SKIING / BOB LOCHNER : Tomba’s Break Could Backfire During Cup Title Chase

Alberto Tomba will be catching his breath in Thailand while his rivals for the Alpine World Cup skiing title spend the weekend in Canada, hoping for more than just a change of scene.

Although he has raced only twice in the last two weeks--and skied off-course both times short of the finish--the usually irrepressible Italian said Sunday at Furano, Japan: “I am tired. I don’t understand why I am tired. Perhaps it is psychological. Perhaps I need a holiday.”

Like it or not, that’s what he’s going to get, from now until March 15-19, when the World Cup finals are held at Bormio, Italy.

Meanwhile, his pursuers will take their best shots on successive weekends at Whistler, Canada; Aspen, Colo.; and Kvitfjell, Norway. At each site, there’ll be a downhill and super-giant slalom, neither of which appeals to Tomba, who races only in the slower, more technical slalom and giant slalom. All four events are scheduled for the finals.

Tomba leads the overall standings with 1,050 points, 350 more than Jure Kosir of Slovenia, who is also primarily a technical skier.

The main threats are from the next three on the list: five-time champion Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg, who has 603 points; defending champion Kjetil-Andre Aamodt of Norway, who has 554; and Gunther Mader of Austria, who has 520. Each victory is worth 100 points, and if one of these challengers gets hot, Tomba’s little vacation might seem more like semi-retirement.

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Picabo Street, who has won half of the six World Cup women’s downhills, will try to pick up points in a super-G this weekend at Maribor, Slovenia. A giant slalom will also be held.

The 1994 Olympic silver medalist, who moved ahead of U.S. teammate Hilary Lindh in the downhill standings, is fourth overall with 605 points, trailing Germany’s Katja Seizinger (893) and two Swiss, Heidi Zeller-Baehler (821) and Vreni Schneider (742).

Street’s success has caused Salt Lake City’s Olympic bid committee to seek her services in winning the right to organize the 2002 Winter Games. “They want her to go to Budapest in June to give the IOC (International Olympic Committee) delegates little pep talks before the big vote,” agent Chris Hanna said. “They think she can help swing the deal.”

Told about this development, Street sounded like Tomba when she said: “OK, but when the season’s over, I’m taking a vacation, and I don’t want to do anything. I just want to hibernate with my dog and my boat.

“First, though, I want to go up to Whistler and party for a week.”

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Americans won six medals in the World Freestyle Skiing Championships that ended Sunday at La Clusaz, France, but heavily favored Ellen Breen had to settle for a silver in the women’s ballet.

“I made a big mistake in the semifinals,” said the 31-year-old West Hills resident who swept the first seven World Cup events this season. “Everyone starts fresh in the finals, but psychologically, it affected the judges. Still, I’m happy with the way I skied. I’m just glad it’s over.”

The golds went to Trace Worthington of Park City, Utah, in both the men’s aerials and combined; Nikki Stone of Westborough, Mass., in the women’s aerials, and Kriste Porter of Greenland, N.H., in the women’s combined. Jon Moseley of Tiburon, Calif., earned a bronze in the men’s combined.

Skiing Notes

The new 100,000-square-foot River Run day lodge at Sun Valley, Ida., will not open this season as planned because of design changes and highway construction delays but should be completed during the summer. . . . France’s Sarah Hemery won the giant slalom and Sweden’s Anna Boden took the slalom in last weekend’s Women’s Pro Ski Tour competition at Squaw Valley, with former U.S. ski team star Julie Parisien third both days. This weekend’s scheduled meet at Kirkwood has been canceled. . . . Donna Weinbrecht of Killington, Vt., the 1992 Olympic gold medalist, finished fifth in the women’s moguls at La Clusaz. . . . Japan’s Kenji Ogiwara clinched his third consecutive Nordic combined World Cup title last weekend at Bad Goisern, Austria.