USST's Lindsey Kildow fastest in women's second downhill training run

USST’s Lindsey Kildow fastest in women’s second downhill training run{mosimage}U.S. skier Lindsey Kildow turned in the fastest training run on Monday for the season’s final downhill in Sestriere, Italy. With a time of 1.45.73, she beat Italy’s downhill diva Isolde Kostner and Switzerland’s Nadia Styger, who tied for second, 0.43 seconds behind the American.

Racing in bright sun, Kildow described the course as bumpy “but not fast,” adding that while she was happy with her run, “I still need to improve.”

With the women’s World Cup leader, Anja Paerson, once again a no-show at the start, Austria’s challenger for the overall title, Renate Goetschl said she was not thinking about the title. “I don’t give a damn,” she replied to the Austrian press when asked about the Swede’s absence. “I am here to win the downhill and the super G.”

During the World Cup Finals in Italy, the women downhill on Wednesday, super G on Thursday and then giant slalom and slalom on the weekend.

Paerson has a comfortable lead going into the final four races, but Goetschl is still mathematically in the hunt. Paerson has wrapped up the slalom title — she’s only been beaten once this year — and the GS title, as well. For the Austrian, who is 173 points behind, the overall title is a long shot. She’ll have to nail both the speed events and hope that Pearson falters in the gate races — unlikely given her dominance this season.

Many of the racers played games at the finish, throwing their skis sideways or weaving down the final schuss, even some who finished more than four seconds out.

“I knew they were going do it,” Kildow said, “but I didn’t realize how hard they would chunk.” Kostner was one of the leaders who weaved down the final pitch. Styger and Kildow did not.

The later-starting Americans raced in flatter light as the sun went behind a large cloud and their times showed it. Bryna McCarty, who had done well in the first day of training on Sunday, could not repeat, finishing 21st in 1:50.52. Caroline Lalive finished 22nd (1:50.52) and Jonna Mendes, who looked to be just going through the motions, finished dead last, nearly seven seconds out.