Laurenne Ross beats stacked SG field as Shiffrin makes debut
COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — It was the tale of two races for Laurenne Ross, who won the second of two FIS super G competitions at Copper Mountain on Wednesday. Ross beat an impressive international field that included first-race winner Ilka Stuhec, Viktoria Rebensburg, Tina Weirather and others.
Also notably present in both events was Mikaela Shiffrin, racing in her first super G since Sochi in 2013. Prior to that, it was a 2010 Panorama NorAm, where she snagged a podium. On Wednesday, Shiffrin finished 16th and 15th, respectively. She was less than thrilled with how she skied and the result, but remained upbeat and positive after the race.
“I felt good when I was training. Yesterday, I felt really awesome, but today I took my foot off the gas little bit on the first run,” said Shiffrin. “On the second run, I got more air than I anticipated, and I didn’t know how to handle that. I’m trying to take it all in stride and learn as much as I can.”
The race comes on the heels of a tough result for Shiffrin at the World Cup slalom opener in Levi, Finland, where she finished an uncharacteristic 11th place.
Shiffrin and her coach, Roland Pfeifer, have made no secret of the young racer’s ambitions to branch out into speed this season. The races Wednesday appeared perfectly suited for Shiffrin, who needed to lower her points to at least 80 in order to be eligible for Val d’Isere, their intended jumping off point on the World Cup calendar for the talented young competitor.
The first race of the day was characterized as turny by many athletes; it was straightened out quite a bit for the second race, which likely contributed to finish times almost two seconds faster. With Ross’ winning second-race time of 1 minutes, 6.89 seconds, it was hardly a typical-length super G for the ladies, but FIS homologated, nonetheless.
The respective podiums for the day are as follows: Stuhec (SLO), Rebensburg (GER), Weirather (LIE) in the first race and Ross, Stuhec, Michaela Wenig (GER) in the second race. Undoubtedly, it’s an encouraging performance by the German, Wenig, who’s made just two super G starts on the World Cup tour, the better of which was a 37th-place result in Lake Louise.
Shiffrin’s super G points heading into the day were 88.56, ranking her 618th in the world. In order to start in a World Cup super G, she needed 80 or fewer points in the discipline — which she achieved, scoring 29.96 and 27.08 points in the races to earn a 28.52 point profile in super G.
Prior to the races, it appeared to be a given that fans would see Shiffrin hop in a super G or two this season in hopes of making a run at the 2015 World Championships in Beaver Creek. After the race, however, she said nothing is certain.
“We’ll see. I have some stuff to work on in my slalom — and my GS, too. We’ll see if it ends up working out,” said Shiffrin. “The goal was to give myself a chance, and I think I’ll be able to do that now. … I think it’s a little dream that I have to race the World Championship super G so I can race three races in my hometown — that would be so cool. But I don’t really want to race unless I have a shot at winning.”
For the American Ross, after winning the day’s second competition, it was all smiles at the bottom of the Copper Speed Center course. She improved from eighth on her first lap to outpace Stuhec by a quarter-second in the latter race.
“I was just a little bit more aggressive with my skiing,” said Ross. “I took a little bit of a deeper line. I was a little bit more level and technically skiing better and pinning it a little more.”
Ross, who slipped out of the top-30 in super G last season, said she knew she was skiing fast, and Wednesday’s race is just the start she needed to build early momentum heading into the season.
“It’s just a good boost of confidence to know that I can be in there among a World Cup field,” said Ross. “I knew I was skiing this fast. I was a little disappointed after first run because I didn’t ski my best, and I was leaning in and just not really gunning it. I got those race jitters out of the way, got in the gate and told myself to go for it. I’m not necessarily surprised, but I am really happy with it.”
“The first run was pretty turny and the second run was pretty straight,” said Rebensburg, who finished second and sixth. “But for me, it’s the first training for me here on super G skis, so it was good to get a feeling for it. I recently changed equipment and here (in Colorado) the snow is totally different than in Europe because the snow is aggressive. But right now, everything is looking good.”
