World Cup blow for Baxter in Austria

Published on Wednesday 28 January 2004 00:00

AFTER the disappointment of failing to finish his second run at the weekend, there was a further blow for Alain Baxter last night in Schladming, Austria when he was disqualified for an equipment infringement after lying 19th in the first run of the World Cup night slalom.

Baxter was using new skis, which elevate the skier’s boot above the plate to give more leverage in the turn, but they were said by officials to be too high by 0.27 millimetres, and he was not allowed to capitalise on an attacking first run.

Australian Jonathon Brauer, who trains alongside Baxter and uses exactly the same skis, had his deemed legal.

The US Ski Team’s Bode Miller looked on course for victory with a first run lead of 0.98 seconds, but skied too cautiously on the second heat, dropping to fourth place, while Austria’s Benni Raich won the evening spectacle for the third time.

Miller admitted that his focus was affected when Croatia’s Ivica Kostelic had to be stretchered off after crashing.