The FIS Grass Skiing World Championships 2009 began on Wednesday in Rettenbach (AUT). After the official opening ceremony scheduled for Wednesday evening, the competitions will get underway Thursday with the giant slalom events for ladies and men.

On Friday, it is time for the super-G followed by slalom on Saturday and super combined (with super-G) on Sunday. The organizing committee led by Dr. Johann Gschwandtner, supported by Heribert Petermann, is well prepared and can feel comfortable thanks to experienced technical support provided by Dieter Posch, technical director of the Austrian Ski Association as chief of competition, and FIS technical delegate and race organizer, Hans Peter Brandl, as technical advisor.

The last World Cup event before the World Championships was held in Maria Gugging (AUT). Before the season highlight event in Rettenbach, the men’s World Cup standings are led by Czech Jan Nemec although the dress rehearsal for the Worlds was won by Austrian Michael Stocker. Last season’s World Cup champion, Eduardo Frau (ITA) is ranked 3rd at present. On the ladies’ side, Austrian experienced standings leader Ingrid Hirschhofer can expect a great challenge from Japan’s Yokiyo Shintani who won both competitions in Maria Gugging, as well as her younger teammate Jaqueline Gerlach and Germany’s Anna-Lena Büdenbender, current #2 in the World Cup rankings. The World Cup finals will be held in Forni di Sopra (ITA) on 12th-13th September.

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