Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001

SCHLOPY 5TH AT WORLD CUP SL IN JAPAN

SHIGA KOGEN, Japan (Feb. 17) - Erik Schlopy (Park City, UT) had the best
World Cup slalom result of his career Saturday, finishing fifth behind
unheralded Frenchman Patrick Bourgeat.

Bourgeat, ninth in the first run, finished with a two-run time of
1:53.51 and Austrian Heinz Schilchegger was second in 1:53.74. First-run
leader Benjamin Raich of Austria, silver medalist in SL at the recent
World Championships, was third (1:53.81).

Schlopy, starting 32nd, was 14th in the first run and moved up to fifth
with a 1:54.23 clocking. He is the lone American racing in Japan.

The Shiga Kogen visit, which began Thursday with a giant slalom (and
Schlopy in 21st place behind victorious Herman Maier of Austria), ends
Sunday with another slalom.

CAFE de COLOMBIA WORLD CUP
Shiga Kogen, NOR - Feb. 17
Men's Slalom

1. Patrick Bourgeat, France, 1:53.51
2. Heinz Schilchegger, Austria, 1:53.74
3. Benjamin Raich, Austria, 1:53.81
4. Hans-Petter Buraas, Norway, 1:53.95
5. Erik Schlopy, Park City, Utah, 1:54.23
--
Cafe de Colombia World Cup
Men's Overall
1. Herman Maier, Austria - 1,173 points
2. (tie) Lasse Kjus, Norway, and Michael Von Gruenigen, Switzerland, 669
each
4. Raich, 665
5. Kjetil Andre Aamodt, Norway, 628
-
14. Schlopy, 354
--
Men's Slalom (7 races)
1. Raich, 405
2. Buraas, 340
3. Schilchegger, 365
4. Mario Matt, Austria, 276
5. Aamodt, 255
-
19. Schlopy, 84

                                       - Best in the World! -