Alpine World Ski Championships 1997

34th Alpine World Ski Championships 1997
Place:	Sestriere , Italy
Start:	February 3, 1997
The End:	February 15, 1997
Competitions:	10
winner
	Men's	Ladies
Departure	Bruno Kernen	Hilary Lindh
Super G	Atle Skårdal	Isolde Kostner
Giant slalom	Michael von Grünigen	Deborah Compagnoni
slalom	Tom Stiansen	Deborah Compagnoni
combination	Kjetil André Aamodt	Renate Götschl
← Sierra Nevada 1996 Vail / Beaver Creek 1999 →

The 34th Alpine World Ski Championships took place from February 3 to 15, 1997 in the Italian winter sports resort of Sestriere .

Award

The award was carried out on June 12, 1992 at the 38th FIS Congress in Budapest .

opening

The opening took place on February 2, 1997 at 7 pm; Prime Minister Romano Prodi did this. The flag bearer of the Austrians was the reigning downhill world champion Patrick Ortlieb .

Money issues

Those responsible for the upcoming world championships had already invited to a press conference on January 25, 1996, to which high-ranking politicians had appeared. In addition to infrastructural measures, including a 20 km long motorway from Turin to the venue, there was also a government grant of 21 billion Lire (approx. 1.93 million DM / 1.69 million CHFr). Thanks to the Fiat group with the owner Giovanni Agnelli, US $ 98,000 per men's competition and US $ 48,000 per women's competition were announced as prize money.

this and that

• In Sestriere there was a 15-day driving ban for all private vehicles. 800 million lire (857,000 DM / 750,000 CHFr) were collected from 85,000 paying visitors. 180 FIS officials, 1142 athletes and coaches, 1454 media representatives, 3289 OC representatives, 1450 observers and 138 employees were accredited - and 9774 daily accreditations were issued.
• 470 runners from 59 countries named it, with Algeria having chosen five drivers for the men's Super-G draw and FIS race director Günter Hujara first had to explain that the contingent per nation is only four men, which is had nothing to do with political prejudice.
• The presence of the athletes at the opening ceremony seemed to be a disturbing addition. While the ÖSV delegation was not even allowed into the ski stadium, the flag bearer Ortlieb was taken off immediately after his march in and he was complimented out. Prime Minister Prodi's opening speech was interrupted by a minute-long whistling concert, which was due to the tax increases he had announced days earlier.

program

Men:
February 3, 1 p.m. Super-G
, February 6, combination 12 p.m. downhill / 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Slalom:
February 8, 1 p.m. Downhill run
, February 12, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Giant slalom
February 15, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. slalom

Ladies:
February 5, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Slalom
, February 9, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Giant slalom
, February 11, 1 p.m. Super-G
, February 13, Combination: 12 p.m. downhill / 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. slalom
, February 15, 1 p.m.

There was criticism of the planning because in the first week only a women’s competition was to be held - this also led to a lower number of entries for the combination due to the abundance of programs in the second week. Ultimately, the final day (February 15th) turned into a “Super Saturday” with three decisions: women's downhill, women's combined and men's slalom, because the women's combined downhill wasn't on February 13th due to wind storms and fresh snow (this despite an hour's waiting time, but after 35 minutes those responsible had recognized that "it's over for today") could not take place on February 14th (scheduled start time 10 hrs) and could only be driven two days late, which brought the special run forward.

Worth mentioning

• There were three successful title defenses, with both women and men succeeding in the Super-G.
• Marc Girardelli had traveled to the World Championships, but did not take part. On the contrary, he announced his retirement from racing on February 10th at the Hotel "Il Principe".
• The organizers sold the TV and advertising rights for approx. DM 47.1 million (CHF 41.2 million / S 330 million).

