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Show Conanard irom Pag M 1 Allison Forsyth Christian Mayer tung ski races at the world level is all he has ever wanted to accomplish. 1 . a - North America will be fortified by Aihxon Forsyth, 22, of Nanaimo. BC, tht Canadian who jumped from 40th to seasons ago to fifth last year. Not a bad progression. She is expecting to pick up where she left off, and Canada will be watching closely Forsyth garnered two GS podiums last se ason. Before those, the last Canadian to get one was fothy former in 1974. rZZ Alexandra Metssnitzer Don't count out Alexandra Meissnitrcr. 2' of Abtcnau. Austria, the I overall and GS champ and perhaps the best all-around skier of her time Sex ered knee ligaments took her out of action last November. But the Austnans, nd anyone else who has seen her on skis, report she is skiing very well once again She will contend. Also there is German Martina Enl. 2?, of Lcnggnes. ho got into February before forfeiting the rest of the season to injury . Both of thee stars are strong speed skiers who iii have seen an unusually large percentage per-centage of GS gates in their rehab training train-ing Men's giant slalom l .Z3 Hermann Maier In discussing men's giant slalom, the conversation often starts and stops with Hermann Maier, 28, of Flachau. Austria. The man is deity in Austria and much of the rest of Europe, not only in GS but also in super G and in downhill. His GS is exquisite and his coaches have been positively gushing about his preseason on-snow performance. He has won the GS title the last two seasons There is no question the Austnans controlled giant slalom in the 1W-2000 season, Maier, Christian Maya and Benjamin Raich accounted fit eight of the nine possible GS victories. The Hermmator may have won the GS crown last season, but only by three points over teammate Christian Mayer. 29, of Finkcnstein, who matched his win production produc-tion w ith three. Nicknamed "The Viper." Mayer prefers the toughest GS courses, among which Park City 's course would not be counted Perhaps his greatest asset is a love of pure speed The more wide open the course is set, the more comfortable comfort-able he w ill be. Check the start list to sec if his coaches set the course. JoeJOenal Frenchman Jed Chenal, 27, of La Rosiere, is the only noo-Austrian to m a GS last season, and he did it by beating Maier on one of the toughest GS hills on the circuit. Aha Badia. ZZJ Stefan Eberharter 13 ZZHZZZZ3 Benjamin Raich The third man m the Austrian GS arsenal (not that it is limited to three by any stretch) is Benjamin Raich, 22. He is, on paper, better in GS than slalom and win- Also consider Stefan Eberharter. 32. of Stumm, Austria, who is better known on the downhill and super G traits, but can still cut a fast GS with the best of comers. His best GS came early last season and he historically comes out of the box fast in GS, havtns w on at Park Citv in NS. " " . THE FXST GIFT YOU CAN GXt. THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IS A RIDE HOME |