Switzerland’s Bournissen Wins Combined Ski Title

Chantal Bournissen revived memories of Swiss dominance in women’s skiing by winning the combined event today at the world championships, ending a dry spell for her nation.

The victory was even sweeter because she edged Ingrid Stoeckl of alpine rival Austria, which has tormented the Swiss the last two years. Switzerland’s Vreni Schneider won the bronze medal.

Bournissen had the third-best time in the downhill portion of the combined event last Friday and was fifth-fastest in today’s two-run slalom.

“I didn’t ski like it was a normal slalom,” said Bournissen, who just missed a pair of medals earlier in the championships by placing fourth in the downhill and fifth in the super giant slalom. “In the combined you have to go all out; you can’t be conservative.”

The Swiss women were a powerhouse in the 1980s. They won all five world titles on home slopes in 1987, a pair of gold medals at the 1988 Calgary Olympics and two more world titles in 1989 in Colorado. But top skiers such as Maria Walliser and Michaela Figini retired after the 1989 championships and the last two World Cup seasons have been dominated by Austrian Petra Kronberger.

Pre-race favorite Kronberger skipped today’s race because of a knee injury.