By Geoff Mintz
Mountaineer Staff Writer
Vail native Sarah Schleper led the charge for the American squad in 16th at Friday’s women’s slalom, the final women’s race of the 2010 Olympics.
Slalom is perhaps the most unpredictable of the Alpine disciplines, and while the finish was well shy of Schleper’s podium aspirations, making her fourth Olympic appearance after a two-year hiatus is a tremendous accomplishment in itself.
Lindsey Vonn did not finish, as she has in GS and slalom most of the season. Consequently, her success at these Olympics has been unfairly questioned by some in the national media, who for some reason developed unrealistic and uninformed expectations for the Vail resident.
Germany's Maria Riesch won her second gold of these Games.
Racing with her chin bandaged from a cut sustained when she hit a gate in pre-race training, Schleper followed up a strong performance in giant slalom that landed her 14th with the day's ninth-fastest first run.
"My jacket was covered in blood, I turned my bib around," Schleper said. "It was a nice distraction up there though, I tried to stop the bleeding and get refocused for my run."
Schleper received five stitches in her chin between runs and went out fighting in the second run. She was in the lead by four tenths, then hit a rut and got bounced off line.
"I would have liked to see how my time would have held up without that mistake, because I think I would have had a shot," she said.
Unlike her crash Wednesday in the giant slalom, Vonn was off the pace before straddling a gate, resulting in a DNF.
"I came out of the starting gate charging. But I haven't been skiing a lot of slalom and hit some mashed potato snow, and it was over before I knew it,” she said. “Even though today and the GS wasn't a success, I'm happy with the way my Olympics have gone. I have a gold in the downhill and a bronze in super G and I couldn't ask for any more."
Hailey Duke was 30th in her Olympic debut, feeling shaky on her first run but rebounded with a performance she could be proud of.
Park City's Megan McJames wheeled off course in the second run and did not finish, but will leave Vancouver with positive big race experience.
"It was a little rough the first run, but second run I skied a lot better," Duke said. "It felt a lot better and I had a big smile on my face when I came across the finish line."
The men's slalom kicks off with the first run Saturday at 11 a.m., with the final at 1:45 p.m. Representing the U.S. is Bode Miller, Ted Ligety, Jimmy Cochran and Nolan Kasper.
– The U.S. Ski Team Press Office contributed to this report