Soelden:The Luck of the Draw!

The women's draw is done in Soelden. Some were lucky and some not so lucky. Count among the lucky ones as Manu Moelgg (ITA) and Elizabeth Goergl (AUT). Not lucky, Zettel(AUT) and Hoelzl(GER). Lucky: Michaela Kirchgasser(AUT) drawing 8 and Maria Pietilae-Holmner(SWE) 9. Not lucky: Viktoria Rebensburg(GER) and Andrea Fischbacher(AUT) drawing 14 and 15. Julia Mancuso starts 18 as expected.
And great news for the girls sitting outside the top 30 who were staring down late starts if left to FIS points. Gen Simard (CAN) could have started in the mid 40s if left to FIS points. Due to 4 top 30 withdrawals, she snuck into the top 30 and starts 27. Even more lucky were Marie-Michele Gagnon and Megan McJames. Both were tied for 36th on the start list and Megan was staring down a start in the 50s or 60s.
Now, due to the withdrawal of 6 athletes ranked above them, they tied for 30. By FIS points, Gagnon gets 30 and McJames 31. Great news for both of them and an opportunity stares both North Americans in the face. They can move deep into the top 30 on the first run and make a good charge at the top 10 on run 2. Start numbers of 37 for Resi is as expected but 39 and 45 for Sarah and Jess are better then expected earlier in the week. Good luck girls!

The course set is also done. Set by Anders Paerson and only 42 turns. I have been involved in many course sets at Soelden and 42 is reasonable but pretty open. Only 3 over minimum turns. There are 3 delays making for 45 gates. This is a very standard type set at Soelden and favors those who can make bigger, cleaner turns.

I hope everyone out there is fired up! Only a few hours lie between us and the first race of the new World Cup season!