Aspen: Mancuso's repaired hip passes first test

ASPEN, Colorado — Minutes before her first run, all eyes, minds and hopes were on the Olympic giant slalom champ wearing bib No. 3.
    Coming off a hip injury, Julia Mancuso went into Saturday’s GS race with little expectations but knowing her fans, teammates and coaches were hoping for more. Eighth after her first run, Mancuso finished seventh — three seconds off the race winner, 20-year-old Austrian Kathrin Zettel.

ASPEN, Colorado — Minutes before her first run, all eyes, minds and hopes were on the Olympic giant slalom champ wearing bib No. 3.
    Coming off a hip injury, Julia Mancuso went into Saturday’s GS race with little expectations but knowing her fans, teammates and coaches were hoping for more. Eighth after her first run, Mancuso finished seventh — three seconds off the race winner, 20-year-old Austrian Kathrin Zettel. 
    “I definitely didn’t ski that great compared to my few days of training and in the past,” Mancuso said.
    “For me, going across the finish line both of those runs, I was like, ‘Ohhh god’ because I’ve had runs that felt way better that were worse. … I’ll take it — to be top 10 on a bad day.”
    Training on fresh courses without any ruts during preseason to help her recover from hip surgery this summer, Mancuso said that her late start number after the first run affected her tactics during the second run.
    “[The second run] was a little bit bumpy running farther back. I’m not quite used to that just because I’ve been injured,” she said. “… That was definitely a first for me.”
    Despite her doctor’s suggestion to take it easy during the early races, Mancuso decided to race this weekend. Knowing that her hip will not be fully recovered for at least a year, she seems to be staying practical and hopeful for the season. Due to her injury, Mancuso’s preseason training has been less intensive than normal, and some more time on snow may just be what she needs to put down some solid results.
    “I definitely could use some more miles on skis,” she said. “I feel like I know how to make a good turn, it’s just a matter of putting it all together. I’m just looking forward to getting through the season healthy.”
    Like many of the other girls on the U.S. team, Mancuso is excited to be racing on home snow, with some frivolous shopping and sushi eating on her agenda for the weekend.
    “Yeah this is great — the crowd. The stands are full, everyone’s cheering, you couldn’t ask for more. I couldn’t ask for a better place. Yesterday I went shopping, ate sushi last night, made friends with the sushi chef — he was throwing fish at us,” Mancuso said.
    Mancuso said that although it usually takes her a while to get back into the swing of racing, she has already made some strides after her first run.
    “[Second run] I went back to trying to ski natural and ski the course. I memorized the course for first run and I never do that. I was like ‘What are you doing? Stop memorizing the course!’ So I made it a point second run to make it to the finish and move up a few places. It turned out to be a good race.”
    Even through her great success, the Olympic gold medalist seems to be keeping a good head on her shoulders while still finding some time for fun.
    “It was a good race today. I got some prize money and will probably go spend it,” Mancuso said with a sarcastic laugh. “Competing and skiing with some of my best friends — it’s what skiing is all about.”

— Sam Flickinger contributed to this story