Lindsey Vonn scores GS career best: Fourth place
The second run of the Aspen Winternational delivered a series of surprises. For starters, 19 year-old Frenchwoman Tessa Worley nabbed her first World Cup podium and win, for that matter. “Her story is interesting, because her dad is Australian. So her accent is funny—can’t quite figure that one out. But she’s a nice girl so I’m happy for her,” says American Lindsey Vonn.
Vonn, too, experienced a career first, placing fourth, which is her best GS finish to date. “It’s not so bad, fourth place—my personal best result in GS, especially after skiing one GS in one month and after an injury that could’ve put me out for the entire season. I’m really, really happy,” she says.
The second run of the Aspen Winternational delivered a series of surprises. For starters, 19 year-old Frenchwoman Tessa Worley nabbed her first World Cup podium and win, for that matter. “Her story is interesting, because her dad is Australian. So her accent is funny—can’t quite figure that one out. But she’s a nice girl so I’m happy for her,” says American Lindsey Vonn.
Vonn, too, experienced a career first, placing fourth, which is her best GS finish to date. “It’s not so bad, fourth place—my personal best result in GS, especially after skiing one GS in one month and after an injury that could’ve put me out for the entire season. I’m really, really happy,” she says.
The weather skies dried up for the second run, but the conditions were still tough. First-run leader Denise Karbon experienced that toughness first-hand, and fell before she reached the finish, which moved her down to 15th place.
“It was rough and you really had to fight all the way down,” Vonn says. “I was able to hold a good line at the bottom where others couldn’t. I think conditioning plays a huge role.”
The other American women fared well, too, in spite of the tricky course. Julia Mancuso finished 7th, and was pleased with her run. “It was actually difficult, because there was a course slipper who fell right in front of me and I got distracted. But I made the top ten, so I’m psyched. I needed a little bit of a confidence booster,” Mancuso says.
Sarah Schleper de Gaxiola was slightly frustrated with her 13th place finish, because an old back injury resurfaced and plagued her with pain at every turn. “I had a few bad falls in training in Finland, so that sort of set it off,” Schleper de Gaxiola says. “But I’m going to stay in the present moment, and get psyched for tomorrow.”
Megan McJames rounded out the American second-run contingent, finishing 25th. ‘It was a challenging ride, and it got a little tough in the middle section, but I think it was like that for everyone. So, I did my best,” she says.
Considering the tricky conditions and 18 dnf’s today, the North American opening World Cup was a success. Finnish star Tanja Poutiainen and Austrian Elisabeth Goergl rounded out the podium in second and third, respectively.
Here’s hoping tomorrow brings an American sweep. With their strong performances today, a red, white and blue podium could be a strong possibility.
The SCOOP
By Hank McKee
Equipment
Women’s Giant Slalom, Aspen, Colo., Nov. 29, 2008
1 Worley, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
2 Poutiainen, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
3 Goergl, Head/Head/Head
4 Vonn (Kildow), Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
5 Zettel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6 Pietilae-Holmner, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
7 Mancuso, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
8 Bertrand, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
9 Gius, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
10 Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/
Women’s Giant Slalom, Aspen, Colo., Nov. 29, 2008.… It is the third race of the 36 races on the 2008-09 World Cup schedule. … and the second of eight women’s GS’s. … It is the 61st scored World Cup race held at Aspen. … The 17th GS and the 10th women’s GS. … It is the first French win at Aspen. … three French women have placed second at Aspen previously, Marielle Goitschel (twice), Danielle Debenard (twice) and Regine Cavagnoud.
It is the first career World Cup win for Tessa Worley. … Her previous best had been fifth in GS at Soelden in Oct 2007. … She has just nine scoring results, all coming in GS. … It is the 244th French Cup win.
It is the 29th career World Cup podium for Tanja Poutiainen and her second of the season having also placed second in the Soelden GS Oct. 25.
It is the 18th career World Cup podium for Elisabeth Goergl and the fourth of the season for Austria.
Fourth is a career best GS result for Lindsey Vonn. … Her previous best in the discipline had been sixth scored at Ofterschwang, Germany Jan. 26, 2008. … She has scored more points in technical events (SL & GS) this season (179) than she did all of last season when she won the overall World Cup title. … Seventh is the best GS result for Julia Mancuso since she was second at Lienz Dec. 28, 2007. … Thirteenth is the best GS result for Sarah Schleper since she was ninth at Ofterschwang Feb. 4, 2006. … It was the fourth scoring result of Megan McJames’ career and her second best of the season having placed 14th at Soelden.
Poutiainen takes over the lead in the overall standings 200-179 for Vonn. … Pietila Holmner is third at 160. … Poutiainen also leads the GS standings 160-145 over Kathrin Zettel…. Worley is third with 100pts. … Vonn is the top American with 79pts.