It was strong day of racing for a number of other Americans, including Katie Ryan (seventh in the second race), Leanne Smith (seventh in the first race), Breezy Johnson (11th in the first race), Alice McKennis (11th in the second race), Julia Ford (14th in the second race) and Jackie Wiles (14th in the second race).
The ladies will continue to utilize the now-full-length Copper Speed Center training course in preparation for the speed opener in Lake Louise on Dec. 5.
This article was edited on Nov. 20 to correct information regarding FIS point requirements.
RESULTS
Race 1
Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time | Diff. | FIS Points | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 13 | 565360 | STUHEC Ilka | 1990 | SLO | 1:08.52 | 9.00 | |||
2 | 2 | 205218 | REBENSBURG Viktoria | 1989 | GER | 1:08.67 | +0.15 | 11.36 | ||
3 | 6 | 355050 | WEIRATHER Tina | 1989 | LIE | 1:08.84 | +0.32 | 14.04 | ||
4 | 16 | 196968 | BAILET Margot | 1990 | FRA | 1:09.02 | +0.50 | 16.88 | ||
5 | 15 | 106849 | YURKIW Larisa | 1988 | CAN | 1:09.12 | +0.60 | 18.46 | ||
6 | 12 | 516319 | SUTER Corinne | 1994 | SUI | 1:09.15 | +0.63 | 18.93 | ||
7 | 9 | 538305 | SMITH Leanne | 1987 | USA | 1:09.18 | +0.66 | 19.40 | ||
8 | 67 | 538573 | ROSS Laurenne | 1988 | USA | 1:09.27 | +0.75 | 20.82 | ||
9 | 14 | 505886 | KLING Kajsa | 1988 | SWE | 1:09.51 | +0.99 | 24.60 | ||
10 | 8 | 515747 | GISIN Dominique | 1985 | SUI | 1:09.52 | +1.00 | 24.76 | ||
11 | 37 | 6535455 | JOHNSON Breezy | 1996 | USA | 1:09.53 | +1.01 | 24.92 | ||
12 | 26 | 206460 | WENIG Michaela | 1992 | GER | 1:09.69 | +1.17 | 27.44 | ||
13 | 36 | 538685 | MCKENNIS Alice | 1989 | USA | 1:09.79 | +1.27 | 29.02 | ||
14 | 29 | 538855 | FORD Julia | 1990 | USA | 1:09.82 | +1.30 | 29.49 | ||
14 | 1 | 425880 | SEJERSTED Lotte Smiseth | 1991 | NOR | 1:09.82 | +1.30 | 29.49 | ||
16 | 52 | 6535237 | SHIFFRIN Mikaela | 1995 | USA | 1:09.85 | +1.33 | 29.96 | ||
17 | 10 | 515766 | SUTER Fabienne | 1985 | SUI | 1:09.98 | +1.46 | 32.01 | ||
18 | 25 | 539536 | WILES Jacqueline | 1992 | USA | 1:09.99 | +1.47 | 32.17 | ||
19 | 28 | 206355 | DUERR Lena | 1991 | GER | 1:10.02 | +1.50 | 32.64 | ||
20 | 4 | 195983 | ROLLAND Marion | 1982 | FRA | 1:10.17 | +1.65 | 35.01 | ||
21 | 27 | 196812 | PELLISSIER Marion | 1988 | FRA | 1:10.19 | +1.67 | 35.32 | ||
21 | 7 | 425929 | MOWINCKEL Ragnhild | 1992 | NOR | 1:10.19 | +1.67 | 35.32 | ||
23 | 22 | 539685 | RYAN Katie | 1993 | USA | 1:10.21 | +1.69 | 35.64 | ||
24 | 39 | 206444 | HOESL Simona | 1992 | GER | 1:10.29 | +1.77 | 36.90 | ||
