Kvitjell second downhill podium. Credit: GEPA
The women returned to the Olympiabakken track in Kvitfjell, Norway, for another day of downhill racing. This event marked the second-to-last downhill race of the season ahead of the World Cup Finals, prompting the competitors to push their limits in hopes of climbing the leaderboard and improving their rankings.
The second day came with a little more flat light, but the conditions remained solid and the light peaked out for the later racers.
The young rising German speedster Emma Aicher is having a milestone weekend. Yesterday, she claimed her first World Cup podium result. Her confidence and momentum from that were radiating today from the beginning of her run on the Olympiabakken track.
Aicher nailed the critical sections with a composed demeanor. Then, she let her skis run through the crucial, final section of the track, picking up even more speed. By a mere -0.03, she bumped the other young star, Lauren Macuga, out of the leader chair to achieve her first World Cup victory.
She was surprised by her result. Aicher expressed, “This is unbelievable. I didn’t think this was going to happen, especially in downhill, but I am really happy with my skiing, so this is nice.”
“My skiing felt better yesterday, and maybe that was it. I had less control today, but I was letting the skis go,” she continued.
She acknowledged that she hopes to be in the leader’s chair more and will continue to strive for that.
Lauren Macuga’s Impressive Second
Lauren Macuga of the Stifel US Ski Team wrapped up yesterday in 15th place, slipping a bit in the downhill standings. Determined to move back up on the leaderboard, the young star pushed to find more speed today to climb back up.
Macuga remained aerodynamic and continued to set herself up well for the different jumps and handled the s-turn with ease. However, she really impressed in the final gliding section, picking up speed.
Macuga expressed, “Yesterday I was most nervous about the bottom section, and then I messed it up, and it cost me, and I lost a lot of speed and a lot of time. So, today I thought, ‘Okay, I need to be clean through the Tommy Moe, and that carries a lot of speed coming into the bottom.’”
Holding tight through the final jump, she came through with a strong lead ahead of Elena Curtoni and Ilka Štuhec (-0.73), who started ahead of her. She finished the day in 2nd place, marking her second World Cup podium finish and her first in a World Cup downhill.
Macuga stated, “I put down some of my best downhill skiing, and I could not be more excited. I was just so excited to have a strong run. I am excited about where my downhill is going.”
Cornelia Hütter Rounds Out the Podium
Cornelia Hütter, the leader from the first day, finished in 3rd place today, +0.19 behind Aicher.
The Austrian was giving it her all throughout the course. Although she got slightly bumped before the S-turn, she recovered well. However, in the final section, she came off the last jump out of position and lost a little time off the lead.
She stated, “It was also good [today]. It was not easy today with the visibility and a bit rougher, but it was also a good race.”
“I am really satisfied with my performance. Yesterday 100 percent and today 80 percent, but it is nice to be back in front,” Hütter expressed.
Hütter moved closer to Federica Brignone in the downhill World Cup standings with her second podium of the weekend, overtaking Sofia Goggia.
Tight Race for the Italian Team
Three Italians stack in the top 6 with only a 0.03 gap between them. In an extremely tight race, Federica Brignone, the current downhill World Cup standings leader, led the Italians, concluding the day just off the podium in 4th place (+0.33).
Her teammate, Laura Pirovano, threw down a fast run, coming across the line just +0.01 off Brignone’s 34th-place position and +0.34 behind Aicher.
In sixth place, Sofia Goggia went all out but finished +0.03 behind Brignone and +0.36 off the German’s lead.
Breezy Johnson Scores Another Top 10
Breezy Johnson was the second fastest North American to come through the finish, concluding the day in 10th place (+0.62).
She brought momentum from yesterday’s podium into the race today. However, today her run was a little more wild, and she had to recover through crucial sections.
Nevertheless, she was happy with her performance. “It was still a solid run, but it was a little darker today, and I was a little scratchier in a couple of places. You can’t really afford that.”
“Heading into tomorrow, I am feeling good, and I am just going to go out and try my best,” Johnson stated.
Other North Americans in the Top 30
Jacqueline Wiles of the Stifel US Ski Team pushed out of the start wearing bib 20. The 32-year-old finished yesterday in 8th place position. After her top 10 result, she stated, “I am really excited to have a solid result because it has been pretty off and on this season.”
Today, she utilized that excitement and confidence, igniting out of the start, ready to attack the line. She was carrying great speed through the upper sections and stood strong through the S-Turn. Unfortunately, she came off the final jump a little twisted and lost some time, finishing the day in 14th place, +0.81 behind the lead.
Following directly behind Wiles was Lindsey Vonn. Vonn was slightly off coming into the S-turn and got twisted off the jumps. Nevertheless, Vonn held strong throughout the track and fought to keep her line.
This weekend has been Vonn’s first time on the Kvitfjell track, so each run she is learning different aspects of the course. She finished the day in +0.95 behind Aicher’s lead, in 16th place.
Haley Cutler of Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation scored her first World Cup points of her career. She took advantage of the better lighting and threw down a solid run, finishing in 30th position.
Marte Monsen Shines
Marte Monsen of Norway, wearing bib 34 moved up into the top 10, finishing in 7th place, scoring her best individual World Cup result.
She stated, “I knew that I had a fast run because I had some long flights. I was so happy and see 7th. I couldn’t even believe it.”
She expressed that she successfully skied the three sections that she wanted to nail.
Top 3 Analysis
Top 30 Results
North Americans in the Top 30
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
