Svindal squeaks past Weibrecht for Kitzbuehel super G title

By Published On: January 22nd, 2016Comments Off on Svindal squeaks past Weibrecht for Kitzbuehel super G title

KITZBUEHEL, Austria – It was a near perfect day in Kitzbuehel on Friday for the men’s super G. Bluebird skies greeted the racers this morning as fresh snow dusted the landscape, providing breathtaking scenery and racing action for the thousands of ski-mad fans amassed at the finish. When the sun crept behind the mountains as morning turned to afternoon, Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal walked away with the victory, clocking in a time of 1:11.79 seconds. Coming in second was American Andrew Weibrecht, 0.31 seconds back, and Austrian star Hannes Reichelt rounded out the podium in third, 0.42 seconds off the winning time.

A tricky course set in sections led to more than a few untimely exits, with the first two racers failing to make it more than four gates. Americans Ted Ligety and Travis Ganong also fell victim to a fast and delicate bottom section following promising split times.

However, the big Norwegian, wearing bib 20, never looked in doubt as he steadily built on his advantage at each interval until crossing the line. Friday’s win is Svindal’s second victory here in Kitzbuehel, both in super G.

“You never get used to winning races,” Svindal admitted. “This is a pretty cool feeling still, watching the best guys come down right behind me with Kjetil [Jansrud] and Hannes [Reichelt]. I knew it would be pretty tight, and it’s always nerve-wracking to be in that position, but it’s fun when it pays off.”

Svindal took a tighter line in sections than the rest of the field – a tactic that proved disastrous for several racers both before and after him – but managed to hold his line and come away with his seventh World Cup win this season.

“I think everywhere I tried to trim some distance,” he explained. “My goal was to definitely come into the Hausberg and be ahead so I had a little bit of a margin because going through the sidehill perfect is almost impossible.”

KITZBUEHEL,AUSTRIA,22.JAN.16 - ALPINE SKIING - FIS World Cup, Hahnenkamm-race, super combined, Super G, men, flower ceremony. Image shows Andrew Weibrecht (USA). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Wolfgang Grebien

Svindal and the rest of the Atacking Vikings have been nothing short of spectacular this season. With today’s win, the Norwegian men have claimed victory in the last five World Cup races as Svindal, Jansrud, and Henrik Kristoffersen have all found the top step the podium.

For Weibrecht, his classic no-holds-barred style suited the hill perfectly, as he wowed those in attendance with his aggression and precision en route to his second career World Cup podium.

“I couldn’t be happier, it’s awesome,” a pleased Weibrecht said after his run. “You know, growing up, everybody thinks about getting on the podium in Kitzbuehel and today is a dream come true. I’ve just really been trying to keep it simple and just keep things running down the hill and it was a great course for that.”

After his third place in the Beaver Creek super G in December, his runner-up performance today, and some strong skiing in between, does the American see a victory in the near future?

“I thought I was close today, and then Aksel came down and he skied great. You know, it really depends on Aksel. If he makes a mistake someday, then maybe.”

An Austrian making it to the podium in Kitzbuelel is an expectation from the home fans, and Reichelt delivered for the Austrian faithful. Friday’s result was Reichelt’s fourth podium appearance in Kitzbuehel, setting himself up well for tomorrow’s downhill, which he won in 2014.

“I’m feeling really great because it was a really cool run,” Reichelt said. “Especially the traverse was on the limit, there were no centimeters between me and the gates so I am happy that I am healthy here in the finish and really happy about the third place. It’s so cool to be on the podium as an Austrian here in Kitzbuehel.”

It was a somber day for the Americans, as the team learned of 1984 Olympic downhill gold medalist Bill Johnson’s passing first thing in the morning. For Weibrecht and many others on the team, Johnson was an inspirational figure for his on hill accomplishments and no-fear attitude when it came to shaking up the Eurocentric status quo of his time, an embodiment of what it means to call yourself an American Downhiller.

