Featured Image: Kvitfjell super-G podium. Credit: GEPA
After two days of downhill racing, the women moved on to the super-G event on the Olympiabakken track. The super-G course presented a greater challenge for the competitors, requiring them to strike a perfect balance between technical skill and speed in every segment, particularly in the tough lower section of the course.
The initial racers, along with downhill winner Emma Aicher, faced challenges in the lower part of the course. These early competitors demonstrated that the women had to concentrate on their approach to key areas, like the Tommy Moe turn.
Italian veteran Federica Brignone, who triumphed in last season’s super-G on this track, displayed her confidence and intensity from the get-go. She was taking a fairly direct line into the challenging turns, which kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
However, she was able to sneak through and maintain composure. The speed she continued to generate put her into the lead.
Impressively, Brignone is the first woman to win back-to-back super-G races on this track. Also, this marks her 12th World Cup super-G victory, which equals Carole Merle (FRA) in 5th place on the all-time women’s list.
She stated, “This is the cherry on the cake, like we say in Italian. It has been an amazing weekend. Today, I was very lucky with the hundredths because it was a really tricky super-G.”
“The second and third splits were the best, and I managed to do straight lines and keep it,” Brignone expressed.
She further stated, “I need to continue to race like I did today with no fear of going out and to try and keep the speed and risk. This is the only way to go at the end of the season.”
This continues the best season that the Italian has achieved in her World Cup career. She narrowed the gap in the super-G standings and widened her gap in the overall World Cup standings.
Lara Gut-Behrami Holds onto the Leader’s Bib
Swiss athlete Lara Gut-Behrami came into the race today leading the super-G standings and was able to hang onto that leader’s bib with a 2nd-place result.
During her run, she did fall into the pattern of getting pushed slightly late and low through the critical sections but found top speed in the final segment of the track. She gained enough time through the last gates and came through the finish line barely off Brignone’s lead (+0.06).
Impressively, this marked Gut-Behrami’s 44th super-G World Cup podium result and 98th of her career.
Sofia Goggia’s Personal Best in the Kvitfjell Super-G
Sofia Goggia of Italy unveiled her usual aggressive, strong, and energetic skiing. Goggia was able to recover well and continue to find speed.
Dynamically executing the critical sections, Goggia rounded out the podium, achieving her 17th podium in World Cup super-G.
Alice Robinson Finishes Just off the Podium
With an extremely tight race, Alice Robinson knew she needed to execute the line and bring her energetic momentum from top to bottom.
The New Zealander was composed and confident throughout the entire course, unveiling her strong tactical skills, especially through the challenging lower turns. She concluded the day +0.22 off Brignone’s time, merely +0.13 off the podium steps.
After achieving one of her best super-G results, Robinson stated, “Yeah, it has been 3 years since I was 4th last time, so I have not had another top 5 before, so it was really good. I feel like I have been banging my head against the wall a little bit.”
“I didn’t want to think about it too much today, and I just wanted to go for it. It was not a perfect run, but I was really proud of how I attacked through the bottom. I will try to bring that with me into the final races,” she continued.
North Americans in the Top 30
Lauren Macuga of the Stifel US Ski Team had a stellar day in the downhill, and she brought that momentum into the super-G.
She stated before her run, “It’s been insane. I am so excited that my downhill is coming along with my super-g.”
“The goal is to get in the leader’s chair and stay in the leader’s chair,” she continued.
Also, she expressed positivity about racing the course set by the U.S. coach: “I am so excited that Daniel is setting and it is our course set. It looks like a really fun course, and I think it has some super important turns you have to nail going onto the flats. The snow is super great, so it will be about nailing those sections.”
Macuga attacked from the beginning and searched for the high line to overcome the challenge of this course. However, this caused her to slightly over-ski the track in comparison to the Italian leader. Nonetheless, the young athlete came through with relief and excitement, finishing in 12th place.
Macuga stated, “I think it was good skiing for me, but with one mistake, and maybe it wasn’t going to be a podium, that mistake cost me. I will learn from these mistakes and go to the next race with fire in my stomach.”
Lindsey Vonn executed the top of the track technically solid, holding onto the pace of the fastest athletes. She was driving through each turn with the aggression needed to land herself on the leaderboard.
Unfortunately, the veteran got twisted through the challenging Tommy Moe section and had to fight to stay in the course. This mistake cost her significant time, but she was still able to finish in 16th place.
Vonn stated, “The first three quarters of the course were awesome. I felt really good, had good speed, and executed the line the way I wanted to. But, in the last quarter, I kind of got squashed and caught an edge, pretty much being dead last in that section. I think I could have been on the podium or in the top 5 today.”
Their teammate, Jacqueline Wiles, snuck into the top 30 with a solid run. She remained composed and held onto the high line. Wiles finished in 27th place.
Top 3 Analysis
Top 30 Results
North Americans in the Top 30
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
