YOUR AD HERE »

Lindsey Vonn powers to victory in World Cup super-G race

JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
United States' Lindsey Vonn celebrates in the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Marco Tacca)
AP | AP

VAL D’ISERE, France — Lindsey Vonn powered down a shortened course to win a World Cup super-G race on Saturday and clinch her first victory of the season.

It was the 33-year-old American skier’s 78th World Cup race win, but her first since winning a downhill at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in January.

Her last super-G victory was at Cortina d’Ampezzo in January 2016.



The four-time World Cup winner clocked 1 minute, 4.86 seconds, with Italian Sofia Goggia second in 1:05.17 and Norwegian Ragnhild Mowinckel third in 1:05.25.

Heavy snowfall in the past two days meant that the Oreiller-Killy course was shorter than normal.



Vonn started sixth and gained significant time through the middle and bottom sections, although she almost lost balance near the end.

Her joy was evident as she raised both arms in the air. She then hugged U.S. teammate Laurenne Ross. Moments later, Vonn hugged her father, who had come to watch her at the French Alpine resort that has brought his daughter so much success.

“I think I skied well,” Vonn said. “I’m really happy we had a race today, and my dad’s here. ‘Hi, Dad.’”

It was a welcome relief for Vonn, who last Saturday jarred her back early in a super-G at St. Moritz in Switzerland and completed the race in obvious pain in 24th place. She pulled out of the next day’s scheduled super-G, which was canceled.

Saturday’s downhill at Val d’Isere was canceled and replaced by a super-G. There is another super-G scheduled for Sunday.

After seven racers had started, the race was briefly held up because of heavy fog at the top. It resumed after a few minutes.

Lara Gut, winner of 11 super-G races in her career, started from ninth but failed to challenge and drifted down to ninth place. Olympic super-G champion Anna Veith managed only 15th.

French hopes of a home podium were briefly raised when giant slalom specialist Tessa Worley — fourth in super-G at Lake Louise two weeks ago — led Vonn by .06 seconds on her first split time.

But like Gut, Veith and others, she lost considerable time in the middle and bottom sections and placed 27th.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

As a Summit Daily News reader, you make our work possible.

Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The full project is expected to cost about $165,000. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.