“It’s super sad, he was such a fighter through the past years, he dealt with so much and he kept fighting,” Weibrecht added. “He was one of the original guys, you know? His passing is really sad. This was for him.”

Following Weibrecht in the points for the Americans was Wiley Maple making his first trip into the top 30 this season in 25th, and Steve Nyman just behind in 26th.

The men now have a slalom run this evening at 4:45 p.m. CET to decide the Hahnenkamm combined winner, with downhill on tap for Saturday and slalom on Sunday.


The Scoop
By Hank McKee

  1. Svindal, Head/Head/Head
  2. Weibrecht, Head/Head/Head
  3. Reichelt, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
  4. Jansrud, Head/Head/Head
  5. Paris, Nordica/Nordica/Marker
  6. Fill, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
  7. Casse, Head/Head/Head
  8. Baumann, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
  9. Janka, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
  10. Sander, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
  • Men’s World Cup super G, Kitzbuehel, Austria, Jan. 22, 2016. … The first of four races of the 76th Hahnenkamm. … It is the 19th of 45 races on the men’s schedule … the fourth of eight scheduled super Gs. … The race will serve as the first half of the Hahnekamm combined with a run of slalom scheduled to follow later in the day. … It is the 16th World Cup super G held at Kitzbuehel. … Dominik Paris won the most recent Jan. 23, 2015. … Daron Rahlves in the only American to win a World Cup super G at Kitzbuehel, accomplished in 2004. … There are 92 on the startlist.
  • It is the 32nd career World Cup win for Aksel Lund Svindal … his 15th in super G. … Among men he trails only Hermann Maier’s 24 for most SG wins. … It is his seventh win of the season and third in SG. … It is his second World Cup win at Kitzbuehel, the previous also in super G from 2013. … The winning margin is 0.31 of a second. … Top nine skiers are within the same second. … Top 25 within two seconds.
  • It is a career best result for Andrew Weibrecht and his second career podium. … He was third earlier this season, also in SG, at Beaver Creek Dec. 5. … It is the 15th podium for the U.S. team this season. … His previous best at Kitzbuehel had been fifth in SG last season.
  • It is the 32nd career World Cup podium for Hannes Reichelt. … His third of the season, all coming since Dec. 29. … It is his fourth World Cup podium at Kitzbuehel, second in SG.
  • It is the second best World Cup Kitzbuehel finish for Manuel Osborne-Paradis after a 10th in DH in 2013. … It is the fourth career World Cup score for Wiley Maple, his first at Kitzbuehel. … Steven Nyman matches his third best Kitzbuehel SG finish. … Four North Americans just miss points. … Morgan Pridy and Thomas Biesemeyer tie for 31st, Jeffrey Frisch finishes 33rd and Bryce Bennet 34th.
  • Svindal boosts his lead of the World Cup overall standings to 916-809 over Marcel Hirscher (23rd in race). … Henrik Kristoffersen (did not race) is third overall with 671pts. … Weibrecht moves past Ted Ligety to lead the U.S. skiers in 12th with 269pts.
  • Svindal dominates the SG standings 310-190 over Weibrecht. Kjetil Jansrud (fourth in race) is third at 166pts.
  • Austria leads the men’s Nations Cup 2925-2575 over Norway. … France is third at 2280. … The U.S. is fifth at 1221 and Canada ninth at 323.

