2010 Winter Olympics Alpine Ski Racing Preview - Women's Giant Slalom

You can be sure that by now all the major ski racing nations have their athletes in dryland training. In fact, many are actually heading to glaciers and to South America for on-snow training.

This is a good time to polish up the foggy Olympic crystal ball to see what teams are the teams to watch in each event and which individuals loom as favorites or as the dark horses. A look back at who came out on top in last years races and competition events is a good place to start. Not only was it a tune-up for the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver, BC, but it was also a World Championship race year in Val d'Isere, France.

Most of the ski racers competing in Vancouver will be the returning veterans who have raced on their country's World Cup A Team. Turning the microscope on the 2009 World Cup, overall Ladies Giant Slalom results Kathrin Zettel of Austria GS Champ was the lioness in 09 - 4 golds and a 5th and 8th. However, Tanja Poutianinen of Finland finished only a point behind!

The 2009 World Championship Ladies Giant Slalom competition saw a slight upset but the third through tenth racers all finished with their combined times in the same second!

Here is a look back at the 2009 Women's Giant Slalom results.

More: 2010 Winter Olympic Skiing

_{Photo Kathrin Zettel Copyright Agence Zoom/Getty Images}