NY Times. John Kraljic
Croatian shocks men’s slalom field with Aspen win
By David Leon Moore
USA TODAY
ASPEN, Colo. — There’s another Croatian sensation in World Cup skiing,
this time on the men’s tour.
Ivica Kostelic, the older and largely ignored brother of 19-year-old
defending women’s World Cup champion Janica Kostelic, stormed into the
spotlight Sunday by winning a World Cup men’s slalom at Aspen Mountain
in 1 minute, 38.81 seconds.
The result was historic and as unexpected as any World Cup finish in
years. Kostelic, 22, has spent more time in rehab than on the slopes,
having accumulated four major knee injuries since 1998.
His best previous result in a World Cup was 21st, and Sunday he started
way back in the field — 64th out of 75 skiers.
But he skied as flawlessly as his little sister and won with the highest
bib number in a slalom race in World Cup history.
After his victory over second-place Giorgio Rocca of Italy and
third-place Mario Matt of Austria, Kostelic’s mother, Marisa, beamed in
the finish area. ”Last year it was my daughter,” Marisa said,
referring to Janica’s slalom victory in Aspen. ”This year it is my son.
We love Aspen.”
Aspen felt likewise, showering the modest, oft-injured skier with warm
ovations.
”I feel like I’m still in a dream,” he said an hour after the race.
”But it looks like it’s real. It looks like I won.”
Ivica often trains with his champion sister, who has won 12 World Cup
races. ”I’m her rabbit,” he said. ”She catches my times, but I’m
better than the rest of the girls, I guess.”
Sunday, he was better than the guys, too. ”That’s what dreams are made
of,” said Paul Casey Puckett, who posted the top American finish, 14th.
Today, Aspen hosts another men’s slalom, the last major ski race in the
USA until the Salt Lake City Olympics in February.
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