Featured Image: Super-G Podium. Credit: GEPA
Round four of the super-G races for the women kicked off on the demanding Kandahar course in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Umbrellas were held during inspection as the women were met with wet conditions.
The race was delayed by 15 minutes in hopes of the weather turning and the course setting after the moisture. With shortened intervals, they were able to get a stellar race off.
The Kandahar track continues to be a beloved destination on the Alpine Ski World Cup circuit. With its steep inclines and intricate challenges, this slope puts the world’s top skiers to the ultimate test.
The leader and reigning 2024 super-G World Cup Globe winner, Lara Gut-Behrami, executed the dynamic challenges of this course with confidence and aggression, earning her first victory of the season.
Although she currently leads the super-G standings, she was yet to win this season in the discipline, so this was a big achievement for the 33-year-old.
Gut-Behrami stated, “I am happy today that everything came together. When you don’t have the perfect condition, you stop thinking and just try to ski.”
In the last 12 seasons prior to this one, starting in 2012/13, she won at least one race in every season except in the 2019 season. She continues that impressive streak with her triumphant execution.
This marks Gut-Behrami’s 46th World Cup win, and the Swiss star remains on the path to another super-G globe.
“It is great to be able to win again. It gives me energy, and it is not bad; I will take that,” she explained.
Lara Gut-Behrami has historically performed well in tough conditions, and she continued to reveal that today. After her victory she stated, “I like challenging conditions.”
Podium
Norwegian Kajsa Vickhoff Lie threw down a solid run, which earned her second place. This marks her first super-G podium of the season and her fifth of her career. One of her podium results was on this track in 2021, so she came into today with confidence from prior success.
Federica Brignone of Italy achieved another podium result, finishing 3rd, +0.38 behind Gut-Behrami.
Brignone triumphed in the downhill event, entering today with a strong sense of confidence and determination to secure consecutive victories.
Her 12th super-G win marks her third consecutive podium finish in the discipline, a milestone as it is the first time she has achieved three straight podiums in her career.
Goggia, Brignone Battle
This weekend the battle between the two top Italians has been highlighted. Federica Birgnone and Sofia Goggia concluded the downhill in first and second place, with only 0.01 dividing them.
In the super-G they also came through the finish line in close proximity to each other with only 0.11 between the two. Both days Brignone was able to capture the lead over her teammate.
This battle is an impressive one for Goggia, as this year is a return to snow from a season-ending injury last year. Goggia concluded the day in 4th place, which marked her third top-5 finish of the season.
These two veterans continue to be leaders for the Italian team, which has brought depth to the Italian speed team. Today, four Italian racers skied into the top 10.
Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn has won three of the six super-Gs she has raced in Garmisch. She had a solid line from the top to the bottom, but was unable to find the speed to crack the top 10.
She finished the day in 13th place, which is another strong finish during her comeback season.
Vonn continues to remind everyone that she has returned to racing because she loves the sport, feels good and wants to conquer this challenge for herself.
North Americans
Stifel US Ski Team athlete Keely Cashman had a tough day in the downhill, but from the beginning of her super-G run, she was on point. She lost a little speed in the lower sections of the course but continued to let the skis run and finished in 6th place.
This marked her top result on the World Cup circuit. Cashman achieved one other top 10 in her career in the Val d’Isere super-G in 2020. This was a superb accomplishment for the 25-year-old.
Cashman stated, “So yesterday was tough, and to start today with a new mindset was something I was really trying to do and have my personal best in someplace like Garmisch, which I don’t really like, so it feels really good.”
Garmisch is where Cashman had a bad crash, so that was something she had to work through to achieve this personal best. She explained, “Yesterday was a really hard day just being in Garmisch, and there were a lot of crashes. This is where I crashed, and I know it was four years ago, but it’s not something you really get over that quickly, or at least I don’t.”
Her teammate Lauren Macuga ran a risky run. She was pushing the limits but continued to get late and low in critical parts of the course. Getting a little behind in the upper part of the track cost her time. However, she remained engaged and aggressive and was able to finish the day in 12th place.
Macuga stated, “It is my first time here, and it’s a tough slope. It’s just dark, and with the weather today, I think I stayed focused and did what I could.”
Running bib 45, Breezy Johnson boosted her confidence yesterday in the downhill with a 4th place result. This was a stepping stone for Johnson in her comeback.
Today she skied aggressively from the start, but unfortunately went into the jump too straight, which bucked her outside of the line. She fought to get back in the course, but that cost the US athlete time. She still finished the day in 20th position.
Teammates Tricia Mangan and Jacqueline Wiles struggled today to find the line that would ski them into the top 30.
Isabella Wright crashed in the downhill yesterday but was able to get up and ski down. However, she did not start in the race today. She explained on social media, “After yesterday’s crash, I need some time to heal up from some bruises and a mild concussion.”
Top 30 Race Results
Top Three Analysis
North American Analysis
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