Official Results

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Total Time Diff. FIS Points
 1  20  421328 SVINDAL Aksel Lund 1982 NOR  1:11.79  0.00
 2  17  530939 WEIBRECHT Andrew 1986 USA  1:12.10  +0.31  4.66
 3  21  50742 REICHELT Hannes 1980 AUT  1:12.21  +0.42  6.32
 4  22  421483 JANSRUD Kjetil 1985 NOR  1:12.32  +0.53  7.97
 5  16  291459 PARIS Dominik 1989 ITA  1:12.51  +0.72  10.83
 6  8  292455 FILL Peter 1982 ITA  1:12.62  +0.83  12.49
 7  6  990081 CASSE Mattia 1990 ITA  1:12.64  +0.85  12.79
 8  13  51215 BAUMANN Romed 1986 AUT  1:12.71  +0.92  13.84
 9  14  511313 JANKA Carlo 1986 SUI  1:12.74  +0.95  14.29
 10  29  200379 SANDER Andreas 1989 GER  1:12.90  +1.11  16.70
 11  23  102899 OSBORNE-PARADIS Manuel 1984 CAN  1:12.98  +1.19  17.90
 11  18  53980 KRIECHMAYR Vincent 1991 AUT  1:12.98  +1.19  17.90
 13  10  194364 PINTURAULT Alexis 1991 FRA  1:13.01  +1.22  18.35
 14  9  50858 STREITBERGER Georg 1981 AUT  1:13.11  +1.32  19.86
 15  35  561216 KLINE Bostjan 1991 SLO  1:13.24  +1.45  21.81
 16  26  511383 FEUZ Beat 1987 SUI  1:13.32  +1.53  23.02
 17  27  191740 CLAREY Johan 1981 FRA  1:13.43  +1.64  24.67
 18  25  192504 MERMILLOD BLONDIN Thomas 1984 FRA  1:13.44  +1.65  24.82
 18  11  422139 KILDE Aleksander Aamodt 1992 NOR  1:13.44  +1.65  24.82
 18  5  54005 STRIEDINGER Otmar 1991 AUT  1:13.44  +1.65  24.82
 21  30  293006 INNERHOFER Christof 1984 ITA  1:13.45  +1.66  24.97
 22  38  561217 KOSI Klemen 1991 SLO  1:13.46  +1.67  25.12
 23  31  511638 TUMLER Thomas 1989 SUI  1:13.69  +1.90  28.58
 23  12  53831 HIRSCHER Marcel 1989 AUT  1:13.69  +1.90  28.58
 25  45  930024 MAPLE Wiley 1990 USA  1:13.74  +1.95  29.34
 26  47  533866 NYMAN Steven 1982 USA  1:13.79  +2.00  30.09
 27  61  50753 KROELL Klaus 1980 AUT  1:13.80  +2.01  30.24
 28  24  511981 WEBER Ralph 1993 SUI  1:13.85  +2.06  30.99
 29  34  202196 BRANDNER Klaus 1990 GER  1:13.90  +2.11  31.74
 30  32  193967 MUFFAT-JEANDET Victor 1989 FRA  1:13.91  +2.12  31.89
 31  53  103612 PRIDY Morgan 1990 CAN  1:13.93  +2.14  32.19
 31  4  531452 BIESEMEYER Thomas 1989 USA  1:13.93  +2.14  32.19
 33  44  103512 FRISCH Jeffrey 1984 CAN  1:13.99  +2.20  33.10
 34  86  700830 ZAMPA Adam 1990 SVK  1:14.06  +2.27  34.15
 34  64  6530104 BENNETT Bryce 1992 USA  1:14.06  +2.27  34.15
 36  67  191964 POISSON David 1982 FRA  1:14.11  +2.32  34.90
 37  3  293550 MARSAGLIA Matteo 1985 ITA  1:14.14  +2.35  35.35
 38  50  194298 GIEZENDANNER Blaise 1991 FRA  1:14.19  +2.40  36.11
 39  46  180570 ROMAR Andreas 1989 FIN  1:14.31  +2.52  37.91
 40  65  560447 SPORN Andrej 1981 SLO  1:14.40  +2.61  39.26
 41  79  511852 CAVIEZEL Gino 1992 SUI  1:14.46  +2.67  40.17
 42  90  511896 MURISIER Justin 1992 SUI  1:14.48  +2.69  40.47
