Renate Goetschl comes from the small, rural village of Obdach in central Austria.
It is an area better known for auto racing than skiing, with the Austrian Grand Prix's A1-Ring circuit in Spielberg located a few kilometers down the road.
Goetschl has won races in Austria before, but this northeastern Italian resort, just south of the Austrian border, has become her preferred stop on the World Cup circuit.
Goetschl's super-G win Friday gave her five victories in Cortina, matching the record first set by local favorite Isolde Kostner of Italy.
"Cortina has always been one of my favorite places, so it's always nice to win here," Goetschl said. "When I retire I'll return here to shop and spend a vacation."
Kostner, still regaining her form after suffering a concussion in training last season, finished 20th.
Goetschl, the 2000 overall World Cup champion, has already returned to top form after tearing up her knee two seasons ago. Last year she won two races here, her first since the injury, and with two downhills on the program for today and tomorrow, she is threatening to take over the title of Cortina's "queen" from "Isi," which is how the locals refer to Kostner, who hails from nearby Val Gardena.
Goetschl is already referred to as the "speed queen" in Austria, according to Heinz Proller, a ski commentator for Austrian TV.
"Renate is the more complete skier," Proller said. "She also can ski giant slalom and slalom. It's surprising she has never won a giant slalom. She was the youngest to ever win a slalom at 17. Kostner is very good on straight downhills, while Renate is a very good all around skier and the tougher girl. They are both very ambitious."
Kostner, 28 like Goetschl, was feeling good entering Friday's race after posting the third fastest time in Thursday's downhill training. She lost time in her super-G run by taking a couple of turns too wide, causing the hopeful crowd to let out a loud gasp.
"To err is human and to ski poorly is human also," Kostner said. "I skied how I wanted to today, I just didn't have the peace of mind to take the curves well."
Proller said Kostner is "close" to winning again.
Martina Ertl of Germany was the runner-up Friday, 0.43 seconds behind Goetschl's winning time of 1 minute, 10.59 seconds, and countrywoman Hilde Gerg finished third, 0.43 seconds back.
The victory was Goetschl's fourth this season and it moved her within 72 points of Swedish technical expert Anja Paerson atop the overall World Cup standings. Paerson finished 14th.
Goetschl said she wasn't thinking about the overall standings now.
"It's a long season and there are a lot of races," she said. "But I feel confident now. I entered the season hoping to win one of the small globes for downhill or super-G, now maybe I'll win the big globe.
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