Maria Riesch was pleased by her results at Lake Louise and her two podium finishes in downhill so early in the season, and just a month after her superb win at Levi in slalom. The skier from Garmisch-Partenkirchen reached a solid 5th place in Sunday's super-G despite a bad cold which has been bothering her since the middle of the week.
"I was not so happy with the difficult weather conditions, but fortunately I feel very comfortable on that course after having reached the podium so often here. It helped me to take some risks and I'm pleased to have been so fast today. I really hope to be again very consistent in the speed events this winter. Last season, I only reached two or three podiums in downhill and in super-G. I aim for more this time," she said after the first downhill.
Maria was not too disappointed to finish 2nd behind her friend Lindsey Vonn the next day as she fought as hard as possible to win the race. "I skied better than yesterday, I felt more comfortable , and took some chances in the upper part," she explained afterwards.
"I managed to fully attack the course and I hit everything pretty well except a few bubbles in the final part," the reigning slalom world champion added. It's nice to start the speed season with two podiums. It's good for me to know I can ski very fast. I must have reached nearly ten podiums in total here, it's a fun course for me."
"It's crucial to be consistent and keep on accumulating good results throughout the season, it's the best boost for your confidence and motivation. I have been looking forward for months to coming back here and skiing that course as fast as possible. "
On Sunday Maria Riesch was a little sorry to have missed the podium by only 7/100 of a second, yet still pleased by her form after two great days of downhill skiing. "I'm happy now to go back home for a day or two and relax before flying out to Sweden, I have been looking forward to it," said the Bavarian who sits in second place in the overall World Cup standings, only 28 points behind her friend Lindsey.
"We both enjoy fighting for the big crystal globe again, we keep on pushing each other in every race, it's good for our motivation," Maria Riesch explained. "People might be surprised that we get along so well but we are great friends. I know she is very happy to come again to my place next Christmas with Thomas. We are having a great time during that break at my place."
The ladies' Tour is scheduled to continued at Are, where a giant slalom and a slalom are planned on the 2007 FIS World Ski Championships courses.
PkL
