Featured Image: Vonn, Gut-Behrami and Brignone on Podium after the Stifel World Cup Finals Super-G
The second day of the Stifel FIS World Cup Finals took off with the men’s and women’s super-G races. The excitement in the crowd radiated at Sun Valley Resort, Idaho, as they were eager to watch the competitions ignite.
Although tireless work was being done on the track to remove the snow on the first day, the wind picked up, and unfortunately the downhill was canceled. However, the volunteers, course crews, and Sun Valley Ski Patrol continued to work on the track to make it pristine for the race today.
The super-G event was exhilarating, marking the most competitive title points among all disciplines at the World Cup Finals. With only five points between Lara Gut-Behrami and Federica Brignone prior to the final race, the stakes were high. Ultimately, Lara Gut-Behrami secured the crystal globe with a dominating lead.
Impressively, the 2025 super-G Crystal Globe is Gut-Behrami’s sixth consecutive World Cup title victory in this discipline. The Swiss superstar stated, “This is unbelievable.”
“I finally found the happiness again on skis and it is easier to ski fast when you are enjoying what you are doing. I have been looking for that the entire season,” she stated.
She further stated, “When you have, what do you say in America, ‘positive vibes,’ it is easier to ski fast.” Gut-Behrami expressed deeply how she enjoyed today and her skiing and is thrilled to be winning the super-G title.
Federica Brignone Fell Back to Second in the Title Standings
Federica Brignone of Italy is having the most successful season of her career. Yesterday, she clinched the downhill World Cup title, which earned her the overall World Cup Globe before the rest of the races commenced.
However, Brignone was still aiming to earn her second super-G Crystal Globe. Her last and only title victory in this discipline was during the 2022 season.
Brignone started out with the lead on the upper, steep section but fell back in time with some slight over-skiing of the bottom sections. She came through the finish +1.33 behind Gut-Behrami’s impressive lead.
The Italian stated, “I started good, I felt good, but from the middle part on I blocked myself completely and I wasn’t able to do what I wanted.”
“I was too stressed maybe today,” she concluded.
Lindsey Vonn’s Exquisite End to Her Comeback Season
Lindsey Vonn stated that this would most likely be her last race on U.S. snow, which is a milestone for the veteran Stifel US Ski Team athlete.
After coming out of retirement to the World Cup stage this season, she was striving to end her comeback season on a high note.
It was an emotionally happy finish for Vonn as she executed impressively and hit every part of the course with precision. She was able to come through the finish in 2nd place, +1.29 behind.
Vonn’s time was just -0.03 ahead of Brignone. She held onto her first podium for this season.
Vonn explained, “I really wanted to do well at home. It is very rare in my career to race a speed event on home soil. The snow was like home in Vail for me; I felt really comfortable on it. It is a good course set. I knew I had to just charge.”
“I usually do better when the pressure is higher. It was the last race of the season, so I put it all out on the line. This is the level I know I can ski, and I know I can do better than that,” she continued.
Vonn has faced skepticism during her comeback, yet today she silenced her critics with an outstanding performance. She remarked, “It has been a rough season of people saying I can’t, that I am too old, that I am not good enough anymore, so I think I proved everyone wrong.”
Lauren Macuga Did Not Finish
Lauren Macuga of the Stifel US Ski Team has had a breakthrough season on the World Cup circuit with two podium finishes, including a victory in St. Anton.
Unfortunately, today she leaned in on the second pitch and then caught her uphill edge and went out. She was able to maneuver and save herself from crashing. This was Macuga’s first World Cup DNF.
She explained that at the start gate, “I was all pumped up and ready to go all out. I have been working hard to find that limit all season. I was charging up top but ended on the other side of that limit, the wrong side. But it was nice to know I was trying my best. You have to have your first DNF at some point.”
“This season has been fantastic. My goals at the beginning of this season to now have far surpassed. It is so exciting looking towards next season. I couldn’t have asked for better,” Macuga stated.
Sofia Goggia Holds onto 3rd in Title Super-G Finish
Sofia Goggia of Italy was third in the World Cup standings coming into today. Although she had a run with an unfortunate mistake in the mid-section that cost her time, she was still able to earn enough points to remain in the top 3 of the title standings.
Goggia has had an impressive season in the discipline. The super-G has been incredibly tight all season, with Goggia finishing just 0.01 behind her teammate, Brignone, in two races this season.
This season, Goggia captured five super-G podiums to her name, including one victory at Beaver Creek in December.
Vonn has faced significant skepticism during her comeback, yet today she silenced her critics with an outstanding performance. She stated, “It has been a rough season of people saying I can’t, that I am too old, that I am not good enough anymore, so I think I proved everyone wrong.”
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Final Results
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
