No downhill start

Olympic champion forgoes title defense

Johannes Strolz had actually planned to tackle the "title defense project" at the Austrian Downhill Championships on the Reiteralm. However, after a last-minute change to the program, he is now competing in Pfelders (It). Vincent Kriechmayr and Stefan Babinsky will also be missing - but for different reasons.

"I skied well in Lenzerheide as well as in Schnalstal and here in Pfelders," says Patrick Feurstein, after coming third in the Swiss giant slalom championships, finishing sixth in the Italian RTL championships and yesterday snatching victory in the German giant slalom championships. "That was definitely the goal, so that I could improve my FIS points a little more," reveals the 27-year-old, who came out on top in the "early bird race" - the first run started at eight, the final at nine - ahead of Jonas Stockinger (D/+0.05) and his ÖSV colleagues Fabio Gstrein (+0.42) and Adrian Pertl (+0.78).

ÖSV lady was faster
The RTL at the Police Championships, in which Feurstein only managed sixth place despite setting the fastest time in the final on the Golm and in which a woman, Rici Haaser, was even faster than him, is out of the picture. "I made a big mistake in the first run," smiles Patrick. The man from Mellau now wants to take the new momentum with him to the Austrian Championships on the Reiteralm. "Having already come second and third, the title in the giant slalom would certainly be a goal for me," admits Feurstein, who will also be competing in the super-G on Wednesday before the race on Thursday.

Five ladies, but no gentleman
The title fights kick off on Tuesday with the downhill races. While five women from Vorarlberg will be taking part in the women's race with Ariane Rädler, Emily Schöpf, Magdalena Egger, Emma Amann and Amanda Salzgeber, only one VSV ace, Lukas Feurstein, had originally entered the men's race. However, the Mellau native also decided against taking part at short notice and is training in giant slalom in Kaprun instead.

Super-G instead of the downhill
Downhill title defender Johannes Strolz will also not be competing. "The plan was for me to race. However, we have now decided to compete in the German Super-G Championships in Pfelders on Monday," reveals the 31-year-old from Warth, who will also be competing in this discipline on the Reiteralm. In addition, Vincent Kriechmayr and Stefan Babinsky, the two best ÖSV downhill skiers of the past World Cup season, will be missing. They are currently completing ski tests with their supplier Head in Norway.