Lindsey Vonn Copper Mountain FIS race Photo: Meredith Guinan
The 40-year-old former champion earned the downhill FIS points needed to race on World Cup
Vonn Returns to Racing After Five-Year Hiatus
Competing in her first races in more than five years, Lindsey Vonn crossed the finish line of a pair of FIS downhill races at Copper Mountain, Colo., on Saturday, shaking her head.
Wearing bib No. 41 and racing against a stacked international field featuring numerous World Cup athletes, Vonn finished 24th in the first race and 27th in the second, about a second and a half off the winning pace. Austrian Mirjam Puchner won the first race, while the 2024 World Cup downhill champion Cornelia Huetter of Austria won the second.
“This Is Only the Beginning”
Although Vonn did not speak to the media after the races, she told her team that “there were bumps all over the place” and that she lost speed on the flats.
Taking a few moments to sign autographs and pose for selfies with fans, Vonn exited the finish area without commentary. However, she later posted on social media that she now has the FIS points needed to compete in the World Cup.
“Today was a solid start and I had a blast being with my teammates again. While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree,” Vonn wrote on X. “This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove. This is only the beginning, and the way I’m skiing is more important than the times at this point. Now I have the FIS points to race World Cup, so that’s a successful day.”
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Challenging Conditions at Copper Mountain
Vonn’s U.S. teammates noted that the Copper downhill course developed several ruts throughout the day, which began early in the morning with a training run before the two races.
“Three runs in, it did get a little grooved out. It was more of a wild ride,” said Lauren Macuga, who took 11th in the first race and finished fourth in the second, 0.47 seconds off the winning pace. “I was trying to push the line. As long as you push through it, it works out.”
A New Teammate, A Lifelong Idol
Macuga, 22, was not yet on the U.S. team when Vonn retired following the 2019 World Championships. For her, Vonn’s return provides a significant surge of inspiration.
“She was my idol. It’s kind of crazy to get to watch her and be like, she’s my teammate,” Macuga said. “It’s actually so nice to watch her, see what the best in the world does to get race-ready and see how she approaches the day. The moment she came back to the team, she’s been like, ‘ask me anything.’ It’s nice to hear her perspective on everything. She gives really thought-out answers.”
When asked about the most useful wisdom from her 40-year-old teammate, Macuga said it’s Vonn’s mentality of “sending it.”
“She really likes – pardon my language – fucking sending. It sounds so simple, but she really takes that and attacks. You can tell. It’s so cool,” Macuga said.
A Familiar Presence on the Team
Vonn has yet to disclose when she will return to the World Cup circuit, but with the new FIS list set to release after next weekend’s Beaver Creek races—where she is rumored to forerun—it will likely not be before St. Moritz.
Jackie Wiles, who shared a podium with Vonn in a 2018 World Cup downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo and finished 13th and 22nd in Saturday’s FIS races, said it almost feels like Vonn never left.
“Her coming back, it’s like nothing ever changed,” Wiles said. “It’s been really exciting. Having that aura of someone like her around is huge for us. It’s inspiring and motivating. She’s been a great teammate, super supportive and eager to help if we need anything.”
About the Author: Shauna Farnell
