VAL D'ISERE, France (Dec. 21, 2014) - Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) capped the speed weekend in Val d'Isere finishing sixth in an Audi FIS Ski World Cup super G. Austria's Elisabeth Goergl took the win, while Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) saw her hopes of matching the all-time win record dashed when she crashed near the top of the course. Four Americans cracked into the points.
Soft snow continued to be an issue over the weekend - ironically after so little had fallen in the weeks leading into the races. Mancuso continued to ski consistently and was pleased with where she's heading. "I decided to go with my instinct," she said. "It was a step in the right direction. I’m happy with my finish and I know where I can make up that half second."
Vonn skied well out of the start, but found herself caught short and went out, crashing but walking away relatively unscathed. "I skied pretty well on the top section, but I hit some softer snow and lost a little elevation and couldn’t make the gate," she said. "I’m still happy with today. I skied well and aggressively. The most important thing is my knees are good. I love being on the World Cup again and pushing myself every day. Today wasn’t as good as yesterday, but I’m skiing well."
Her quest to match the record 62 women's World Cup wins held by Annemarie Moser-Proell will have to wait. Vonn earned number 61 on Saturday. The speed tour resumes in January with downhill and super G stops in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Cortina and St. Moritz.
In addition to Mancuso, Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) was 13th, Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) 22nd and Jackie Wiles 30th.
Lindsey Vonn was charging hard before crashing in the Val d'Isere super G. (Getty Images/AFP)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Lindsey Vonn will have to wait to challenge the 62-win record of Annemarie Moser-Proell, crashing near the top of the course. She remained third in the overall World Cup standings.
- The Audi FIS Ski World Cup tour Sunday moved the scheduled holiday races in Semmering, Austria (near Vienna) to Innsbruck, now set for Dec. 28-29 with a giant slalom and slalom. Vonn is expected back in action Jan. 10-11 with a downhill and super G in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria - kicking off three straight weekends of women's speed racing leading up to the 2015 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek.
QUOTES
Julia Mancuso
My plan today was just to ski. Yesterday I tried too hard. I really wanted it, but the snow was just too soft and I was grinding. Today I had a fast inspection and I wasn’t really nervous. I decided to go with my instinct. It was a step in the right direction. I’m happy with my finish and I know where I can make up that half second.
It was a lot of fun, but you had to be on it with a little bit of risk. Being loose and relaxed on the terrain really helps. You can’t be too stiff and too perfect in super G. It’s all about charging to the finish line.
Lindsey Vonn
I skied pretty well on the top section, but I hit some softer snow and lost a little elevation and couldn’t make the gate. I’m still happy with today. I skied well and aggressively. The most important thing is my knees are good. I love being on the World Cup again and pushing myself every day. Today wasn’t as good as yesterday, but I’m skiing well.
I must have hit my elbow on something when I was crashing. It’s swollen, but I think it’s just a bruise, not a big deal. My knees are fine. As long as my knees are fine, I’m fine.
I don’t feel any pressure about the record, but I’m just a little tired today. Yesterday was a really long day. I didn’t feel as sharp as I normally do. But that happens. Yesterday was a very long, great day, but it takes a lot of energy to be going all day.
I just want to focus on good skiing. I just pushed it a little too hard today. It was not an easy course. I am very excited for January. Hopefully I can get into a good rhythm and we can stop talking about the record. It’s a great time for a break for me.
RESULTS
Official Results