Men

Departure

space	country	athlete	time
1	SUI	Bruno Kernen	1: 51.11 min
2	NOR	Leave kjus	1: 51.18 min
3	ITA	Kristian Ghedina	1: 51.46 min
4th	AUT	Fritz Strobl	1: 51.47 min
5	AUT	Andreas Schifferer	1: 51.89 min
6th	SUI	Franco Cavegn	1: 52.02 min
7th	ITA	Pietro Vitalini	1: 52.04 min
8th	AUT	Patrick Ortlieb	1: 52.25 min
-	-	-	-
13	SUI	William Besse	1: 52.86 min
17th	GER	Stefan Krauss	1: 53.22 min
20th	SUI	Markus Hermann	1: 53.60 min
24	LIE	Jürgen Hasler	1: 53.77 min

Defending champion: Patrick Ortlieb (AUT)
Date : February 8th, 1:00 pm
Track: "Kandahar Banchetta G. Nasi"
Start 2,800 m, finish 1,886 m; Length: 3299 m, difference in altitude: 914 m
40 gates - Course setter: Sepp Messner (FIS)

There were 52 runners at the start, 46 of them reached the finish.

The Austrians were considered to be the big favorites, also because of their training performance (Fritz Strobl's best times again and again); In statements, international experts expressed that there would be a triple victory for Austria rather than no medal. In the end Fritz Strobl missed the medal by a hundredth of a second, but the result was called a "debacle" in the Austrian newspapers. The last big curve before the finish, known as "Aqua Minerale", was the undoing of almost all ÖSV runners; Werner Franz (No. 8) and Josef Strobl (No. 12) fell there, and Fritz Strobl (No. 11) lost decisive time. The actual season dominator was Luc Alphand (No. 10), who fell in the upper part of the track.
Ghedina (No. 9) had taken the lead from the top runners, Kernen (No. 14) was a lot faster and in the end Kjus (No. 18) was able to win silver.

Retired u. a .: Luc Alphand (FRA), Werner Franz (AUT), Josef Strobl (AUT)

Super G

space	country	athlete	time
1	NOR	Atle Skårdal	1: 29.68 min
2	NOR	Leave kjus	1: 29.89 min
3	AUT	Günther Mader	1: 30.01 min
4th	AUT	Hans Knauß	1: 30.07 min
5	AUT	Josef Strobl	1: 30.19 min
6th	ITA	Luca Cattaneo	1: 30.29 min
7th	ITA	Kristian Ghedina	1: 30.32 min
8th	NOR	Kjetil André Aamodt	1: 30.38 min
-	-	-	-
10	AUT	Christian Mayer	1: 30.77 min
11	GER	Stefan Krauss	1: 30.80 min
14th	SUI	Bruno Kernen	1: 30.95 min
17th	SUI	Franco Cavegn	1: 31.17 min
20th	SUI	William Besse	1: 31.45 min
21st	SUI	Steve Locher	1: 31.53 min
23	LIE	Achim Vogt	1: 31.77 min
27	LIE	Jürgen Hasler	1: 32.11 min
62	MEX	Hubertus of Hohenlohe	1: 46.03 min

Defending champion: Atle Skårdal (NOR)
Date : February 3rd, 1:00 pm
Slope: "Kandahar Banchetta"
Length: 2325 m, difference in altitude: 650 m
Goals: 45 - Course setter: Kurt Engstler (AUT)

There were 79 runners at the start, 66 of them reached the finish.

Retired u. a .: Daron Rahlves (USA)

Giant slalom

space	country	athlete	time
1	SUI	Michael von Grünigen	2: 48.23 min
2	NOR	Leave kjus	2: 49.35 min
3	AUT	Andreas Schifferer	2: 49.68 min
4th	SUI	Steve Locher	2: 49.71 min
5	SUI	Paul Accola	2: 50.14 min
6th	NOR	Kjetil André Aamodt	2: 50.17 min
7th	AUT	Hans Knauß	2: 50.22 min
8th	CAN	Thomas Grandi	2: 50.82 min
9	AUT	Rainer Salzgeber	2: 50.98 min
-	-	-	-
9	LIE	Achim Vogt	2: 51.44 min
16	LIE	Marco Büchel	2: 55.21 min

Defending champion: Alberto Tomba (ITA)
Date: February 12, 10:00 am (1st run), 1:00 pm (2nd run)
Slope: "Sises 2"
Length: 1400 m, difference in altitude: 450 m
Goals: 61 (1st run), 60 (2nd run)

Registered 110 runners, after a waiver 109 runners were at the start, 58 of them reached the finish.
After the first run Von Grünigen led in 1: 23.31 and 1.12 seconds. before punch; Kjus was in 3rd place (+ 1.28) and Schifferer was only 9th (+ 1.74 s). The Salzburg driver was able to move up to bronze with the fastest time (Kjus and Von Grünigen drove the second and third times).

