Lindh Turns Deaf Ear To Coach And Announces Her Retirement

Hilary Lindh, who became a world champion by taking advice from her coach, finally stopped listening on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Lindh, who won the downhill gold medal in the world championships last month, said that this season, her 13th, would be her last.

U.S. Ski Team women’s coach Herwig Demschar “talked to me an hour and a half yesterday trying to convince me that I should hold off on my decision,” Lindh said during a news conference after Thursday’s races in the World Cup Finals. “The final agreement was that I would allow myself that possibility (of skiing next season). I’m not planning on changing my mind, but I guess there’s always that option.”

Lindh almost retired last year, until Demschar helped change her mind.

Lindh’s last skiing appearance will be in next week’s U.S. Nationals at Sugarloaf, Maine.

Luc Alphand of France collected another World Cup crystal globe despite skiing poorly for the second straight day in Vail, Colo.

Alphand, 31, finished ninth in a super-G at the World Cup Finals, adding the season’s super-G title to his downhill crown.

But Alphand had his lead over Kjetil Andre Aamodt of Norway in the overall standings reduced to 106 points.

Alphand does not ski in the final two events here - the giant slalom and slalom - leaving the outcome riding on Aamodt. A race victory is worth 100 points, second place 80 and third place 60.