Surprise At Start Of Championship In Are

Not quite known Italian Patric Staudacher is the winner of the first race of the World Championship in Super Giant Slalom.

After three days the Super G was run and a big surprise right at the very beginning. Quite unknown Italian Patrick Staudacher surprised the entire caravan and took his first victory of his career. Second was, in fine weather, Austrian Fritz Strobl, while the Swiss Bruno Kernen was third. Bode Miller, the great race favourite, finished only 24^th, while our skiers Natko Zrncic-Dim , Ivan Ratkic and Tin Soroki did not place themselves in the top 30.

First top 10, World Championship in Are, Super Giant Slalom:

1  Staudacher Patrick  ITA   1:14.30  

2  Strobl Fritz  AUT   1:14.62  

3  Kernen Bruno  SUI   1:14.92  

4  Gruber Christoph  AUT   1:14.93  

4  Cuche Didier  SUI   1:14.93  

6  Guay Erik  CAN   1:14.95  

7  Maier Hermann  AUT   1:14.96  

7  Hudec Jan  CAN   1:14.96  

9  Bourque Francois  CAN   1:14.97  

10  Buechel Marco  LIH   1:14.99