BEAVER CREEK, CO (Feb. 3. 2015)—The 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships began Tuesday with the women’s super G in Vail/Beaver Creek, CO. In front of her hometown fans, Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) skied her way to a podium spot, taking the bronze medal. All four American starters finished in the top 15.
The morning’s forecast of windy conditions and snow flurries proved to be correct. The women’s super G was slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. at the usual super G start on Beaver Creek’s famed Birds of Prey course, but due to the weather, officials delayed the start time and moved the start gate down to the reserve start, making the course shorter than normal.
Once things got underway, the windy conditions proved to be challenging for the international field of 46 racers. Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) was the first U.S. racer to drop into the course, starting 11th. Mancuso skied aggressively, per usual, but made a few mistakes that kept her from a medaling.
Mancuso finishes in the top 10, taking a solid ninth place. (Getty Images-Doug Pensinger)
“The super G was a lot of fun,” said Mancuso. “I definitely had some mistakes on my run. It wasn’t a perfect run, but it was a top-10 run.”
Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA), who won Monday’s downhill training run, skied soon after Mancuso, and also had a challenging run.
“Super G has been a tough event for me this year. I haven’t yet found my groove,” said Cook. “I‘m happy with some of the turns that I made. Obviously, only medals count, but there were definitely some positives for me to take out of today.”
Wearing bib 18, Vonn dropped in to the cheers of her hometown fans. She was a bit stiff and hesitant on the top turns, which was reflected in her first split's time—nearly half a second out of the lead.
However, as Vonn skied down the course she started to make up time towards the third split, creeping milliseconds under the leader's pace. As she crossed the finish line, Vonn had a tenth of a second lead. She held first place for a short time as Slovenia’s Tina Maze immediately followed Vonn and quickly usurped Vonn by .12.
“I thought I skied really well. I’m happy with the way I skied and with the result. I just wish that the weather was a little bit better,” said Vonn. “I definitely had a pretty strong headwind right out of the starting gate and for the first couple of gates. I fought my way down. On the bottom part where there wasn’t any wind, I was pretty fast.”
Lindsey Vonn just missed first place by .15 seconds, grabbing the bronze. (Getty Images-AFP/Fabrice Coffrini)
In the end, Austria’s Anna Fenninger skied the fastest time of the day. Always a viable contender in super G, Fenninger skied a nearly flawless race down the shortened Raptor course. “Anna [Fenninger] skied very well and I’m very proud to be on the podium with those two,” said Vonn.
The women’s downhill training run on Wednesday was canceled due to weather, while the men’s super G is still on tap. The women’s speed team will race next race on Friday for the World Championships downhill.
HIGHLIGHTS
Maze has won a slalom, a GS and a downhill this season. She was looking for the super G win, but missed it by .03.
Fenninger said the race was a "dream come true."
Vonn said she was a bit disappointed with the wind, but “that’s ski racing for ya!” She’s looking forward to Friday’s downhill and better weather.
Tiger Woods was in attendance, supporting Vonn.
Four female racers represented the U.S. Ski Team in the super G: Vonn finished 3rd, Mancuso was 9th, Cook came in 13th, and Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) finished 15th.
QUOTES Lindsey Vonn I thought I skied really well. I’m happy with the way I skied and with the result. I just wish that the weather was a little bit better. I definitely had a pretty strong headwind right out of the starting gate and for the first couple of gates. I was already three tenths out in the first 20 seconds; it’s a little hard to make up that time! I fought my way down. On the bottom part where there wasn’t any wind, I was pretty fast. I’m hopeful that for Friday there will be good weather, so I just want a fair race and a chance to get on the podium.
I was a little bit nervous. I felt like I had it under control. I maybe was a little stiff in the first couple of gates and a little round, but that’s nitpicking. I thought I skied well and I was clean. I did my best! Sometimes luck is on your side. A couple gusts crossed me, but at the same time, Anna [Fenninger] skied very well and I’m very proud to be on the podium with those two.
Julia Mancuso The super G was a lot of fun. I definitely had some mistakes on my run. It wasn’t a perfect run, but it was a top-10 run. I felt good about it. Do I know where I could be two seconds faster? That would be hard. I just have to look forward to skiing better in the downhill.
Stacey Cook Super G has been a tough event for me this year. I haven’t yet found my groove. I had a really good feeling yesterday skiing and tried to carry that into today. I‘m happy with some of the turns that I made. Obviously, only medals count, but there were definitely some positives for me to take out of today.
World Championships is a fun, big deal. When they lowered the start, you could actually hear the crowd after every racer. I’ve never experienced that my entire racing career, except for maybe in a slalom. In a super G, no way. I’m glad we had this opportunity before the downhill. It’s a good warmup.
Laurenne Ross I just try to always be happy no matter what. I didn’t have any expectations coming into this day. I just wanted to ski my best. I definitely was a little bit passive and I’m going to learn from that and take it into the downhill. It’s really nice to have so many home fans here. To see the crowd from the start was really, really cool.