 43  70  511847 MANI Nils 1992 SUI  1:14.50  +2.71  40.77
 44  41  291318 TONETTI Riccardo 1989 ITA  1:14.60  +2.81  42.27
 45  43  54076 KOECK Niklas 1992 AUT  1:14.61  +2.82  42.42
 46  48  380292 ZRNCIC DIM Natko 1986 CRO  1:14.64  +2.85  42.88
 47  40  293141 VARETTONI Silvano 1984 ITA  1:14.65  +2.86  43.03
 48  68  292514 HEEL Werner 1982 ITA  1:14.95  +3.16  47.54
 49  33  511808 SCHMED Fernando 1991 SUI  1:15.03  +3.24  48.74
 50  60  6290845 BOSCA Guglielmo 1993 ITA  1:15.05  +3.26  49.04
 51  77  103997 MEGARRY Morgan 1993 CAN  1:15.22  +3.43  51.60
 52  42  6531127 DUFFY Drew 1995 USA  1:15.27  +3.48  52.35
 53  76  303758 SUGAI Ryo 1991 JPN  1:15.40  +3.61  54.31
 54  92  380335 ZUBCIC Filip 1993 CRO  1:15.44  +3.65  54.91
 55  89  700879 ZAMPA Andreas 1993 SVK  1:15.59  +3.80  57.17
 56  62  294904 PANGRAZZI Paolo 1988 ITA  1:15.72  +3.93  59.12
 57  85  103865 PHILP Trevor 1992 CAN  1:15.98  +4.19  63.03
 58  52  534959 JITLOFF Tim 1985 USA  1:16.01  +4.22  63.49
 59  84  430429 BYDLINSKI Maciej 1988 POL  1:16.32  +4.53  68.15
 60  83  380341 ULLRICH Max 1994 CRO  1:17.24  +5.45  81.99
 61  87  150644 KRYZL Krystof 1986 CZE  1:18.23  +6.44  96.88
 62  91  30149 SIMARI BIRKNER Cristian Javier 1980 ARG  1:18.90  +7.11  106.96
 63  88  430550 KLUSAK Jakub 1992 POL  1:19.08  +7.29  109.67
Did not start 1st run
 82  380260 KOSTELIC Ivica 1979 CRO
 80  670052 KHUBER Martin 1992 KAZ
 69  531799 FORD Tommy 1989 USA
Did not finish 1st run
 81  110324 VON APPEN Henrik 1994 CHI
 78  6290393 CAZZANIGA Davide 1992 ITA
 75  104531 CRAWFORD James 1997 CAN
 74  294277 KLOTZ Siegmar 1987 ITA
 73  533131 SULLIVAN Marco 1980 USA
 72  561322 HADALIN Stefan 1995 SLO
 71  481327 TRIKHICHEV Pavel 1992 RUS
 66  194542 GIRAUD MOINE Valentin 1992 FRA
 63  104096 THOMPSON Broderick 1994 CAN
 59  6290985 BUZZI Emanuele 1994 ITA
 58  561310 HROBAT Miha 1995 SLO
 57  561255 CATER Martin 1992 SLO
 56  53981 KROELL Johannes 1991 AUT
 55  194167 MUZATON Maxence 1990 FRA
 54  103762 WERRY Tyler 1991 CAN
 51  53968 BERTHOLD Frederic 1991 AUT
 49  511529 GISIN Marc 1988 SUI
 39  54009 WALDER Christian 1991 AUT
 37  54080 NEUMAYER Christopher 1992 AUT
 36  934643 GOLDBERG Jared 1991 USA
 28  192932 FAYED Guillermo 1985 FRA
 19  192746 THEAUX Adrien 1984 FRA
 15  530874 GANONG Travis 1988 USA
 7  534562 LIGETY Ted 1984 USA
 2  102263 GUAY Erik 1981 CAN
 1  53933 SCHWEIGER Patrick 1990 AUT

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About the Author: Sean Higgins

A Lake Tahoe native and University of Vermont graduate, Higgins was a member of the Catamounts' 2012 NCAA title winning squad and earned first team All-American honors in 2013. Prior to coming to Ski Racing Media, he coached U14s for the Squaw Valley Ski Team.