25 | 35 | 485632 | BEDAREVA Maria | 1992 | RUS | 1:10.32 | +1.80 | 37.37 | ||
26 | 11 | 196460 | JAY MARCHAND-ARVIER Marie | 1985 | FRA | 1:10.33 | +1.81 | 37.53 | ||
27 | 23 | 565320 | FERK Marusa | 1988 | SLO | 1:10.36 | +1.84 | 38.00 | ||
28 | 69 | 539457 | MARNO Anna | 1992 | USA | 1:10.39 | +1.87 | 38.47 | ||
29 | 57 | 6535934 | KLOMHAUS Storm | 1998 | USA | 1:10.53 | +2.01 | 40.68 | ||
30 | 33 | 539932 | IRWIN Katharine | 1994 | USA | 1:10.55 | +2.03 | 41.00 | ||
31 | 42 | 6535765 | MANGAN Patricia | 1997 | USA | 1:10.56 | +2.04 | 41.15 | ||
32 | 17 | 197592 | REILLER Gaelle | 1995 | FRA | 1:10.57 | +2.05 | 41.31 | ||
33 | 38 | 485749 | PROKOPYEVA Aleksandra | 1994 | RUS | 1:10.64 | +2.12 | 42.42 | ||
34 | 32 | 197006 | GAUTHIER Marine | 1990 | FRA | 1:10.67 | +2.15 | 42.89 | ||
35 | 41 | 6535759 | LEBBY Stephanie | 1997 | USA | 1:10.76 | +2.24 | 44.31 | ||
36 | 24 | 155563 | KRIZOVA Klara | 1989 | CZE | 1:10.83 | +2.31 | 45.41 | ||
37 | 21 | 539363 | GHENT Abby | 1992 | USA | 1:11.07 | +2.55 | 49.19 | ||
38 | 31 | 197665 | LARROUY Noemie | 1995 | FRA | 1:11.33 | +2.81 | 53.29 | ||
39 | 20 | 197641 | GAUCHE Laura | 1995 | FRA | 1:11.37 | +2.85 | 53.92 | ||
40 | 5 | 206367 | HRONEK Veronique | 1991 | GER | 1:11.88 | +3.36 | 61.96 | ||
41 | 76 | 426262 | SELVAAG Josefine | 1998 | NOR | 1:12.31 | +3.79 | 68.74 | ||
42 | 48 | 6535163 | CALCAGNI Lexi | 1995 | USA | 1:12.35 | +3.83 | 69.37 | ||
43 | 40 | 485807 | OVCHINIKOVA Daria | 1995 | RUS | 1:12.51 | +3.99 | 71.89 | ||
44 | 47 | 6535561 | SOCKETT Kaitlynn | 1996 | USA | 1:12.60 | +4.08 | 73.31 | ||
45 | 44 | 385096 | POPOVIC Leona | 1997 | CRO | 1:13.38 | +4.86 | 85.60 | ||
46 | 75 | 206763 | RISPLER Lucia | 1998 | GER | 1:13.51 | +4.99 | 87.65 | ||
47 | 46 | 6535882 | DESROCHERS Rachael | 1997 | USA | 1:13.74 | +5.22 | 91.28 | ||
48 | 60 | 206761 | OSTLER Martina | 1998 | GER | 1:13.82 | +5.30 | 92.54 | ||
49 | 49 | 6535564 | WILSON Moriah | 1996 | USA | 1:13.88 | +5.36 | 93.48 | ||
50 | 53 | 206793 | DORIGO Fabiana | 1998 | GER | 1:14.42 | +5.90 | 101.99 | ||
51 | 50 | 6535762 | LORD Madison | 1997 | USA | 1:14.45 | +5.93 | 102.47 | ||
52 | 59 | 6535930 | WARDLE Galena | 1998 | USA | 1:14.87 | +6.35 | 109.09 | ||
53 | 58 | 6535941 | PARKE Juliette | 1998 | USA | 1:14.90 | +6.38 | 109.56 | ||
54 | 45 | 107512 | TURNER Andrea | 1995 | CAN | 1:15.59 | +7.07 | 120.44 | ||
55 | 54 | 6536025 | HATHORNE Clara | 1998 | USA | 1:15.86 | +7.34 | 124.69 | ||
56 | 51 | 225595 | GUEST Katharine | 1995 | GBR | 1:16.54 | +8.02 | 135.41 | ||
