Featured image: Kvitfjell podium on the second day of super-G. Credit: GEPA

The women kicked off the final race of the regular season World Cup super-G in Kvitfjell, Norway. This race serves as the last opportunity for the participants to secure a position within the top 25 to be able to partake in the 2024 World Cup Finals. 

The race began with Laura Gauche from France leading the charge. However, she was unable to complete her run. Following her, Lauren Macuga from the Stifel US Ski Team took to the track and was the first to successfully finish. Macuga started aggressively from the beginning and maintained a quick pace, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:38.20.

Following Ariane Raedler’s run, the visibility became challenging as heavy fog rolled in, prompting the first of many delays in the race. The unpredictability of the fog was hard for the course officials to navigate, and delays were necessary to ensure the safety of the athletes.

Once the race started back up, Macuga sat in the leader’s chair until bib-10, when Federica Brignone came through, moving the US athlete out of the lead by nine-tenths. The Italian set her lead early and attacked each section of the course. 

Birgnone’s time was strong enough for the victory, beating the top super-G athletes, Cornelia Hütter (AUT) and Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI). It marks Birgnone’s 10th World Cup victory in super-G.

Brignone stated, “I tried my best and I am usually really good when the start is moved,” she continued, “It was a weird race and this is a weird moment. I am unsure what to think. It was a hard day for all of the girls.”

“I was focusing on my skiing and I had super-G in my mind. I am really proud about my career and my entire life,” she continued, “I am really happy to be back and ski the way I like.” 

Gut-Behrami and Hütter came into the last day battling for the super-G World Cup title, with only 25 points separating them. However, Hütter concluded the day in 7th place, and Gut-Behrami’s time was +0.61 off Brignone, placing her in 2nd. 

Lara Gut-Behrami ended with 540 points, Hütter concluded with 471 points and Brignone with 466 points rounding out the top three super-G World Cup standings. 

Gut-Behrami further secured the Crystal Globe. This will be her 5th super-G Crystal Globe, equalling Lindsey Vonn and Katja Seizinger joint record of five crystal globes in the super-G. Gut-Behrami lifted the trophy in 2013/14, 2015/16, 2020/21 and 2022/23.

The Czech Alpine ski racer and professional snowboarder, Ester Ledecka rounded out the podium, +0.79 off Brignone’s time. This marks Ledecka’s second super-G World Cup podium, her first being a victory in Val d’Isère.

Ledecka stated, “It’s a little bit difficult because you have to always warm up, then you cool down, then you wait, then you have to warm up again, because it’s starting again, then you cool down,” she continued, “So, I had a lot of workout today at the top.”

North Americans

Lauren Macuga concluded the day with another career-best result, finishing in 5th place. 

Macuga stated, “It was definitely foggy, but it felt good and I was charging out there. I am doing better than I thought I would be doing right now, so it is very exciting,” she continued, “I got held in the start, which was interesting to stand there and readjust. The first few gates were a little interesting, just getting into the rhythm and the middle part was great, nailed a turn I messed up on yesterday. But, I came into the bottom section and it was foggy.” 

Macuga ends the regular season ranked 13th in the World Cup super-G standings. 

Isabella Wright had a challenging day, which was unfortunate for the Stifel US Ski Team athlete. She was behind in the first few sections of the course and as she came through the mid-section of the course, she got crunched low. She held it together through a few more gates, but was not set up for success coming over the null and she ended up skiing out. 

Wright stated, “I am happy that I came out of it on my own two feet, but it was pretty ragged from the start. I had some mistakes early on that cost me and with the snow it was still good conditions considering the weather and how much time had passed by the time I was out of the gate,” she continued, “For me, it was a rough ride, but overall I was happy I did not crash.”

“Unfortunately, with the mix of DNFs this year, crashes and just the results I didn’t want; I am not going to Finals in downhill or super-G, so I am actually going to stay here in Kvitfjell for a few days to train. That is what my team is doing and then I guess I will change my flight and go home,” Wright stated.  

Tricia Mangan pushed out of her 51st World Cup start. Through the top section she was off the lead, so she was pushing through the midsection to make up time. However, the fog rolled back in towards the bottom, which caused the athlete to back off slightly. She was still able to come through the finish, clinching onto 24th place. 

Jacqueline Wiles came out of the start with speed. She got a little sideways over a null in the middle of the track, but held onto her line. She attacked through the fog, but was unable to make up the time needed to achieve the top 30. 

Keely Cashman was unable to push out of the start gate because they ended the race early.

“We have been here for two and half hours and it is getting darker. It makes no sense to continue and we need to stop the race here,” stated the race Referee, Gerdol Peter.

The Top 30

Analysis of the Top 3

North Americans in the Top 30