Skiing Riesch seeking double German gold in slalom

After Kathrin Hoelzl's shock win in the women's giant slalom, Germany will be looking to slalom specialist Maria Riesch to deliver a second gong for the medal-starved nation.

Hoelzl's gold was Germany's first in a major ski event since Martina Ertl's super combined triumph in the 2001 worlds, and the newly-crowned giant slalom titleholder said her thoughts were now with close friend Riesch.

"We have a very good relationship," Hoelzl said. "We often share rooms and she was really happy for me. Now I'm rooting for her to get a medal in Saturday's slalom."

Riesch stands second in the World Cup overall standings behind Lindsey Vonn, who has won Super-G and downhill gold here.

Unfortunately, the American sliced her thumb on a champagne bottle when celebrating her downhill victory and had to pull out of the super combined and giant slalom.

She is still uncertain for Saturday's slalom, saying she will not race if she feels she cannot give it her best or if her thumb gives her "extreme pain".

Vonn underwent surgery in Innsbruck on Tuesday and doctors there said there was normally a three-month recuperation period for similar injuries, but the skier insisted she was going all out to make the start list.

"Hopefully it works for the race," said the 24-year-old, who has three modelled splints to immobilise the thumb, including one designed for slalom racing, during which racers frequently cuff poles with their begloved hands.

Vonn was to undergo intensive slalom training on Friday to see if she will be fit. After a free ski on Thursday, she complained about the pain in her hand.

"When I was hitting gates, there was a lot of pressure and vibration on the fingers. We have to come up with a solution to lessen the forces on my fingers," she said.

"Downhill, Super-G and giant slalom would be okay. Slalom's going to be the toughest. It's not going to be possible to ski without a lot of pain. We're going to try to find the solution."

Vonn added that the slalom would be very open.

"Maria Riesch has had a great season," she said of her rival whom she has also classed as a very close friend.

Giant slalom bronze medallist "Tanja Poutiainen is always good in big events and knows how to ski clever".

"Anja Paerson could be good... and Sarka Zahrobska is the reigning champion. There's a lot of possibilities especially with this hill being so difficult."

Riesch finished second in the slalom behind Vonn in the last event before the worlds, in the German's home town of Garmisch.

The slalom features the shortest course at the worlds but gates are closer together and skiers are obliged to make quick, rapid-fire turns.

One centimetre out and a skier risks adding herself to the estimated 10 percent of the field that does not complete the course.

The women's races will be held on the Bellevarde piste, and the racer will have to negotiate 40-60 gates, each marked with alternating red and blue flags.

The skiers are not allowed to have any practice runs on the actual course but are allowed to ski alongside the course in pre-race inspections.