Downhill training on the Kandahar: Weidle makes people sit up and take notice

Created: 01/27/2022, 19:08

By: Marco Blanco-Ucles

Almost unbeatable in the first downhill training on the Kandahar: Kira Weidle is the only German starter in the field in second place behind Corinne Sutter.

© peter kornatz

The women's first downhill training session on the Kandahar took place on Thursday as planned.

Kira Weidle finished second.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen – "New Leader" could be read on the LED board in white letters on a green background at the finish of the descent.

Seconds earlier, Kira Weidle (SC Starnberg) raced across the finish line.

The only German skier at the 69th Kandahar race had set a new best time with her start number nine.

It was almost the last time on this first day of training that the few people on the slope were allowed to read the message in white.

But only almost.

Corinne Sutter was a tad faster than the Starnberger, six hundredths to be precise.

The Swiss raced down the Kandahar in 1:41.30 minutes.

Kandahar race: Several favorites are missing

The world elite visiting Garmisch-Partenkirchen? Well, at least in part, this statement needs to be qualified. With Sofia Goggia, Lara Gut-Behrami and Mikaela Shiffrin, several top athletes are missing due to injuries or precautionary measures shortly before the Olympic Games. It is already clear: Compared to last year, there will be at least one new lady who will raise the Kandahar trophies after the races - Saturday Downhill, Sunday Super-G. Last year, this honor was reserved for both Super-G Gut-Behrami. But the absence of some top stars suits other drivers like Sutter or Weidle. Ramona Siebenhofer (Austria) also took advantage of the moment and actually wanted to skip the races. “Plans are there to be changed. I heard,that Sofia Goggia is missing. Since I'm in a promising position (second place in the downhill World Cup behind Goggia; editor's note) in the World Cup, I decided to come here." In training, Siebenhofer finished 14th.

Weidle is also in the top group of downhill skiers and came to the market town as seventh in the World Cup.

The Starnberg native's first training run was impressive: "Six hundredths behind the best time is okay," she sums up dryly.

And yet: the 25-year-old identified a few critical points on the route.

“It's a bit bumpy and dark down there.

The entrance to the ice slope is different than last time, you have to get used to that.”

Incidentally, the German was not the only one who had problems entering the ice slope.

Several athletes missed the gate at this point - mainly inexperienced drivers with high start numbers.

Weidle found words of praise for the helpers around the Kandahar.

"Once again, the slope was perfectly groomed."

The slope is in good condition, we managed to complete the training session without falling

OC boss Florian Fischer

Florian Fischer and the organizing committee received all-round positive feedback from the starters.

"The slope is in good condition, we managed to complete the training session without falling," explains Fischer.

And the critical point in front of the ice slope?

"It's also a question of habit, since the position is different.

After all, it was only the first training session.” Today at 11.30 a.m. the speed ladies will have their second practice run – weather permitting.

Snowfall is forecast for the morning in Werdenfelser Land – ten to fifteen centimeters should come down.

"The decision will be made tomorrow morning after the jury's inspection.

As of now, the training is taking place as planned,” emphasizes Fischer.

Then Fabian Herzog (SC Garmisch) would also hit the slopes a second time.

The 18-year-old is the forerunner for the women this year and crossed the finish line on Thursday after 1:44 minutes.

“Cool experience, I had respect for it.

I've never ridden the Kandahar in this way before," says Herzog.