Disqualified 1st run | ||||||||||
3 | 495318 | RUIZ CASTILLO Carolina | 1981 | SPA | ||||||
Did not start 1st run | ||||||||||
68 | 197295 | PIOT Jennifer | 1992 | FRA | ||||||
34 | 515782 | ABDERHALDEN Marianne | 1986 | SUI | ||||||
Did not finish 1st run | ||||||||||
43 | 6535773 | O BRIEN Nina | 1997 | USA |
Race 2
Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time | Diff. | FIS Points | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 67 | 538573 | ROSS Laurenne | 1988 | USA | 1:06.89 | 9.00 | |||
2 | 3 | 565360 | STUHEC Ilka | 1990 | SLO | 1:07.14 | +0.25 | 13.04 | ||
3 | 26 | 206460 | WENIG Michaela | 1992 | GER | 1:07.32 | +0.43 | 15.94 | ||
4 | 16 | 196968 | BAILET Margot | 1990 | FRA | 1:07.43 | +0.54 | 17.72 | ||
5 | 27 | 196812 | PELLISSIER Marion | 1988 | FRA | 1:07.46 | +0.57 | 18.20 | ||
6 | 14 | 205218 | REBENSBURG Viktoria | 1989 | GER | 1:07.53 | +0.64 | 19.33 | ||
7 | 22 | 539685 | RYAN Katie | 1993 | USA | 1:07.60 | +0.71 | 20.46 | ||
8 | 13 | 516319 | SUTER Corinne | 1994 | SUI | 1:07.63 | +0.74 | 20.95 | ||
9 | 10 | 425929 | MOWINCKEL Ragnhild | 1992 | NOR | 1:07.64 | +0.75 | 21.11 | ||
10 | 12 | 355050 | WEIRATHER Tina | 1989 | LIE | 1:07.70 | +0.81 | 22.08 | ||
11 | 36 | 538685 | MCKENNIS Alice | 1989 | USA | 1:07.75 | +0.86 | 22.89 | ||
12 | 28 | 206355 | DUERR Lena | 1991 | GER | 1:07.78 | +0.89 | 23.37 | ||
13 | 23 | 565320 | FERK Marusa | 1988 | SLO | 1:07.79 | +0.90 | 23.53 | ||
14 | 25 | 539536 | WILES Jacqueline | 1992 | USA | 1:07.80 | +0.91 | 23.69 | ||
15 | 52 | 6535237 | SHIFFRIN Mikaela | 1995 | USA | 1:08.01 | +1.12 | 27.08 | ||
16 | 5 | 106849 | YURKIW Larisa | 1988 | CAN | 1:08.02 | +1.13 | 27.24 | ||
17 | 4 | 425880 | SEJERSTED Lotte Smiseth | 1991 | NOR | 1:08.13 | +1.24 | 29.02 | ||
17 | 2 | 515766 | SUTER Fabienne | 1985 | SUI | 1:08.13 | +1.24 | 29.02 | ||
19 | 7 | 505886 | KLING Kajsa | 1988 | SWE | 1:08.14 | +1.25 | 29.18 | ||
20 | 1 | 495318 | RUIZ CASTILLO Carolina | 1981 | SPA | 1:08.20 | +1.31 | 30.15 | ||
21 | 6 | 515747 | GISIN Dominique | 1985 | SUI | 1:08.21 | +1.32 | 30.31 | ||
22 | 39 | 206444 | HOESL Simona | 1992 | GER | 1:08.25 | +1.36 | 30.96 | ||
23 | 8 | 195983 | ROLLAND Marion | 1982 | FRA | 1:08.32 | +1.43 | 32.09 | ||
24 | 35 | 485632 | BEDAREVA Maria | 1992 | RUS | 1:08.52 | +1.63 | 35.32 | ||
25 | 38 | 485749 | PROKOPYEVA Aleksandra | 1994 | RUS | 1:08.55 | +1.66 | 35.80 | ||
26 | 33 | 539932 | IRWIN Katharine | 1994 | USA | 1:08.60 | +1.71 | 36.61 | ||
27 | 29 | 538855 | FORD Julia | 1990 | USA | 1:08.72 | +1.83 | 38.55 | ||
