European Report: Germans hail new 'superstar'; Raich may miss Adelboden races

European Report: Germans hail new ‘superstar’; Raich may miss Adelboden races{mosimage}It was a big weekend for Maria Riesch, who stormed to two World Cup victories and was quickly hailed as Germany’s new “skiing superstar.”

The German press gushed headlines that sealed her status as Germany’s best chance for a women’s overall World Cup title since Katja Seizinger’s hey-day in the 1990s.

“It’s absolutely unbelievable. It’s like a miracle,” the 19-year-old German said. Riesch was bruised in Saturday’s downhill when she crashed into the safety net and was unsure if she could ski Sunday.

German coaches were quick to caution the media about putting too much pressure on their young charge. One German coach told the German DPA news service, “Sometimes things get going too loudly and it’s too soon to call someone a new superstar.”

>> Austria’s Raich told to wait

Austrian team doctors said it’s unlikely that Benjamin Raich will be able to race in this weekend’s slalom and giant slalom races at Adelboden.

Raich suffered a concussion in Sunday’s super G and lost his grip on the overall World Cup lead to teammate Hermann Maier.

“Raich needs three days in the bed at least without training,” Austrian ski team official Reinhard Mittermair told Austrian radio. “From my point of view, it’s not looking good for Benni to race this weekend.”

Raich is also scheduled to travel to Innsbruck for an MRI to check for possible neck injuries. Mittermair said Raich will remain under close observation, but said a final decision won’t be made until later this week.

>> Kostelic out for at least three months

Ivica Kostelic will miss at least three months of training and racing following surgery this week, according to a report on his web page.

Kostelic crashed hard in last week’s night slalom in Schladming, Austria, and doctors were forced to transplant ligaments from his quadriceps to his front cruciate ligament in his right knee. Doctors also repaired his medial meniscus.

Kostelic’s shoulder injury isn’t as bad as originally believed and he didn’t suffer a fracture, but damaged muscle tissue that will create pain for about three weeks, doctors said.

Kostelic will stay in the Ruderholz clinic near Basel, Switzerland, and begin rehab work at a local spa. Doctors said he could be out between three to five months.

>> Kostner happy to be back on top

Isolde Kostner couldn’t hold back the tears Saturday in Haus Im Ennstal, Austria, after her first victory since a horrible crash 14 months when she suffered a concussion at Lake Louise in Canada in November 2002.

The former super G world champion hadn’t won a race since November 2001 and she couldn’t check her emotions following her victory in Saturday’s downhill.

“I never lost faith in these difficult times, but it was difficult I must admit,” Kostner told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “After the crash at Lake Louise, those were very difficult, long months. When things don’t go well, you sometimes stop believing you can do it.”

Kostner, a former super giant world champion and triple Olympic medalist, scored first victory since November 2001 when she won back-to-back races in Lake Louise, Alberta.

A year later, she crashed during practice in Lake Louise and sustained a severe concussion. Kostner’s victory is a breath of fresh air for the beleaguered women’s Italian team. She was quick to thank her coaches, physical therapist and ski tech.

“I dedicate my podium to all those who believed in me and to my teammates. We needed it, this gives us a little room to breath,” she said.

>> Snowboarder breaks jaw

Scottish snowboarder Lesley McKenna broke her jaw last week in St. Anton during training and her World Cup season could be over.

The 29-year-old is second in the World Cup halfpipe standings, but underwent surgery Thursday to pin her jaw back together. She’s expected to be out for six weeks and might not be able to compete in the World Cup Finals March 11-14 in Italy.

“It’s an absolute nightmare for Lesley. She has been performing really well in the World Cup’ Beth Munro, snowboard coordinator for the national British team, told BBC. “I would say now it is pretty much her season over although we will have to see how quickly she recovers.”

McKenna was expected to compete in two halfpipes in Japan at the end of February and the season finale in Bardonecchia. She opened the season with a win at Tandadalen, Sweden, and scored two other podiums throughout the season.

“Lesley will not be totally incapacitated so she will still be able to do fitness work,” Munro said. “It will be touch and go whether she will be competing again this season.”

>> Ski legend opts out of mayoral race

Austrian ski legend Toni Sailer has decided to withdraw as a candidate at local elections in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

He told the Die Presse newspaper he had underestimated the demands of the mayoral office and said he did not want “to disappoint anyone.”

Current mayor Horst Wendling, who has left the far-right Freedom Party (FP) in favor of an independent list, said he regrets Sailer’s decision to withdraw.

Sailer said he will continue to be available as an “ambassador” for his hometown.