World Cup debut awaits

Junior World Champion eagerly awaits Saalbach

Victoria Olivier celebrated gold in the downhill at the Junior World Championships in France.(Bild: Andreas Ehrensberger)

The time has come this week: ÖSV hopeful Victoria Olivier will make her World Cup debut in Saalbach. As the reigning junior downhill world champion, the 19-year-old from Vorarlberg will be allowed to race in the final. The anticipation is huge, especially as she was able to recharge her batteries on Sunday in Norway.

"After today, I'm really, really looking forward to my World Cup debut at the final in Saalbach," said a beaming Victoria Olivier on Sunday, after finishing fourth in the giant slalom at the European Cup final in Hafjell (Nor), missing out on her very first EC podium by just 0.18 seconds.

Now Vici Olivier, who is making her comeback season after tearing her cruciate ligament, is also back on track in the giant slalom.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

After the athlete from Auer had already established a great starting position with the seventh-best time in the first run, she improved once again in the final and moved up to fourth place with the fourth-best run time. "There were a few small mistakes in both runs, but in general I'm skiing better again and it seems like I've found my 'giant' form again."

Highly dramatic final awaits
Emily Schöpf from Montafon is in third place in the overall EC rankings ahead of the last two races. If the 23-year-old, who was recently slowed down by a bruised boot, is fit for the downhill and super-G in Kvitfjell, an exciting duel awaits with Janine Schmitt (Sz), who is only two points ahead of her, and France's Karen Clement, who is two points behind her.

Emily Schöpf still has a chance of winning the overall European Cup.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Zudrell out, Greber back
Vorarlberg's men were left without points yesterday in the last EC slalom. Moritz Zudrell from Silbertal crashed out on the twelfth intermediate time in run one and also had to miss out on the giant slalom on Monday, while Jakob Greber from Mellau did not make it past 37th place.