Elena Curtoni / GEPA pictures
Italy’s Elena Curtoni delivered a commanding performance in Sunday’s Super-G in Val di Fassa, powering to victory in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. The veteran Italian put down a fast, confident run that proved untouchable, continuing what has been an impressive weekend for the Italian team.
Curtoni skied with authority from the top of the course, carrying excellent speed through the technical sections and keeping her line tight through the final turns. Her time held up as racer after racer came through the finish, ultimately securing the top step of the podium.
Behind her, the fight for the podium was incredibly tight. Just 0.34 seconds separated the top five racers, with a tie for fourth place highlighting how competitive the race was.
Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie finished second, just 0.26 seconds behind Curtoni. Lie, a consistent presence in the speed events, delivered a strong run of her own but ultimately fell just short of challenging for the win.
One of the biggest surprises of the day came from Italy’s Asja Zenere, who started with bib 33 and stormed into third place, only 0.27 seconds back. Charging down the course late in the race, Zenere thrilled the home crowd and capped off a remarkable day for the Italian team.
With Curtoni’s victory and Zenere joining her on the podium, the Italians showed their strength on home snow. The atmosphere in Val di Fassa reflected the excitement, as fans celebrated a standout day for the host nation and a memorable performance from one of the sport’s experienced veterans.
Top 5
- 1. 🇮🇹 Elena Curtoni (ITA) — Bib 8 — 1991 — 1:29.07
- 2. 🇳🇴 Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR) — Bib 12 — 1998 — +0.26
- 3. 🇮🇹 Asja Zenere (ITA)- Bib 33- 1996- +0.27
- 4. 🇫🇷 Romane Miradoli (FRA) — Bib 7 — 1994 — +0.34
- 4. 🇳🇿 Alice Robinson (NZL) — Bib 6 — 2001— +0.34
Curtoni Charges to Victory on Home Snow
Elena Curtoni set the tone early with a powerful and confident run, attacking the course from the start. She quickly found a strong aerodynamic position and carried impressive speed down the mountain. Curtoni stayed composed over the blind roll and flowed smoothly into the next section, maintaining her momentum through the turns. Her skiing was clean and accurate from top to bottom, and when she crossed the finish line the green light confirmed a run that would stand the test of the field.
For the 1991-born Italian, the victory marks a rewarding return to the podium. Curtoni, who finished seventh in the Olympic Super-G, had been chasing another top result since placing second in Kvitfjell in 2023. On home snow in Val di Fassa, she delivered in front of an enthusiastic crowd, continuing a remarkable weekend for the Italian team. With teammate Laura Pirovano already sweeping both downhill races, Curtoni’s win added another unforgettable moment for the host nation.
“It’s amazing to win here in Italy. When we race at home there’s always a little extra motivation and pride. Sharing the podium with a teammate makes it even more special. It’s been a few tough years, but I kept fighting and believing I could come back. This victory means a lot.” – Elena Curtoni
Lie Secures Second, Moves Closer to Norwegian Record
Kajsa Vickhoff Lie delivered another strong performance to claim second place, finishing just 0.26 seconds behind Curtoni. The Norwegian came out of the start with great intensity and speed, immediately putting pressure on the course. As the run unfolded she began to lose a bit of time through the middle sections, but Lie managed to hold onto her speed and stay composed through the final turns to secure the runner-up spot.
The podium result continues an impressive run for Lie in Super-G. With this result she equals Ragnhild Mowinckel’s record of seven Super-G podiums, the most among Norwegian women in the discipline. Despite her consistency, Lie still searches for her first Super-G victory. Among the ten Norwegian men and women who have more than two Super-G podiums, she remains the only one yet to claim a win. Today’s result also brings her to 11 World Cup podiums, tying Andrine Flemmen for the second-most among Norwegian women, trailing only Mowinckel’s 14.
Zenere Lands First Super-G Podium from Bib 33
Italy’s Asja Zenere delivered one of the most exciting runs of the day, storming into third place from bib 33. Skiing with confidence from the start, Zenere brought her giant slalom strength to the Super-G course, combining strong tactics with clean, controlled turns.
She handled the challenging terrain well, executing a strong line over the blind roll and staying composed as she entered the final section. While many racers lost significant time near the bottom, Zenere managed to maintain her speed and carry momentum through the final turns. Her impressive run vaulted her into third place, just 0.27 seconds behind Curtoni.
Sharing the podium with teammate Elena Curtoni capped off an outstanding day for the Italian team, adding yet another highlight to an already dominant weekend for the host nation in Val di Fassa.
Technical Super-G Challenges the Field in Val di Fassa
It was another beautiful, sunny day in Val di Fassa, setting the stage for an exciting Super-G on a course that demanded both precision and smart tactics. The track, set by French coach Marco Viale, was a demanding one, requiring athletes to make strong line choices while executing clean turns throughout the run. With turns from top to bottom, racers had to stay disciplined in their skiing while also finding moments to get aerodynamic and carry as much speed as possible down the mountain.
The course rewarded strong technical skills, favoring racers who could truly turn their skis while maintaining momentum. The surface held up impressively throughout the race, allowing competitors from early to late bibs to push the pace. The set also made athletes think carefully through the terrain, particularly over the blind knolls, where choosing the right line was critical to maintaining speed.
The bottom section proved decisive. Many racers were holding green through the intermediate splits, only to lose valuable time in the final stretch. Carrying speed all the way to the finish required clean execution and confidence, making the final section one of the most challenging parts of the course.
Val di Fassa has previously hosted one Women’s Super-G, during the 2020/21 season, where Federica Brignone took the victory ahead of Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter. Once again, the Italian venue delivered a course that rewarded smart skiing, technical ability, and the courage to push the limit on a challenging Super-G track.
