Slovenia awaits crowning of alpine queen Maze

When Tina Maze clicks into her skis next week in Maribor, the Slovenian fully expects to be heralded as an historic World Cup champion -- 13 races before the end of the season. Maze, the overall World Cup leader, capped another successful weekend by leaving closest challenger, German Maria Hoefl-Riesch, even further in her wake. A runner-up place behind four-time World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn in the downhill, and a third place finish in the super-G, left the 29-year-old with a huge total of 1474 points. Hoefl-Riesch, overall champion in 2011, remains second but is now 718 points adrift after failing to finish the downhill and finishing 19th a day later. "Slovenia has really been getting excited about my success this season. But for me, every day is a celebration when you're skiing this good," said Maze. "It will probably be crazy in Maribor next week." In what is a comparative off-season for both Vonn and Hoefl-Riesch, Maze has taken full advantage to put Slovenia -- which has strong links to the sport but never produced an overall World Cup champion -- firmly on the alpine map. Maze's success, however, is not down to the setbacks suffered by her rivals. She broke into the overall top 10 (ninth) in 2009 and has since made steady progress, finishing third in 2011 and runner-up to Vonn last year. In alpine, it takes years for most skiers to hone the skills necessary to challenge for the coveted overall title. Months of hard work are also spent each summer building the strength and stamina needed for the demanding 30-plus race circuit from October to March. Maze has cited the extra training she did last summer as one of the keys to her success this season. But Italian Andrea Massi, a former coach with Slovenia's ski team, who took over as Maze's personal trainer in 2008, admits success has not come overnight. "In our first year together Tina wasn't in great condition. Every year since then I have been pushing her more and more and she has been getting stronger," Massi told AFP. "We do a lot of base training using athletics events like jumping and sprinting, working on power and balance. "It's a little different from the other skiers. We don't do a lot of cycling, for example. For me, you ski on your legs, you don't sit on a saddle." Fitter and stronger, Maze has arguably been given an extra boost. Vonn was hospitalised with an intestinal ailment earlier in the season and, after returning successfully to the circuit, the American took a one-month break from competition. Recently, Vonn's divorce was finalised and she has also admitted to suffering from depression for a number of years. Now fourth overall, the 29-year-old's four-year grip on the super-G crown is now under threat by Maze, who has a four-point lead. Maze's maiden super-G win last week meant she became just the sixth woman to win all five disciplines in the World Cup. It is a remarkable turnaround for a skier who achieved 10 podium places but no wins last season. The winner of six races this season, Maze is likely to at least equal the World Cup record of 2000 points for a season, held by Austrian great Hermann Maier. She admits: "I know this could be the single greatest season of my career." But on her quest, she could add the World Cup titles in the slalom, giant slalom, super-G and combined. Heading into Maribor, Maze is leading in every alpine discipline except the downhill and slalom. She sits third in the first and is second in the latter. From AFP