Aurach (ck) “Of course I am happy whenever an Austrian wins”, Austria´s trainer Robert Tomelitsch said after the bizarre outcome of today´s race, “but altogether we were a bit unlucky.” The double Beer/Kögl had celebrated their second season-win and so took away valuable points that the cousins Schopf/Schopf, who finished second, would have needed to win the Overall World Cup. So they ended up with the same amount of points (425) as the Russians Porschnev/Lazarev and due to the better cross-off result the Russians won the Crystal Bowl. Beer/Kögl were clearly happy about their victory: “Schopf/Schopf could have won the World Cup by their own doing, so there was no need for any orders by the trainers. They had a good season, but to be fair it has to be said that the Russians were just that tiny bit better.” Schopf/Schopf had been leading after the first run, but had a small mistake in the last turn which caused the delay in the end.

The Russian triumphs had started with the win of the Overall World Cup and was continued with another brilliant performance of Ekatharina Lavrentjeva. With first places in both runs she showed once more that she is racing in her own league. So she won todays race as well as the Overall World Cup ranking. Her only serious competitor Renate Kasslatter (ITA) had to settle for the fourth place today, but finished her first full World Cup season right after the Russian. “I have to be satisfied considering that one year ago I was racing in the IC-Cup and now I am second in the world. My season started with a win and two second places which gave me a lot of self-confidence. But then after Moscow it somehow did not go as good any more.” With Julia Vetlova on the podium, too, the Russians completed a perfect day. In the men´s competition Gerhard Pilz (AUT) showed his class. On the track, which had become smooth and very difficult to race on, he demonstrated his routine and even though he is suffering from a broken rib he could not be beaten. “At the end it got a bit tough”, was his only comment about his injury. Before the race he had not even mentioned it.

Behind Gerhard Pilz two athletes with a promising future could be found: both, Gernot Schwab (AUT) as well as Andreas Castiglioni (ITA) seem to be ready for their first World Cup victory. Schwab had three second places this winter and so had Castiglioni (including the European Championships). “I do not want to get the image of the eternal runner up”, Castiglioni said, but is confident for the future: “The wheel moves on and on…” Gernot Schwab looked back to the season without regrets: “It was my comeback season after my injury last year, so I really can be satisfied with my performance.”


Final Results World Cup in Aurach:

Doubles (12):
1. Reinhard Beer/Herbert Kögl (AUT), 1:07,04 (2), 1:06,67 (1), 2:13,71
2. Wolfgang Schopf/Andreas Schopf (AUT), 1:06,17 (1), 1:07,74 (4), 2:13,91
3. Pawel Porschnev/Ivan Lazarev (RUS), 1:07,17 (3), 1:07,14 (2), 2:14,31
4. Andrzej Laszczak/Damian Waniczek (POL), 1:07,25 (4), 1:07,31 (3), 2:14,56
5. Armin Mair/Johannes Hofer (ITA), 1:07, 49 (5), 1:08,00 (5), 2:15,49
6. Günther Innerbichler/Alex Innerbichler (ITA), 1:7,77 (6), 1:08,61 (6), 2:16,38
7. Simone Deme/Michael Squinabol (ITA),1:09,57 (8), 1:08,75 (7), 2:18,32
8. Harald Kleinhofer/Gerhard Mühlbacher (AUT), 1:08,99 (7), 1:09,53 (8), 2:18,52

Women (19):
1. Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS), 1:03,52 (1), 1:03,74 (1), 2:07,26
2. Renate Gietl (ITA), 1:03,85 (2), 1:04,31 (2), 2:08,16
3. Julia Vetlova (RUS), 1:04,17 (4), 1:04,49 (3), 2:08,66
4. Renate Kasslatter (ITA), 1:04,15 (3), 1:05,32 (5), 2:09,47
5. Marlies Wagner (AUT), 1:05,28 (7), 1:05,26 (4), 2:10,54
6. Sandra Mariner (AUT), 1:05,04 (6), 1:05,78 (7), 2.10,82
7. Karolina Waniczek (POL), 1:05,39 (9), 1:05,53 (6), 2:10,92
8. Barbara Abart (ITA), 1:04,48 (5), 1:07,19 (11), 2:11,67
9. Ewelina Zurek (POL), 1:05,32 (8), 1:06,66 (10), 2:11,98
10. Christa Gietl (ITA), 1:06,02 (10), 1:06,36 (9), 2:12,38
11. Melissa Jones (CAN), 1:07,64 (13), 1:07,22 (12), 2:14,86
12. Anna Braun (AUT), 1:06,87 (12), 1:08,14 (13), 2:15,01

