In World Champs opener, Vonn injured as Maze takes super G title; Mancuso third

SCHLADMING, Austria — In a contest that was delayed 14 times due to bad weather and ultimately terminated after 36 racers, Lindsey Vonn crashed and was airlifted off the race hill, while Tina Maze picked up the super G World Championship in Schladming, Austria on Tuesday.

Fog, rain and darkness are some of the reasons why the opening event could have — some will say should have — been cancelled, but a brief period of sun in the afternoon and jury decision at the last minute had the girls running speed down the Streicher race course.  

Vonn, who reported earlier in the week that she was stronger and feeling better than she ever has before a major event, led the field at the first split, slipped back 0.12 seconds by the second and never reached the third. In what can only be described as an ugly crash, for lack of a better term, the American star jarred her leg, went over the handlebars and was reportedly screaming as she was airlifted off the mountain.

According to U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Kyle Wilkens, Vonn suffered a torn ACL and MCL in her right knee and a lateral tibial plateau fracture. She will be out for the remainder of this season.

U.S. Ski Team doctor Bill Sterett and Wilken were with Vonn Tuesday evening.

“Lindsey is resting and in good spirits,” wrote USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt in an email. “Details on surgery and her training plan for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi are pending, but she is already thinking what she needs to do to come back for next season.”

Certainly a bright spot for the Americans was Julia Mancuso rallying just three racers after Vonn’s crash to take the World Championship bronze, just her second top three of the season. She was joined on the podium by Switzerland’s Lara Gut, who took second.

“I think that might’ve been one of the most difficult races I’ve ever been in,” said Mancuso. “It was a really long course and a lot of hurry up and wait. I didn’t know I’d be so tired at the end of the run. Every time, no matter what kind of run, I know I could have a much better run. But to finish on the podium is kind of all you can ask for.”

Mancuso finished with a time of 1 minute, 35.91 seconds, just more than a half second behind Maze.

“Yeah, that was hard. I think just with a long day everything, even your mental game, can be effected. I knew the course well, but my reactions weren’t totally on but I guess they were on close enough to notice that I was going on the wrong side of the gate. Then, I think that just made me a little out there for that compression, but I made it to the finish.”

For Maze, who may be on her way to a record-setting season, it’s her second World Championship title (the other came two year’s ago in GS) and fourth medal.

“I believed there would be a race today because, I don’t know, just kind of a feeling,” said Maze. “They were delaying for every 15 minutes so I was staying focused. … Was not easy to race today because that’s a long day waiting.”

Leanne Smith and Laurenne Ross rounded out the American representation. Neither was pleased with their respective 16th- and 26th-place results.

“I’m not very happy with my performance today,” said Smith. “But everyone had the same opportunity and I’m not that excited about it, but there’s always next race and you learn from your mistakes and shortcomings.”

Smith refused to play Monday morning quarterback and pass judgment on the jury’s decision to hold the race, but she did say the snow was inconsistent at best.

“It is what it is. It’s out of our control. If they’re going to run us, they’re going to run us,” said Smith. “You can complain about the snow. You can complain about waiting three hours, but you have to be ready to go when it’s time to go.”

THIS STORY IS BEING UPDATED

By Geoff Mintz

The SCOOP
by Hank McKee

Women’s World Championship super G, Schladming, Austria, Feb. 5, 2013
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
2 Gut, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
3 Mancuso, Head/Head/Head
4 Goggia, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
5 Suter, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
6 Stuhec, Voelkl/Tecnica/Marker
7 Merighetti, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
8 Rebensburg, Nordica/Nordica/Marker
9 Fischbacher, Voelkl/Fischer/
10 Gisin, Dynastar/Lange/Marker

Women’s World Championship super G, Schladming, Austria, Feb. 5, 2013. … It is the opening race of the 42nd FIS World Ski Championships. … The first of six individual races plus a team event on the schedule. … It is the 27th title super G, the 14th for women. … It is the ninth World Championship race hosted by Schladming which also hosted in 1982, the first super G. … Defending champion is Elisabeth Goergl (Garmisch Feb. 8, 2011). … Last woman to win a World Cup super G at Schladming was Viktoria Rebensburg (March 15, 2012). … .Start delayed by fog 14 times and two long course holds were required for medical reasons.

It is the second World Championship and fourth World Championship medal for Tina Maze having also won the GS and placed second in combined in Garmisch (2011) and second in GS at Va; d’Isere (2009). … It is her eighth win of the season and second of the season (and in her career) in super G.

It is the third World Championship silver medal for Lara Gut, the others coming in downhill and combined at Val d’Isere. … It is her second podium result of the season having won a World Cup race in downshill at Val d’Isere Dec. 14.

It is the fifth World Championship medal for Julia Mancuso and her third in super G. … She won bronze in super G and GS at Santa Caterina (2005),  silver in combined at Are (2007), and silver in SG at Garmisch (2011). … It is her third podium result of the season, all in super G.

It is the second World Championship result for Leanne Smith and is thr
ee placings better than her super G finish at Garmisch. … It is her seventh best of eight scoring results this season. … It is the first World Championship result for Larisa Yurkiw. … and her best finish of the season. … It is the third best of four World Championship results for Laurenne Ross. … Her ninth best of 10 finishes this season. … It is the third World Championship result for Marie-Pier Prefontaine. … Her fifth top 30 of the season.

The race was called after 30 finishers, leaving 23 racers without a chance to start.

Results
Schladming (AUT)
FIS World Ski Championships
Ladies’ Super G
Feb. 5, 2013