Retired u. a .: Urs Kälin (SUI), Jure Košir (SLO), Siegfried Voglreiter (AUT), Patrick Holzer , Alberto Tomba (both ITA), Harald Christian Strand Nilsen , Tom Stiansen (both NOR), Alois Vogl (GER), Johan Wallner (SWE), Markus Eberle (GER), Daron Rahlves (USA), Andreas Ertl (GER), Patrik Jarbyn (SWE), Kalle Palander (FIN), Alain Baxter (GBR), Hubertus von Hohenlohe (MEX) (all in first run)

slalom

space	country	athlete	time
1	NOR	Tom Stiansen	1: 51.70 min
2	FRA	Sébastien Amiez	1: 51.75 min
3	ITA	Alberto Tomba	1: 52.14 min
4th	NOR	Ole Kristian Furuseth	1: 52.34 min
5	AUT	Siegfried Voglreiter	1: 52.65 min
6th	AUT	Thomas Stangassinger	1: 53.02 min
7th	SUI	Michael von Grünigen	1: 53.06 min
8th	FRA	François Simond	1: 53.09 min
9	AUT	Thomas Sykora	1: 53.30 min
-	-	-	-
14th	GER	Alois Vogl	1: 53.75 min
18th	SUI	Paul Accola	1: 55.02 min
21st	SUI	Andrea Zinsli	1: 56.91 min
41	MEX	Hubertus of Hohenlohe	2: 30.46 min

Defending champion: Alberto Tomba (ITA)
Date : February 15, 6:00 pm (1st run), 9:00 pm (2nd run)
Slope: "Kandahar"
Length: 650 m, difference in altitude: 210 m
Goals: 67 ( 1st run), 71 (2nd run)

There were 103 runners registered, three of which did not start; so there were 100 runners at the start, 42 of them reached the finish.
After the first run, Amiez led from Sykora, Stiansen, Stangassinger, Reiter, Košir and Tomba; Voglreiter was on rank 14, Furuseth on 16 (he was able to reach rank 4 with the fastest time in the second run).

Retired u. a .: Pierrick Bourgeat (FRA), Thomas Grandi (CAN), Andreas Ertl (GER), Johan Wallner (SWE) (all first run); Kjetil André Aamodt (NOR), Martin Hansson (SWE), Bruno Kernen (SUI), Kiminobu Kimura (JPN), Mario Reiter (AUT), Gerhard Speiser (GER) (all second run)
Disqualified (among others): Markus Eberle (GER ), Konrad Kurt Ladstätter (ITA) (all first run)

combination

space	country	athlete	Time A	Time S.	total
1	NOR	Kjetil André Aamodt	1: 37.37 (2.)	1: 33.03 (2.)	3: 10.40 min
2	SUI	Bruno Kernen	1: 37.62 (3rd)	1: 33.06 (3rd)	3: 10.68 min
3	AUT	Mario Reiter	1: 39.67 (25.)	1: 32.02 (1.)	3: 11.69 min
4th	AUT	Christian Mayer	1: 38.48 (8th)	1: 33.32 (5.)	3: 11.80 min
5	NOR	Leave kjus	1: 37.62 (3rd)	1: 34.50 (7.)	3: 12.12 min
6th	SUI	Paul Accola	1: 38.34 (6.)	1: 35.30 (9.)	3: 13.64 min
7th	NOR	HC Beach Nilsen	1: 39.49 (22.)	1: 34.57 (8.)	3: 14.06 min
8th	NOR	Finn Christian Jagge	1: 40.05 (26.)	1: 34.17 (6.)	3: 14.22 min
-	-	-	-	-	-
14th	SUI	Markus Hermann	1: 38.76 (16.)	1: 39.03 (13.)	3: 17.79 min

Defending champion: Marc Girardelli (LUX) (not started; was about to retire)
Date : February 6, 12:00 (departure)
February 6, 6:00 p.m. / 9:00 p.m. (slalom)

Downhill route: "Kandahar Banchetta G. Nasi"
Start: 2,686 m; Goal: 1,886 m; Route length: 2965 m, difference in altitude: 800 m
Goals: 33 - Course setter: Sepp Messner (FIS)

Slalom course: "Slalom Kandahar"
starting height 2,210 m, target height 2,030 m; Difference in altitude: 180 m; Length: 600 m
Goals: 58 (1st run; course setter Louis Monney, SUI), 55 (2nd run; course setter Biagio Montagnoli, ITA)

There were 57 runners at the start, 25 classified.

