Federica Brignone wins World Cup super-G; Shiffrin sits out

By Published On: January 14th, 2023Comments Off on Federica Brignone wins World Cup super-G; Shiffrin sits out

Federica Brignone. GEPA pictures.

ST. ANTON, Austria — Federica Brignone won a World Cup super-G on Saturday for the 2020 overall champion’s first victory this season.

The FIS and race organizers have taken a difficult weather challenge and made the most of it. After two days of not being unable to supply a downhill training run, they hosted an entertaining super-G. The course is short and the surface is good. The women could attack the interesting slope and course from top to bottom.

Brignone mastered the course shortened because of heavy overnight snowfall to finish 0.54 ahead of Joana Hählen, the 30-year-old Swiss athlete who tied her career-best result.

SANKT ANTON,AUSTRIA,14.JAN.23 – Joana Haehlen (SUI), Federica Brignone (ITA) and Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI). Photo: GEPA pictures

Bib six, Federica Brignone, has experienced an unusually quiet year. Her solo appearance on a podium this season was in a Kranjska Gora GS. However, the day favored strong GS skiers. She used an outstanding final sector to earn her first victory of the 2022-23 season. Brignone skied well from top to bottom, making clean transitions with full commitment to the arc. With fast sectors from the top to the bottom Brignone won with a significant o.54 of a second-time advantage. Notably, Swiss athlete Joana Haehlen, second, earns her first podium of the season.

“I am really satisfied and proud of what I’ve been doing today on the slope,” Brignone said.

The Italian won the World Cup season title in the super-G last season but was lacking a top-10 result in the super-G discipline so far this season. However, she did finish runner-up to Shiffrin in the giant slalom last week.

SANKT ANTON,AUSTRIA,14.JAN.23 – Joana Haehlen (SUI). Photo: GEPA pictures

“I started the season really bad in speed. With speed skis, I had no confidence,” the Italian said.

“But coming back in GS, like really having great confidence … it’s coming back now, I know that I can do what I want with my skis. I really want to push every single turn and that was where I made the difference here.”

Swiss star Lara Gut-Behrami is a very good GS skier. She finished third, 0.66 of a second behind Brignone. Given the course set it wasn’t a surprise to see her on the St Anton super-G podium.

SANKT ANTON,AUSTRIA,14.JAN.23 – Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI). Photo: GEPA pictures

Notably, France’s Tessa Worley was able to produce the 4th fastest run. Worley is the reigning world cup GS champion and has struggled this season. Today with an inspired super-G run, she matches her best result of the season. Hopefully, this will ignite her as she gets closer to the World Championships in France. The top Austrian of the day was Tamara Tippler, 5th. Tippler was in contention for the lead until a problematic final split caused her to finish 0.89 of a second behind the winner.

Goggia crashes but skis away

A tense moment occurred when Italian speed queen Sofia Goggia made an uncharacteristic mistake and fell dramatically to the surface. With her weight on the inside ski, her outside ski railed away from her body creating a very awkward position that she could not rectify. She fell to the surface, but the soft snow outside the course slowed her quickly and prevented her from hitting the b-net. Everyone held their breath, but the gladiator stood up, unbuckled her boots and skied to the finish. Hopefully, she will be able to ski tomorrow. Notably, Goggia led with only one sector to the finish.

Brignone, sitting in the leader’s chair in the finish area after her near-flawless run, buried her face in both hands when she witnessed Goggia’s crash on a monitor, but then saw how her teammate got up immediately and skied down to the finish.

SANKT ANTON,AUSTRIA,14.JAN.23 – Sofia Goggia (ITA). Photo: GEPA pictures

With the start of the world championships in France just over three weeks away, Goggia seemed unhurt. Last month, the Olympic downhill champion broke two bones in her left hand at a race in St. Moritz but returned the next day to win a downhill at the same Swiss resort.

However, the final sector was the biggest challenge and it was there the fastest really separated themselves from the rest of the field. Notably, sixteen racers did not finish the race. But that reality creates opportunities for others. Seven racers with start numbers above thirty were able to score. Swiss racer bib 40, Juliana Suter took full advantage finishing the day 14th.

North American outcomes

Four North Americans finished in the points. Given today’s course it wasn’t a surprise to see GS winner Valerie Grenier be the fastest, she finished 23rd. Her teammate Marie-Michele Gagnon was close behind in 26th. The two US athletes who scored were Isabella Wright 28th and Breezy Johnson 29th. Other than Grenier the scoring North Americans are not known for their GS abilities. It appeared aggression was not the issue but that they struggled to find the rhythm of course.

SANKT ANTON,AUSTRIA,14.JAN.23 – Valerie Grenier (CAN). Photo: GEPA pictures

Shiffrin rested from racing this weekend after an intense two weeks of World Cup races that included a women’s record-tying 82nd career win. The American star, chasing a fifth overall title, also has a dominating lead in the standings.

Brignone’s 21st career World Cup win lifted her to fourth in the super-G discipline standings after just three races, including one won by Shiffrin last month at St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North Americans and top 30 results

Top 30 results St Anton January 14th women’s super-G

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is a developing story, stay tuned for updates.

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About the Author: SR Staff Report