Crystal Clear Start in Semmering
It was a crystal-clear, warm day in Semmering, Austria, but the women’s GS began under shade-covered conditions on the race piste. The snow and course setup encouraged aggressive skiing, and the athletes responded. After the first seven skiers completed their runs, the superstars of the sport led the field.
Fastest Three and Tight Competition
Italy’s Federica Brignone held a slim 0.15-second lead over Switzerland’s reigning World Cup GS champion, Lara Gut-Behrami. Olympic champion Sara Hector of Sweden was third, 0.24 seconds behind Brignone. The leaderboard was tight, with five women finishing within a second of each other.
Among the fastest 12, only Italy placed two skiers in the group. Remarkably, 11 countries were represented, showcasing the depth and diversity of the field.
Strong North American Performances
Among the first 15 racers, two North Americans stood out. Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Paula Moltzan clocked the fastest run among them, securing fourth, just 0.53 seconds off the lead. Close behind, Canada’s Valerie Grenier was fifth, trailing Moltzan by only 0.03 seconds.
Hurt’s Return and Early Challenges
Racing with bib 12, AJ Hurt, a rising U.S. star, competed in her first race of the season after missing the start due to back issues. While she couldn’t find the speed she hoped for, she managed to finish her run and qualify for the afternoon finale.
Disappointing Results for Austria
Austria struggled to impress in the first run. Stephanie Brunner, the first Austrian to race, carried good speed but silenced the home crowd when she went down on her hip in the final sector. Her teammate Julia Scheib followed and completed her run but finished 1.70 seconds back, far from the top of the leaderboard.
After the first 30 skiers had started, the best of the five Austrians to race was Ricarda Haaser. With strong crowd support, she managed 12th place, 1.68 seconds off the leader. It was now evident that the home crowd would need a second-run miracle to see an Austrian woman on the podium.
Impressive First-Run Results for North American Women
North American women showcased their depth and talent during the first run. Moltzan delivered a strong performance, holding onto fourth place, with Grenier close behind in fifth. Katie Hensien, wearing bib 26, continued her consistent season, finishing 14th, just 1.77 seconds off the lead. Nina O’Brien followed in 17th, 1.99 seconds back, while Hurt secured 23rd place. Canadian Britt Richardson tied for 28th, claiming one of the final spots in the afternoon finale. Wearing bib 34, Cassidy Gray added to the success by finishing 20th, 2.13 seconds behind the leader. Seven North American skiers qualified for the second run, including four Stifel U.S. Ski Team members and three from Alpine Canada Alpin.
Late Bibs Deliver Standout Performances
With 29 of the first 30 starters finishing, it became clear that only exceptional skiing would secure a spot in the afternoon finale for those with later bibs. However, many fast skiers were still waiting for their opportunity, and the course was still there to attack.
The best to ski after the first 30 racers was Gray, wearing bib 34. She delivered a strong run, finishing 2.13 seconds back to secure 20th place and a spot in the afternoon finale. Overall, five women with bib numbers higher than 30 qualified. The last to do so was France’s Estelle Alphand, wearing bib 42, who finished 22nd, 2.39 seconds behind the leader.
Top 30 First Run Results
Run Analysis: Fastest Three and Qualified North Americans
About the Author: Peter Lange