Not in the classification (all after the slalom) as follows:
Not started: Stefan Kraus (GER)
Eliminated a. a. Ed Podivinsky (CAN), Werner Franz (AUT), Patrik Jrebsyn (SWE) (first run), Hubertus von Hohenlohe (MEX) (second run)
Disqualified and a .: Jürgen Hasler (LIE) (first run); Günther Mader (AUT), Kalle Palander (FIN) (second run)

Women

Departure

space	country	sportswoman	time
1	United States	Hilary Lindh	1: 41.18 min
2	SUI	Heidi Zurbriggen	1: 41.24 min
3	SWE	Pernilla Wiberg	1: 41.44 min
4th	ITA	Isolde Kostner	1: 41.59 min
5	GER	Katja Seizinger	1: 41.75 min
6th	RUS	Varvara Zelenskaya	1: 42.07 min
7th	FRA	Carole Montillet	1: 42.08 min
8th	AUT	Renate Götschl	1: 42.29 min
9	GER	Katharina Gutensohn	1: 42.76 min
-	-	-	-
11	GER	Regina Häusl	1: 43.21 min
13	AUT	Stefanie Schuster	1: 43.40 min
15th	GER	Hilde Gerg	1: 43.42 min
16	AUT	Michaela Dorfmeister	1: 43.59 min
17th	AUT	Alexandra Meissnitzer	1: 43.61 min
20th	SUI	Catherine Borghi	1: 44.48 min
31	SUI	Marlies Oester	1: 45.96 min

Defending champion: Picabo Street (USA) (after a broken thigh and cruciate ligament rupture in the Super-G in Lake Louise on December 1, 1996, not starting)
Date : February 15, 10:30 am
Track: "Kandahar Banchetta G. Nasi"
Start: 2,686 m, goal: 1,886 m; Length: 2965 m, difference in altitude: 800 m
Goals: 33 - Course setter : Jan Tischhauser (FIS)

There were 37 runners at the start, all of them reached the finish.

The winner Hilary Lindh was no stranger to medalists in the 1992 Olympic downhill (silver) and the 1996 World Cup downhill (bronze), but her last victory was back in December 1994, and she only had one top result this season , but this in the last downhill run before the World Championships with 3rd place in Laax . With no. 14 she benefited from the improving view as did the other medalists (Zurbriggen no. 18, Wiberg no. 19), while Seizinger (no. 12) was still slightly disadvantaged.

Super G

space	country	sportswoman	time
1	ITA	Isolde Kostner	1: 23.50 min
2	GER	Katja Seizinger	1: 23.58 min
3	GER	Hilde Gerg	1: 23.64 min
4th	FRA	Carole Montillet	1: 23.98 min
5	GER	Katharina Gutensohn	1: 24.00 min
6th	AUT	Renate Götschl	1: 24.24 min
7th	SWE	Pernilla Wiberg	1: 24.47 min
8th	AUT	Michaela Dorfmeister	1: 24.53 min
-	-	-	-
11	SUI	Heidi Zurbriggen	1: 25.17 min
13	AUT	Alexandra Meissnitzer	1: 25.26 min
15th	SUI	Madlen Summermatter	1: 25.34 min
16	GER	Martina Ertl	1: 25.47 min
19th	AUT	Stefanie Schuster	1: 25.85 min
23	LIE	Birgit Heeb	1: 26.43 min
28	SUI	Catherine Borghi	1: 26.79 min

Defending champion: Isolde Kostner (ITA)
Date : February 11, 1:00 p.m.
Piste: "Kandahar Banchetta"
Length: 2081 m, difference in altitude: 550 m
Goals: 33 - Course setter: Stephan Kurz (GER)

50 runners were registered, after 2 runners had not started, 48 runners were at the start; 44 of them reached the destination. Of the more prominent runners, only Mojca Suhadolc (SLO) failed .

