THE GREATEST SLALOM NIGHT RACE ....

Kitzbuehel, the Hahnenkamm, the Streif, was a disappointment for the Austrian Ski-enthusiasts, of which there are about 8 million. A Frenchmen, Jean-Baptiste Grange snatched the Goldmedal from the Austrian. So, it was: wait till the night slalom in Schladming.
About 50,000 were expected to gather to see the race. I considered the likelyhood of seeing anything if you are jammed in between such a mass of people as very very small indeed. Therefore I decided to stay home and watch the race on Television.
The Austrians had six entries, so did the Canadians. Then there were the Suiss, always good for a gret race and a win. The Italians (from the South Tirol) had to be considered. Germany had some strong entries, so did the USA. There also were skiers from Sweden and even some from Japan.
The skiing world met in Schladmning to watch the great race.
Austria had great hopes. There is, after all, Benni Raich, who had won on this course four years running. There is crazy Manfred Pranger, who, at the start gate, with eyes closed, races the entire course in his mind. Having learned every gate by heart, he moves his body through every virtual curve and turn. Then he throws himself with abandon down the mountain. There is Hirscher, Herbst and Matt: all technicians of the first water. How can we not win?
Well, there was this Frenchman, called Jean-Baptiste Grange, who, when all the runs were finished, came in first, then 0.04 seconds later came the Swede, Andre Myhrer, and then, 0.60 seconds later, can you believe it, another Swede, Mattias Hargin. Then came an Italian, and a Croatian, another two Swedes and another Italian. Then, in 9th place, Benjamin Raich, the first Austrian. The crowds, and there were 50,000 vociferous supporters of every racer, was exuberant and noisy. The conditions were perfect.
The course was stone hard, but not icy,
the night was brisk, but not freezing cold,
the air was pure without even a trace of fog.
the snow fell, but only in gentle flakes,
the lights were bright without being blinding.
It was a perfect night.
If only an Austrian had won, or came in second, or third, or......

Bert