Neues » of the 2009 season

ZAGREB, Croatia - American skier Mikaela Shiffrin continued her recent resurgence in slalom by convincingly winning her second straight World Cup race, leaving her rivals in awe four weeks before she defends her world title in Beaver Creek. Authentic Steve McLendon Jersey .In sunny conditions and cheered by 8,000 spectators, the Olympic champion posted the fastest time in both runs to finish in an aggregate 1 minute, 56.66 seconds and lead second-place Kathrin Zettel of Austria by 1.68 seconds, the biggest winning margin in the 10-year history of the event.For the first time in my career, I just feel like I am in complete control of myself, said Shiffrin, who sorted out some equipment issues by changing her boots and skis and tweaked her mindset during a 10-day training camp in Italy in December.I feel really comfortable on my feet right now after a lot of testing in Santa Caterina but also really great training, the American said. I have started off really great with my career but I am hoping to keep improving ... I feel like I am in a really great place right now.Nina Loeseth of Norway was 2.79 back in third for her maiden career podium finish and first for a Norwegian female skier since 2002, while the rest of the field trailed Shiffrin by more than three seconds.Shiffrin won the slalom World Cup the past two seasons but failed to reach a podium in the first three races this season until dominating in Kuehtai, Austria, last week, where she also won both runs.With every single run that I take I get more confident, the American skier said. My skiing is good right now, its kind of back on track and my equipment feels really good.It was the Americans 12th career World Cup win and 11th in slalom, matching a World Cup record set in 1980 by Frances Perrine Pelen for most slalom wins as a teenager.Its a crazy feeling to be the last racer on the hill in the second run and to be like, OK, its on me now, said Shiffrin, who also won the Snow Queen Trophy two years ago. There is some pressure there but its nice when I deal with it and still ski well. Thats one of the best feelings in the world.Shiffrin didnt try to merely defend her 0.80-second lead over Zettel from the opening run but went out attacking in her second as well.Mikaela was amazing, so super strong, said Zettel, adding she was really happy with coming runner-up to the American. Mikaela is from a different planet. It looks like nothing can go wrong, it looks so smooth and easy and shes obviously having a lot of fun.Frida Hansdotter of Sweden placed fourth to retain her lead in the discipline standings with 320 points, though Shiffrin has closed the gap to a single point. Tina Maze is 25 points behind Shiffrin in third, and the Slovenian skier stayed atop the overall standings after placing fifth in Sundays slalom.Erin Mielzynski of Guelph, Ont., was sixth and Marie-Michele Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., was seventh.Sarka Strachova, who was third after the opening run, straddled a gate and failed to finish, while Swedens Maria Pietilae-Holmner and Austrias Nicole Hosp, who both won slaloms this season, also skied out.Sara Hector of Sweden, who won a GS for her maiden victory last week, started in 61st position but placed ninth for her first top-10 finish in slalom.There is one more slalom before the world championships — in Flachau, Austria, on Jan. 13.A mens night slalom on the same course is scheduled for Tuesday, while the womens World Cup continues with speed races in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria, next weekend. Authentic Parry Nickerson Jersey . Of course that doesnt mean hes ignoring it. Thats actually rather impossible given the behind-the-scenes access to the Toronto Maple Leafs the network is getting. Authentic Brandon Shell Jersey . -- Having already fallen behind because of the NFL lockout, Blaine Gabbert couldnt afford a lengthy holdout. http://www.cheapnewyorkjetsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-dennis-byrd-jersey .Y. - Brooklyn Nets centre Brook Lopez has a strained lower back and will miss at least a week.MARANELLO, Italy -- Kimi Raikkonen will return to Ferrari as a replacement for Felipe Massa, giving the Formula One team a new partner for Fernando Alonso and two top drivers for next season. "Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached an agreement with Kimi Raikkonen," the team said Wednesday in a statement. "The Finn will join Fernando Alonso in the driver line-up for the next two racing seasons." The expected move came a day after Massa announced he will leave Ferrari following the seven final races of this season. The 33-year-old Raikkonen, who currently drives for Lotus, had been heavily linked with a return to Ferrari. The Finn raced for Ferrari from 2007-09, and his title in 2007 was the last time Ferrari won the drivers championship. "Im really pleased to return to Maranello after having experienced three fantastic years there," Raikkonen said on Ferraris website. "I have lots of memories that tie me to Ferrari, which Ive always carried with me. I cant wait to work with Fernando, an extraordinary driver, to bring the team the success it deserves." Alonso and Raikkonen have won three Formula One titles and 52 races between them. Ferrari apparently wanted to strengthen its lineup for 2014, when the F1 regulations change dramatically with the introduction of new 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines. Raikkonen has one win and five second-place finishes this season and is known as one of the most consistent drivers in the sport. His retirement in Belgium last month ended a run of 27 consecutive races in the points, and it was his first DNF in 39 races. "Im delighted to welcome Kimi back to the Scuderia with which he won the world title," Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said. "He sounded extremely happy to return to Maranello and very determined to approach the job that awaits him in thee best way possible. Authentic Henry Anderson Jersey. " Massa won 11 races in his first three seasons with Ferrari but he hasnt been the same driver since a life-threatening accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2009. His contract is up at the end of this season. "Felipe always carried himself as a real team man and together we lived through beautiful and dramatic moments, which created a really special human and professional relationship," Domenicali said. "Hell always be part of our family and we wish him well for his future." In the current standings, Alonso is second to Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel, Raikkonen is fourth and Massa is seventh. Of Raikkonens 20 career F1 wins, nine came during his three seasons with Ferrari. He won the 2007 championship, the only drivers title of his career, by one point ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Alonso, who was then with McLaren. However, near the end of the 2009 season, Ferrari announced that Raikkonen was leaving the team even though his contract lasted through 2010. He was replaced by Alonso. The announcement of Raikkonens return comes during turbulent times at Ferrari, which this season has again been unable to stop Red Bulls dominance. During last weekends Italian GP, Alonso and Ferrari were again forced to downplay talk of a rift after the Spanish driver lost his temper with team officials during qualifying. It remains to be seen if Alonso will also leave or duel for the teams top driver status with Raikkonen next season. If Alonso does stay, it will mark the first time Ferrari has two former world champion drivers since Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell were at the wheels of the red cars in 1990. "I want to welcome my new teammate," Alonso said on Ferraris website. "Together well have to approach a difficult technical and sporting challenge starting next year." ' ' '