
— Birgit Gruber, Mountain Zone European Correspondent
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