PR: Pogue and Posch Win Big In Quebec
(February 2, 1997)

BEAUPRE, Quebec -- Anton Pogue (Hood River, OR), ignoring a snowstorm and capping the best month of his career, took command on the first slalom run Friday and went on to collect his first World Cup victory. He won by more than a second and a half over German Dieter Moherndl at Mont Ste. Anne Ski Area.

In the women's slalom, Marion Posch of Italy won with a two- run time of 1:34.56. Stacia Hookom (Edwards, CO) was the top American rider, finishing fifth with world GS champion Sondra Van Ert (Ketchum, ID) seventh and Erin O'Malley (Mammoth Lakes, CA) eighth.

Pogue, whose first international podium came when he was bronze medalist in slalom a week ago at the World Championships in Italy, was the only rider to crack 39 seconds in the first run. He had the second-fastest second run to finish in 1:26.72. Moherndl, silver medalist in SL at the Worlds, had a total time of 1:28.33. Mike Jacoby (Hood River, OR.) finished seventh in the field of 67 riders.

"After Anton smoked everyone on the first run," Coach Peter Foley said, "the Austrian coach decided to set an extra cranky [turning] second run, thinking maybe Anton couldn't handle it. But it didn't turn out that way. Anton ripped through the rutty, turny course."

Pogue said starting first gave him a boost but he almost rode too fast on each run. "I just took off and was flying down that hill. At one point, I had to put the brakes on because it was so tight at the bottom. It was that way on both runs," he said. "There was powder in the course from the [steadily falling] snow. I usually get my best results in sunny weather."

His victory boosted Pogue into second place in the World Cup points behind Italian Karl Frenademez, who was disqualified in his first run.

The weather had been at or below zero F. since the Americans arrived Tuesday night but was about 10 degrees F. (-13 C.) Friday. Pogue said he had frostbite on both sides of his face from the two days of training but had no problems in the race.

He conceded it would be tough to say good-bye to January, which has been good to him. "Yeah, that's right. It's been a good month. It's been a nice progression: I had those two fourths in Europe, then third [in the SL] at Worlds...and now first!"

The snowstorm hit this area 20 miles north of Quebec City during the night and snow fell all day. Temperatures were in the mid-teens. The schedule calls for giant slalom Saturday and halfpipe Sunday before the Grundig World Cup tour heads west to Oregon's Mt. Bachelor. Three teammates are competing in halfpipe at ESPN's X Games: reigning World Cup champion Ross Powers (S.Londonderry, VT), Jimi Scott (Carlsbad, CA) and Rob Kingwill (Jackson, WY).



MEN (22 qualify for 2nd run)
1. Anton Pogue, Hood River, Ore., 1:26.72
2. Dieter Moherndl, Germany, 1:28.33
3. Harald Walder, Austria, 1:28.76
4. Stefan Kaltschuetz, Austria, 1:29.46
5T Dejan Kosir, Slovenia, 1:29.48
Rainer Krug, Germany
7. Mike Jacoby, Hood River, Ore., 1:29.51
8. Peter Pechhacker, Austria, 1:29.82
9. Ross Rebagliati, Canada, 1:30.02
10. Stephen Copp, Sweden, 1:30.22
11. Charlie Cosnier, France, 1:30.26
12. Ivo Rudiferia, Italy, 1:30.29
13. Thomas Prugger, Italy, 1:30.61
14. Rob Berney, Whitefish, Mont., 1:31.06
15. Thedo Remmelink, Netherlands, 1:31.69
16. Patrick Lindroth, Sweden, 1:32.13
17. Elmar Messner, Italy, 1;32.48
18. Xavier rolland, France, 1:32.54
19. Alex Voyat, Italy, 1:32.65
20. Mathieu Morency, Canada, 1:33.75
21. Darren Chalmers, Canada, 1:33.98
22. Markus Ebner, Germany, 1:34.76
-
23. Tom O'Brien, Salt Lake City
26. Bill Enos, Waterville Valley, N.H.
30. Shannon Melheuse, Salem, Ore.
45. Mike Grasso, Waterville Valley, N.H.
-
DNF-1
Jeff Greenwood, Granby, Conn.


WOMEN (12 qualify)
1. Marion Posch, Italy, 1:34.56
2. Heidi Renoth, Germany, 1:35.45
3. Karine Ruby, France, 1:35.69
4. Dagmar Mair u.d. Eggen, Italy, 1:36.22
5. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, Colo., 1:37.75
6. Claudia Riegler, Austria, 1:38.82
7. Sondra Van Ert, Ketchum, Idaho, 1:39.21
8. Erin O'Malley, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 1:39.34
9. Lidia Trettel, Italy, 1:39.77
10. Alexandra Krings, Austria, 1:41.18
11. Ursula Fingerlos, Austria, 1:42.09
12. Birgit Herbert, Austria, 1:44.46
-
DNF-1
Ashley Rice, Santa Ynez, Calif.


GRUNDIG SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP SL/PSL STANDINGS

MEN
1. Karl Frenademez, Italy - 2,650
2. Pogue - 2,100
3. Kaltschuetz - 2,070
4. Walder - 1,780
5. Kosir - 1,640
6. Bernd Kroschewski, Germany - 1,550
7. Pechhacker - 1,490
8. Jacob Bergstedt, Sweden - 1,480
9. Moherndl - 1,390
10. Peter Pichler, Italy - 1,345
-
15. Steve Persons, Whitefish, Mont., 885
18. Jacoby, 700
20. Manuel Mendoza, Whitefish, Mont., 660
22. Greenwood, 582
24. Rob Berney, Whitefish, Mont., 510
32. O'Brien, 360
33. Tom Lyman, Whitefish, Mont., 341
47. Enos, 96
50. Melheuse, 76
88T Ryan Mullen, 6
Grasso
Antonio Davila, Flagstaff, Ariz.


WOMEN
1. Renoth - 3,400
2. Ruby - 2,500
3. Mair u.d. Eggen - 2,200
4. Marie Birkl, Sweden - 2,190
5. Posch - 2,020
6. Dorothee Fournier, France - 1,800
7. Isabell Zedlacher, Austria - 1,800
8. Manuela Riegler, Austria - 1,520
9. Krings - 1,420
10. Hookom - 1,330
-
14. Van Ert, 980
20. O'Malley, 600
21. Ott, 600
57. Rice, 28