Giant slalom

space	country	sportswoman	time
1	ITA	Deborah Compagnoni	2: 39.19 min
2	SUI	Karin Roten	2: 39.99 min
3	FRA	Leila Piccard	2: 40.95 min
4th	AUT	Anita Wachter	2: 41.10 min
5	GER	Katja Seizinger	2: 41.25 min
6th	SWE	Pernilla Wiberg	2: 41.34 min
7th	ITA	Isolde Kostner	2: 41.61 min
8th	SUI	Sonja Nef	2: 41.64 min
-	-	-	-
12	GER	Martina Ertl	2: 42.17 min
13	SUI	Heidi Zurbriggen	2: 42.23 min
14th	GER	Hilde Gerg	2: 42.72 min
16	SUI	Catherine Borghi	2: 44.41 min
17th	AUT	Michaela Dorfmeister	2: 44.69 min

Defending champion: Deborah Compagnoni (ITA)
Date : February 9, 10:00 am (1st run), 1:00 pm (2nd run)
Slope: “Sises 2”,
start 2,430 m; Goal: 2,030 m; Length: 1337 m, difference in altitude: 400 m
Gates: 58 (1st run; course setter Thierry Meynet, SUI), 57 (2nd run; course setter Sepp Hanser, AUT)

After Henna Raita (FIN) did not start, 67 runners started, 32 of them reached the finish.
The ranking of the first run was: Compagnoni 1: 17.64; Red + 0.73 s; Wachter + 1.11 s; Piccard was 12th place, 1.94 s behind, and was able to win bronze with the fastest time (ahead of Compagnoni).

Retired u. a .: Annemarie Gerg (GER), Birgit Heeb (LIE), Karen Putzer (ITA), Ana Galindo Santolaria (ESP) (all first run), Kirsten Clark (USA), Marianne Kjørstad (NOR), Karin Köllerer (AUT) , Katja Koren (SLO), Barbara Merlin (ITA), Ylva Nowén (SWE), Tanja Poutiainen (FIN), Stefanie Schuster (AUT) (second run). Varvara Selenskaja (RUS) was disqualified after the first run, Sabina Panzanini (ITA), 16th in the first run, did not start the second run.

slalom

space	country	sportswoman	time
1	ITA	Deborah Compagnoni	1: 43.88 min
2	ITA	Lara Magoni	1: 45.15 min
3	SUI	Karin Roten	1: 45.48 min
4th	FRA	Patricia Chauvet	1: 45.70 min
5	AUT	Elfi Eder	1: 45.98 min
6th	GER	Hilde Gerg	1: 46.09 min
7th	ITA	Morena Gallizio	1: 46.10 min
8th	NOR	Trine Bakke	1: 46.14 min
-	-	-	-
10	AUT	Ingrid Salvenmoser	1: 46.51 min
15th	GER	Sibylle Brauner	1: 48.05 min
16	GER	Annemarie Gerg	1: 48.62 min
19th	SUI	Martina Accola	1: 49.53 min
22nd	AUT	Anita Wachter	1: 50.32 min

Defending champion: Pernilla Wiberg (SWE)
Date : February 5th, 6:00 pm (1st run), 9:00 pm (2nd run)
Slope: "Kandahar"
Start 2,210 m; Goal: 2,030 m; Length: 480 m, height difference: 180 m
Gates: 65 (1st run; course setter Erik Skaslien, Nor), 62 (2nd run; course setter Mats Hansson, SWE)

There were 70 runners at the start, 42 of them reached the finish.
After the first run, Roten was ahead of Compagnoni with 52.67 s and 0.05 s; Third was Eder (+ 0.08); it was followed by Oester, Riegler, Egger and Magoni (+ 0.46 s), Chauvet, Wiberg and Hilde Gerg (+ 1.18 s). Wachter was only in 28th place (+ 2.78 s). In the second race there were three Italians in the lead with Compagnoni in front of Gallizio and Magoni.

