Slalom weekend

Three retirements and a satisfied Mellauer in Levi

There was nothing to laugh about on Sunday for Vorarlberg's World Cup starters Johannes Strolz and Christian Hirschbühl at their home race in Gurgl. And youngster Moritz Zudrell's working day in Levi, Finland, didn't end as hoped either. With Jakob Greber, however, at least one Vorarlberg racer was able to draw a positive line under the weekend.

It was a poor Sunday for Vorarlberg's slalom duo at the World Cup in Gurgl. Johannes Strolz and Christian Hirschbühl fouled in the first run and were left without points, just like at the opening race in Levi, Finland.

Christian Hirschbühl fouled up in Gurgl...(Bild: GEPA pictures)

... and, as in Levi, had to miss out on the second run.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Johannes Strolz was also forced to retire...(Bild: GEPA pictures)

... who is still waiting for his first points of the season.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Worrying about start number
Speaking of Levi: After Moritz Zudrell had finished 15th in the first European Cup slalom of the season on Saturday, he had to retire in run one on Sunday. "I just slipped away on the steep slope," said the 19-year-old from Silbertal, who had already not been favored by the wind in the flat section and had lost a lot of time up to the first intermediate time. "I just hope that I can stay in the top 30 of the start list."

Improvement on the flat 
Things went much better for Jakob Greber. The rider from Mellau, who finished 17th on Saturday, finished in the points again on Sunday in 15th place. The 21-year-old was 1.15 seconds down on winner Oscar Sandvik (Nor), who rode from 24th place to the front, and just 0.49 seconds down on eighth place.

"In general, I'm satisfied with my start to the season. It's particularly positive that I was able to improve on the flat," analyzed the head skier, who will continue next weekend with two FIS giant slalom races in Hippach.

Simon Rueland presented himself strongly once again.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Squadless Rueland top again
As on Saturday, the best Austrian in Levi was Simon Rueland from Tyrol, who is without a squad. After third place in the first race, he finished fifth in the second race (+0.36).