Women’s Giant Slalom, Aspen, Colo., Nov. 29, 2008
| Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total Time | FIS Points |
| 1 | 9 | 196928 | WORLEY Tessa | 1989 | FRA | 1:03.87 | 1:08.99 | 2:12.86 | 0.00 |
| 2 | 4 | 185140 | POUTIAINEN Tanja | 1980 | FIN | 1:03.35 | 1:09.79 | 2:13.14 | 1.85 |
| 3 | 5 | 55576 | GOERGL Elisabeth | 1981 | AUT | 1:03.33 | 1:10.24 | 2:13.57 | 4.70 |
| 4 | 15 | 537544 | VONN Lindsey | 1984 | USA | 1:03.95 | 1:09.78 | 2:13.73 | 5.76 |
| 5 | 6 | 55838 | ZETTEL Kathrin | 1986 | AUT | 1:03.74 | 1:10.15 | 2:13.89 | 6.82 |
| 6 | 12 | 505760 | PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria | 1986 | SWE | 1:03.44 | 1:10.54 | 2:13.98 | 7.42 |
| 7 | 1 | 537545 | MANCUSO Julia | 1984 | USA | 1:04.04 | 1:10.01 | 2:14.05 | 7.88 |
| 8 | 21 | 196179 | BERTRAND Marion | 1984 | FRA | 1:04.37 | 1:10.19 | 2:14.56 | 11.26 |
| 9 | 8 | 295435 | GIUS Nicole | 1980 | ITA | 1:04.94 | 1:09.82 | 2:14.76 | 12.58 |
| 10 | 46 | 565243 | MAZE Tina | 1983 | SLO | 1:05.06 | 1:10.02 | 2:15.08 | 14.70 |
| 11 | 24 | 565315 | ROBNIK Mateja | 1987 | SLO | 1:04.47 | 1:10.76 | 2:15.23 | 15.70 |
| 12 | 19 | 205218 | REBENSBURG Viktoria | 1989 | GER | 1:04.80 | 1:10.56 | 2:15.36 | 16.56 |
| 13 | 33 | 536481 | SCHLEPER Sarah | 1979 | USA | 1:05.01 | 1:10.61 | 2:15.62 | 18.28 |
| 14 | 55 | 515733 | BONJOUR Aline | 1985 | SUI | 1:05.60 | 1:10.11 | 2:15.71 | 18.88 |
| 15 | 2 | 295445 | KARBON Denise | 1980 | ITA | 1:03.07 | 1:12.69 | 2:15.76 | 19.21 |
| 16 | 18 | 206001 | RIESCH Maria | 1984 | GER | 1:04.99 | 1:10.98 | 2:15.97 | 20.60 |
| 17 | 17 | 155415 | ZAHROBSKA Sarka | 1985 | CZE | 1:04.90 | 1:11.38 | 2:16.28 | 22.65 |
| 18 | 57 | 296509 | CURTONI Irene | 1985 | ITA | 1:05.59 | 1:10.72 | 2:16.31 | 22.85 |
| 18 | 20 | 55898 | BREM Eva-Maria | 1988 | AUT | 1:04.69 | 1:11.62 | 2:16.31 | 22.85 |
| 20 | 43 | 196725 | BARIOZ Taina | 1988 | FRA | 1:05.11 | 1:11.28 | 2:16.39 | 23.38 |
| 20 | 11 | 505483 | PAERSON Anja | 1981 | SWE | 1:05.15 | 1:11.24 | 2:16.39 | 23.38 |
| 22 | 41 | 505908 | SMEDH Veronica | 1988 | SWE | 1:05.30 | 1:11.11 | 2:16.41 | 23.51 |
| 23 | 3 | 205993 | HOELZL Kathrin | 1984 | GER | 1:04.23 | 1:12.23 | 2:16.46 | 23.84 |
| 24 | 30 | 295342 | PUTZER Karen | 1978 | ITA | 1:05.07 | 1:11.42 | 2:16.49 | 24.04 |
| 25 | 28 | 538284 | MCJAMES Megan | 1987 | USA | 1:05.07 | 1:11.55 | 2:16.62 | 24.90 |
| 26 | 59 | 385027 | FLEISS Nika | 1984 | CRO | 1:05.18 | 1:11.99 | 2:17.17 | 28.55 |
| 27 | 36 | 515849 | DETTLING Andrea | 1987 | SUI | 1:05.48 | 1:12.24 | 2:17.72 | 32.19 |
| 28 | 31 | 515766 | SUTER Fabienne | 1985 | SUI | 1:05.22 | 1:16.46 | 2:21.68 | 58.42 |
Did not start 1st run: BARTHET Anne-Sophie (FRA)
Did not finish 1st run: MUELLER Anne Marie (NOR), LOESETH Nina (NOR), CHMELAR Fanny (GER), LOLOVIC Jelena (SRB), BERTRAND Olivia (FRA), PREFONTAINE Marie-Pier (CAN), COSTAZZA Chiara (ITA), GASIENICA DANIEL Agnieszka (POL), BORSSEN Therese (SWE), FERNSEBNER Carolin (GER), KOEHLE Stefanie (AUT), RIENDA Maria Jose (SPA), FISCHBACHER Andrea (AUT), KIRCHGASSER Michaela (AUT), HOSP Nicole (AUT), MOELGG Manuela (ITA)
Did not finish 2nd run: MADER Regina (AUT), BERGER Silvia (AUT)
Disqualified 1st run: GUT Lara (SUI)
Did not qualify 1st run: KARASINSKA Katarzyna (POL), STAPLES Kiley (USA), KELLEHER Keely (USA), HANSDOTTER Frida (SWE), COOK Stacey (USA), SMITH Leanne (USA), FERK Marusa (SLO), FENNINGER Anna (AUT), SIMARD Genevieve (CAN), LINDELL-VIKARBY Jessica (SWE), DREV Ana (SLO), ALFIERI Camilla (ITA), JACQUEMOD Ingrid (FRA)
About the Author: Pete Rugh
