Americans make Europa Cup look like a breeze

After the women’s World Cup speed races at Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, last week, some speed skiers stuck around to get a few more runs on the track and compete in three European Cup races at the venue.

The week was plagued by poor weather, resulting in the cancellation of one training run and the super G race. Instead, the women competed in three downhill races – two on Jan. 14 and one on Jan. 15.

On Thursday, the U.S. Ski Team’s Breezy Johnson had a career-best performance, securing her first Europa Cup win ever in the second race of the day. She was accompanied on the podium in third place by independent American skier Abby Ghent, who has been hustling to earn some big results this season. Germany’s Kira Weidle wedged between them to take second.

Earlier in the day, Johnson skied to second place, while Switzerland’s Joana Haehlen claimed the win and Italy’s Nicol Delago finished third. The results sheets were occupied by a few more Americans. Ghent skied to 13th, Alice Merryweather finished 23rd and 24th in the two races, while Anna Marno ended up 26th and 31st.

Friday’s race shook things up with no Americans on the podium. Weidle won by 0.25 seconds over Haehlen. Alexandra Coletti of Monaco earned third place – her first Europa Cup podium finish in over a decade. Johnson, once again, had the top U.S. performance, landing in eighth. Merryweather earned her best finish of the series, a 13th, as well as her best Europa Cup finish to date. Ghent skied to 20th and Marno finished in 26th.

Full results from the Altenmarkt-Zauchensee Europa Cup series are available here.

Women’s World Cup speed racing continues in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Jan. 21 with the opening downhill training run.

Photo courtesy of Sabin Larsen