Retired u. a .: Ylva Nowén (SWE), Sonja Nef (SUI), Kristina Koznick (USA), Zali Steggall (AUS), Stefanie Wolf (GER) (all first run); Nataša Bokal (SLO), Sabine Egger (AUT), Andrine Flemmen (NOR), Katja Koren (SLO), Marlies Oester (SUI), Claudia Riegler (NZL), Pernilla Wiberg (SWE) (all second run)

combination

space	country	sportswoman	Time A	Time S.	total
1	AUT	Renate Götschl	1: 34.63 (2.)	1: 28.75 (7.)	3: 03.38 min
2	GER	Katja Seizinger	1: 35.15 (4.)	1: 28.27 (4.)	3: 03.42 min
3	GER	Hilde Gerg	1: 35.24 (5.)	1: 28.22 (3rd)	3: 03.46 min
4th	ITA	Morena Gallizio	1: 37.76 (11.)	1: 25.92 (1.)	3: 03.68 min
5	SUI	Marlies Oester	1: 36.84 (7.)	1: 26.89 (2.)	3: 03.73 min
6th	FRA	Florence Masnada	1: 34.13 (1st)	1: 29.79 (10.)	3: 03.92 min
7th	GER	Miriam Vogt	1: 34.97 (3rd)	1: 29.72 (9.)	3: 04.69 min
8th	SUI	Catherine Borghi	1: 37.87 (12.)	1: 28.28 (5.)	3: 06.15 min
9	GER	Sibylle Brauner	1: 37.67 (10.)	1: 28.55 (6.)	3: 06.22 min
10	AUT	Anita Wachter	1: 37.50 (9.)	1: 29.64 (8th)	3: 07.14 min
-	-	-	-	-	-
12	AUT	Michaela Dorfmeister	1: 36.83 (6.)	1: 32.47 (13.)	3: 9.30 min

Defending champion: Pernilla Wiberg (SWE)
Date : February 15, 1:00
p.m. (departure) February 13, 6:00 p.m. / 9:00 p.m. (slalom)

Downhill route: "Kandahar Banchetta G. Nasi"
Start: 2,536 m, finish: 1,886 m; Route length: 2560 m, difference in altitude: 650 m
Goals: 30 - Course setter : Jan Tischhauser (FIS)

Slalom course: “Slalom Kandahar”
start: 2,170 m, finish: 2,130 m; Length: 480 m, height difference: 140 m
Gates: 53 (1st run; course setter Adret Maurice, FRA), 53 (2nd run; course setter Karl Leiter, ITA)

There were 23 runners at the start; after the slalom, 19 runners remained, all of whom classified.

Retired u. a .: Ingeborg Helen Marken (NOR), Pernilla Wiberg (SWE) (both in the first slalom run)

Medal table

space	country	gold	silver	bronze	total
1	Norway	3	3	-	6th
2	Italy	3	1	2	6th
3	Switzerland	2	3	1	6th
4th	Austria	1	-	3	4th
5	United States	1	-	-	1
6th	Germany	-	2	2	4th
7th	France	-	1	1	2
8th	Sweden	-	-	1	1

Individual evidence

1. ^ "Briefly noted" in "Kronenzeitung" of June 13, 1992, page 12 from the back; POS .: last post, right
2. ↑ "The Great Ski Festival has begun" in "Krone Zeitung" of 3 February 1997, ten sites from behind
3. ^ "World Cup diary" with the title "Money apparently doesn't matter" in "Salzburger Nachrichten" of January 27, 1996, page 25; POS .: right
4. ^ "Diary" heading with the title "Alberto Tomba, Agnelli and Bufallo Bill" in "Salzburger Nachrichten" of February 3, 1997, page 21
5. ^ "Diary" with the title "Chaos reigns" in "Salzburger Nachrichten" of February 17, 1997, page 23
6. ^ "Diary" heading with the title "Eklat: No place for Ortlieb and Prodi" in "Salzburger Nachrichten" of February 4, 1997, page 24; POS .: Column 5, last post
7. ^ "TV rights broke record" in "Tiroler Tageszeitung" from 1./2. February 1997, No. 26, Page 39, POS .: Column 5, below
8. ^ "The rain of medals should begin on Kurt Engstler's course" in "Salzburger Nachrichten" of February 3, 1997, page 21