Did Goggia Let the Super-G Globe Slip Away?
The Super-G globe race took an interesting turn in Val di Fassa as Sofia Goggia finished ninth, leaving the battle for the discipline title still very much alive. Goggia showed stronger skiing right from the start, attacking the course with more intensity and clearly looking to find time wherever she could. However, her aggressive approach proved costly. Coming onto the bottom flats she chose a line that was too direct, and without enough speed carried into the section she was unable to maintain the momentum needed to challenge for the podium.
Goggia was pushing hard throughout the run, but the risk did not quite pay off on a track that demanded clean, efficient skiing. Meanwhile, Alice Robinson kept the race for the globe alive with a strong fourth-place finish, while Emma Aicher did not finish. With Goggia ending the day off the podium, the Super-G standings remain tight heading into the final races, leaving the discipline title still up for grabs.
Stifel US Ski Team
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team showed determination on the challenging Val di Fassa Super-G track, with several athletes putting together solid performances against a deep field.
Keely Cashman led the Americans with a 17th-place finish, putting together the strongest Super-G performance of the U.S. women on the demanding Val di Fassa track. Cashman showed solid skiing in the upper section, particularly through the tuck turns where she maintained strong form and stability while carrying good speed.
At times it looked like she was letting the course come to her a bit rather than pushing right to the edge of the limit. In Super-G, athletes often have to live on that fine line—balancing clean skiing with full commitment, knowing they only get one shot at the run. Even so, Cashman skied a composed and confident race to lead the American group. With the foundation she showed today, it’s clear there is still more speed in her skiing, and when she pushes that boundary even further, there’s plenty of potential for even bigger results.
“Today didn’t go how I wanted it to go. I’m pretty tired and had really high hopes for this race. The course was super turning, and I like turning, but I just couldn’t quite find the energy to ski the way I wanted. I’m excited to have a little break now and then head to finals — I really like that track.” – Keely Cashman
For Mikaela Shiffrin, the race marked her first Super-G start of the season, and it was an encouraging step forward to see her back on the longer skis. Shiffrin came out of the start with strong energy and intent, skiing a clean and composed run from top to bottom. While she wasn’t quite pushing the full race intensity where some athletes were maximizing every tuck and carrying maximum speed, the focus today was clearly on building rhythm and confidence in the discipline again.
Starting 31st and finishing 23rd, the result was about much more than the numbers on the board. After working through a lot both physically and mentally, getting back into a Super-G start gate and putting down a solid run was a meaningful milestone. It was a day of progress—one that allows Shiffrin to check the box, rebuild confidence, and remind herself that she belongs back in this discipline. Sometimes the most important victories are the ones that rebuild belief, and this run was a strong step in that direction.
Mary Bocock delivered an inspiring performance, skiing with full commitment and maturity beyond her experience. For an athlete still gaining familiarity with many of these World Cup tracks, she showed a strong instinct for speed and smart line choices. The more opportunities she has on these courses, the faster she is likely to become. Bocock finished 24th, another encouraging result for the young American.
Breezy Johnson showed strength in the tuck turns but struggled to put together a fully clean run. A few mistakes through the course prevented her from maintaining speed and carving smoothly through the turns. Johnson finished the day in 30th, a result that didn’t reflect her full potential.
Canadian Grenier Battles to 21st in Val di Fassa
Canada’s Valérie Grenier put together a solid Super-G run to finish 21st on the demanding Val di Fassa track. Early in the course she dove into a couple of turns a bit too soon, which created some hesitation in her line and made the section slightly less clean than she would have liked. Despite that, Grenier handled the terrain well, showing confidence over the blind knolls where she carried good speed.
While there were a few sections where she could have smoothed things out and maintained more momentum, it was still a strong and composed effort. With clean skiing through much of the course, Grenier showed flashes of the speed and confidence that continue to make her a consistent presence on the World Cup circuit.
Skiers starting bib 31 or higher finishing in the top 30
- 3rd — Bib 33— 🇮🇹 Asja Zenere (ITA) — +.27
- 10th — Bib 35 — 🇨🇭 Stefanie Grob (SUI) — +.68
- 20th — Bib 37 —🇨🇭 Janine Schmitt (SUI) — +1.56
- 23rd- Bib 31- 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)- +1.69
- 29th- Bib 39- 🇳🇴 Marte Monsen (NOR)- +2.23
Women’s Super-G Standings After Val di Fassa (7/8 races)
🇮🇹 Sofia Goggia (ITA, Atomic) — 449 pts
🇳🇿 Alice Robinson (NZL, Salomon) — 386 pts (−63)
🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, Head) — 304 pts (−145)
🇳🇴 Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR, Head) — 289 pts (−160)
🇫🇷 Romane Miradoli (FRA, Dynastar) — 260 pts (−189)
With one race remaining before the Super-G globe is decided, Sofia Goggia continues to lead the discipline standings with 449 points despite finishing ninth in Val di Fassa. Alice Robinson’s fourth-place finish kept her mathematically in contention, reducing the gap slightly heading into the final race of the season. Emma Aicher remains third overall after not finishing today’s race, while Kajsa Vickhoff Lie’s second-place result moves her into fourth in the standings ahead of Romane Miradoli.
The final Super-G of the season will take place at the World Cup Finals on March 22, where the discipline globe will officially be decided. While Goggia holds the advantage heading into the final race, Robinson still has a chance to challenge if results swing in her favor on the final day of the season.
Race Results
Click on images to enlarge
Analysis of the Top Three and Other North Americans in the Top 30
About the Author: Katie Twible