Men (36):
1. Gerhard Pilz (AUT), 1:02,05 (1), 1:02,49 (1), 2:04,54
2. Andreas Castiglioni (ITA), 1:02,79 (4), 1:02,71 (2), 2:05,50
3. Gernot Schwab (AUT), 1:02,68 (3), 1:03,26 (4), 2:05,94
4. Gerald Kallan (AUT), 1:02,42 (2), 1:03,57 (5), 2:05,99
5. Anton Blasbichler (ITA), 1:02,90 (5), 1:03,16 (3), 2:06,06
6. Rudi Resch (ITA), 1:03,23 (9), 1:03,64 (7), 2:06,87
7. Patrik Pigneter (ITA), 1:02,97 (6), 1:03,98 (11), 2:06,95
8. Robert Batkowski (AUT), 1:03,21 (8), 1:03,79 (9), 2:07,00
9. Marcus Grausam (GER), 1:03,52 (10), 1:03,77 (8), 2:07,29
10. Roland Kallan (AUT), 1:03,01 (7), 1:04,80 (13), 2:07,81
11. Borut Kralj (SLO), 1:03,98 (12), 1:03,90 (10), 2:07,88
12. Ziga Pagon (SLO), 1:03,80 (11), 1:04,64 (12), 2:08,44
13. Borut Fejfar (SLO), 1:04,36 (13), 1:05,16 (15), 2:09,52
14. Gaspar Benedik (SLO), 1:04,91 (14), 1:05,59 (18), 2:10,50
15. Ivan Lazarev (RUS), 1:06,08 (20), 1:04,86 (14), 2:10,94
16. Rudolf Schwarz (GER), 1:05,73 (16), 1:05,29 (16), 2:11,02
17. John Gibson (CAN), 1:05,41 (15), 1:05,78 (19), 2.11,19
18. Corey Pusey (CAN), 1:05,93 (18), 1:05,50 (17), 2:11,43


Final Results Overall World Cup (counting the five best out of six results):

Doubles (18):
1. Pawel Porschnev/Ivan Lazarev (RUS) 425 (60) Points
2. Wolfgang Schopf/Andreas Schopf (AUT) 425 (55)
3. Reinhard Beer/Herbert Kögl (AUT) 370
4. Andrzej Laszczak/Damian Waniczek (POL) 350
5. Harald Kleinhofer/Gerhard Mühlbacher (AUT) 289
6. Armin Mair/Johannes Hofer (ITA) 280
7. Günther Innerbichler/Alex Innerbichler (ITA) 226
8. Björn Kierspel/Hansjörg Mühlbacher (GER) 200
9. Mario Gortnar/Jure Potocnik (SLO) 117
10. Denis Alimov/Roman Molvistov (RUS) 109


Men (62):
1. Anton Blasbichler (ITA) 455 points
2. Gernot Schwab (AUT) 395
3. Gerald Kallan (AUT) 335
4. Gerhard Pilz (AUT) 319
5. Andreas Castiglioni (ITA) 297
6. Robert Batkowski (AUT) 272
7. Marcus Grausam (GER) 251
8. Roland Kallan (AUT) 225
9. Gerald Kammerlander (AUT) 212
10. Martin Psenner (ITA) 204
11. Florian Breitenberger (ITA) 198
12. Borut Kralj (SLO) 148
15. Corey Pusey (CAN) 114
21. John Gibson (CAN) 91
35. Kaj Johnson (CAN) 37
41. Greg Jones (CAN) 26
48. Julien Schultz (USA) 22
52. Adam Sladek (USA) 19
56. Loren Montcalm (USA) 16
57. Darin Rinehart (USA) 15

Women (30):
1. Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) 470
2. Renate Kasslatter (ITA) 385
3. Renate Gietl (ITA) 350
4. Sandra Mariner (AUT) 335
5. Julia Vetlova (RUS) 291
6. Christa Gietl (ITA) 288
7. Marlies Wagner (AUT) 244
8. Ewelina Zurek (POL) 204
9. Barbara Abart (ITA) 177
Michaela Maurer (GER) 177
11. Ursina Schneider (SUI) 146
12. Karolina Waniczek (POL) 140
13. Melissa Jones (CAN) 127
14. Irene Mitterstieler (ITA) 115