28 | 37 | 6535455 | JOHNSON Breezy | 1996 | USA | 1:08.81 | +1.92 | 40.00 | ||
29 | 32 | 197006 | GAUTHIER Marine | 1990 | FRA | 1:08.97 | +2.08 | 42.58 | ||
30 | 21 | 539363 | GHENT Abby | 1992 | USA | 1:09.01 | +2.12 | 43.23 | ||
31 | 20 | 197641 | GAUCHE Laura | 1995 | FRA | 1:09.05 | +2.16 | 43.88 | ||
32 | 42 | 6535765 | MANGAN Patricia | 1997 | USA | 1:09.23 | +2.34 | 46.78 | ||
33 | 15 | 196460 | JAY MARCHAND-ARVIER Marie | 1985 | FRA | 1:09.35 | +2.46 | 48.72 | ||
34 | 17 | 197592 | REILLER Gaelle | 1995 | FRA | 1:09.43 | +2.54 | 50.01 | ||
35 | 69 | 539457 | MARNO Anna | 1992 | USA | 1:09.57 | +2.68 | 52.27 | ||
36 | 31 | 197665 | LARROUY Noemie | 1995 | FRA | 1:09.76 | +2.87 | 55.34 | ||
37 | 43 | 6535773 | O BRIEN Nina | 1997 | USA | 1:09.79 | +2.90 | 55.82 | ||
38 | 24 | 155563 | KRIZOVA Klara | 1989 | CZE | 1:09.93 | +3.04 | 58.08 | ||
39 | 76 | 6535934 | KLOMHAUS Storm | 1998 | USA | 1:09.95 | +3.06 | 58.41 | ||
39 | 41 | 6535759 | LEBBY Stephanie | 1997 | USA | 1:09.95 | +3.06 | 58.41 | ||
41 | 9 | 206367 | HRONEK Veronique | 1991 | GER | 1:10.16 | +3.27 | 61.80 | ||
42 | 40 | 485807 | OVCHINIKOVA Daria | 1995 | RUS | 1:10.37 | +3.48 | 65.19 | ||
43 | 44 | 385096 | POPOVIC Leona | 1997 | CRO | 1:10.79 | +3.90 | 71.97 | ||
44 | 75 | 426262 | SELVAAG Josefine | 1998 | NOR | 1:10.84 | +3.95 | 72.78 | ||
45 | 48 | 6535163 | CALCAGNI Lexi | 1995 | USA | 1:10.86 | +3.97 | 73.10 | ||
46 | 58 | 206763 | RISPLER Lucia | 1998 | GER | 1:11.36 | +4.47 | 81.17 | ||
47 | 49 | 6535564 | WILSON Moriah | 1996 | USA | 1:12.18 | +5.29 | 94.41 | ||
48 | 46 | 6535882 | DESROCHERS Rachael | 1997 | USA | 1:12.46 | +5.57 | 98.93 | ||
49 | 60 | 6535941 | PARKE Juliette | 1998 | USA | 1:12.70 | +5.81 | 102.81 | ||
50 | 50 | 6535762 | LORD Madison | 1997 | USA | 1:12.93 | +6.04 | 106.52 | ||
51 | 59 | 206793 | DORIGO Fabiana | 1998 | GER | 1:13.11 | +6.22 | 109.43 | ||
52 | 57 | 206761 | OSTLER Martina | 1998 | GER | 1:13.17 | +6.28 | 110.40 | ||
53 | 54 | 6535930 | WARDLE Galena | 1998 | USA | 1:13.41 | +6.52 | 114.27 | ||
54 | 53 | 6536025 | HATHORNE Clara | 1998 | USA | 1:13.74 | +6.85 | 119.60 | ||
55 | 45 | 107512 | TURNER Andrea | 1995 | CAN | 1:14.49 | +7.60 | 131.71 | ||
Did not start 1st run | ||||||||||
68 | 197295 | PIOT Jennifer | 1992 | FRA | ||||||
34 | 515782 | ABDERHALDEN Marianne | 1986 | SUI | ||||||
Did not finish 1st run | ||||||||||
51 | 225595 | GUEST Katharine | 1995 | GBR | ||||||
47 | 6535561 | SOCKETT Kaitlynn | 1996 | USA | ||||||
11 | 538305 | SMITH Leanne | 1987 | USA |