VAL D’ISERE, France – It was a war of attrition in the super G down the OK track at the famed French resort of Val d’Isere on Sunday morning, where 58 women pushed out of the start but only 37 made it across the finish line. Austrian Elisabeth Goergl collected her second podium in as many days and her first World Cup victory of the season with a textbook run down the slope that demanded skiers to pick their way through micro terrain.

At the exit of the Meadows after the first split, two bumps formed a wave just before a tricky right-footer challenged even the world’s best to keep their skis on the ground. The area proved to be the danger zone for most who skied out on the day, as those who exited the previous turn with pressure still on the outside ski took the brunt of the bump while the pros – like Goergl and Anna Fenninger – seemed to ski right through as if on a completely different course.

“I think the snow was nice – they did a really good job. It was not easy to make this race happen, and thanks (for) making it happen!” Goergl exclaimed after her winning run. “The course today was really tricky and I kind of like that. I inspected very long, and I had everything in my head. And my coaches they were reporting because there were some weird turns where a lot of girls made mistakes, so they told me you have to do this and this. So it worked out fine, the whole team (was) good today.”

After making a boot change between Friday’s downhill training run and Saturday’s race, Goergl finally found the winning setup which she used again in the super G.

“I used the same boot (as yesterday) but I put it in super G mode,” Goergl joked.

The day was a resounding success for the Austrians with Fenninger, also skiing with precision and minimal errors aside from running a low line through the S-turns, also finishing on the podium just 0.05 seconds behind her teammate.

“I don’t know why the others had so much problems because my turn was pretty good. I heard at the start that there is the wave before and that you have to make a fast turn, and I did exactly that. And it was OK,” reflected Fenninger on her run. “Before the race, you never know, because super G is so different (from) downhill and it’s such a cool discipline. Everything has to be perfect on the course. But I had a little mistake, and that’s (why) I’m happy to be on the podium as well.”

A visibly emotional Tina Maze crossed the finish line only 0.13 seconds off Goergl’s pace to claim third, matching her super G result from Lake Louise and picking up her sixth podium result of the season.

“I must say today I really had a tough day getting myself together to do this race – too much emotions, holidays are coming – so I feel really emotional today,” she admitted. “I tried to do my best but on top I lost too much time, so it was close today. The slope was so much fun to ski, so many nice passes that you had to take from behind and just ski it … it’s a lot of terrain, a lot of movement, so it was nice to ski.”

The terrain and quick movements got the better of a tired Lindsey Vonn who was skiing fast and possibly on the way to another win until she rotated into a sidehill and went for a slide. She was able to stand up on her own, and despite having her elbow packed in ice during post-race interviews insisted she was fine and that her arm was just a little swollen from the fall.

“I was just pushing the limit a little bit too much today. The snow was kind of breaking up and I don’t know, I hit some soft stuff and just wasn’t able to make the gate. But that happens sometimes in super G. It’s difficult to gauge how fast you’re going to be going in some sections. You only have one inspection. So I did my best. I was skiing well, I just didn’t quite make it to the finish today,” said Vonn. “I just was a little bit tired today. Yesterday was a pretty long day. I still felt good in the start, but I didn’t feel quite as sharp as I normally do. … I’m excited for a little bit of a break, go home for Christmas and then pick up the speed events again in January and hopefully get into a good rhythm going into the World Championships.”

Julia Mancuso finished as the fastest American in sixth, topping her career-best super G result at the venue by one place. Her summer surfing in Hawaii surely helped her handle the wave that seemed to take so many others for a ride.

“In general, being loose and relaxed over the terrain helps. You can’t really be too stiff and be too perfect in super G. It’s all about charging and going for it and making it to the finish line,” said Mancuso.

Her teammate Laurenne Ross successfully overcame her Val d’Isere curse by crossing the finish line for the first time at the French resort since 2010 and well within the points in 13th. Jackie Wiles also finished inside the top 30 for her second time this season in 30th.

The mood after the race was one of relief for the World Cup women who are all looking forward to a much deserved holiday recess. Overall leader Maze, in particular, is thankful for the break and the opportunity to return home to Slovenia after so much time on the road.

“I met (Santa Claus) twice this year already – once it was in Levi and then he was in Are – so he gave me some gifts already. I don’t want anything (for Christmas) other than to spend some time with my family. … I don’t see them much, but being with them is really nice always. But you never get enough if you have to leave the next day already.”

The ladies resume World Cup racing in Kuehtai, Austria (a replacement for Semmering), with a GS and slalom scheduled for Dec. 28-29.

The Scoop

By Hank McKee

1. Goergl, Head/Head/Head
2. Fenninger, Head/Head/Head
3. Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
4. Gut, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
5. Fanchini, Dynastar/Lange/Look
6. Mancuso, Head/Head/Head
7. Merighetti, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
8. Huetter, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
9. Gisin, Dynastar/Lange/
10. Jay Marchand-Arvier, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol

Women’s World Cup super G, Val d’Isere, France, Dec. 21, 2014:

• It is the 11^th race of 34 remaining on the women’s World Cup calendar (with one cancellation – Munich city event). … It is the second of eight scheduled super G’s. … It is the 165^th World Cup race hosted, at last in part, by Val d’Isere.
• It is the seventh career World Cup win by Elisabeth Goergl … the third in super G. … It is her first win at Val d’Isere and her second podium at the site in two days.
• It is the 31^st career World Cup podium for Anna Fenninger. … Her third of the season, each in different disciplines.
• It is the 74^th career World Cup podium for Tina Maze. … her sixth of the season in 11 races.
• It is the 28^th career top six World Cup finish for Julia Mancuso … her third of the season. … Laurenne Ross matches her ninth best World Cup finish … her third best of the season. … It is the second best finish in any discipline at Val d’Isere for Stacey Cook. … It is the fifth career scoring result for Jacqueline Wiles, the second in super G.
• Maze maintains the lead of the World Cup overall standings 656-407 over Fenninger. … Vonn (DNF in race) is third at  312. … Mikaela Shiffrin (did not race) is fifth with 290pts. … Marie-Michelle Gagnon is the top Canadian in 24^th overall with 103pts.
• Lara Gut leads the super G standings 150-122 over Goergl. … Maze is third with 120pts. … Vonn and Mancuso are tied at fifth with 80pts  each.
• Austria leads the women’s Nations Cup 2075-1142 over the U.S. … Sweden is third at 921. … Canada is ninth with 224pts.

Results