Laurenne Ross beats stacked SG field as Shiffrin makes debut

By Published On: November 19th, 2014Comments Off on Laurenne Ross beats stacked SG field as Shiffrin makes debut
The ladies prepare for the FIS super G at Copper Mountain on Wednesday. Laurenne Ross picked up a win among a stacked World Cup field, as Mikaela Shiffrin made her SG debut. Mintz/SR

The ladies prepare for the FIS super G at Copper Mountain on Wednesday. Mintz/SR

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

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About the Author: Geoff Mintz

Geoff Mintz is a former alpine ski racer who cut his teeth at Ragged Mountain and Waterville Valley, N.H. After graduating from Holderness and UVM, he relocated to Colorado, where he worked on the hill prior to pursuing a career in journalism. Mintz served as associate editor for Ski Racing Media from 2011 to 2015. He later reconnected with his local roots to manage all marketing and communications for Ski & Snowboard Club Vail before resuming work at SRM as editor-in-chief.