Lindsey Vonn Just 3 Points Shy of Lead in the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup overall standings
LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland (March 18 - Ski Racing Magazine News Service) - Slovenia’s Tina Maze added another first-time accomplishment to her long list of successes this season with her career first win in a World Cup slalom at the season Finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland Friday.
Maze, who stood third after the first run on the very same shortened course, again made it happen in the second run as she took the sixth-fastest second-run time to capture her 11th World Cup career victory by edging this season’s World Cup slalom champion, Austrian Marlies Schild by 0.05 seconds.
“It’s a great atmosphere, my fan club was here, they were giving me some energy today and it’s a tough race but I was fighting for it so I’m really happy,” said Maze, who thrilled her fans with her celebratory cartwheel in the finish area. “Marlies [Schild] is the best slalom skier but this time I was better.”
Slovakia’s Veronika Zuzulova, 13th after the first run, rocketed to the fastest second-run time to take third place 0.64 seconds back.
Schild, who also won the slalom World Championship this season, guaranteed herself this season’s slalom title - the third of her career - with her sixth win of the season last week in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic. Finn Tanja Poutiainen (12th today) finished second in the slalom standings, 169 points behind Schild. German Maria Riesch (fourth today) landed third in the season-long slalom rankings.
Most of today’s attention belonged to American Lindsey Vonn and Riesch who are the only two racers within reach of this season’s overall globe.
Faced with a rutted up course on her second run, Riesch slipped from second in the first run to finish fourth and regain the lead with a three-point advantage on Vonn (13th today) in the overall standings with only tomorrow’s giant slalom remaining on the schedule.
"It was a tough fight, especially in the second run," Riesch told the Associated Press. "I just wanted to get to the finish and not go out. I think my chances are 50-50. I can't remember that it has ever been this close. In the end it doesn't matter if you are one point or 200 points down."
After Riesch controlled the overall lead most of the season, Vonn took it back with a 27-point cushion following her fourth-place performance in Wednesday’s final downhill.
Tomorrow’s GS will decide if Vonn will claim her fourth consecutive overall title or Riesch will take home her first ever.
A rain snow mix fell through the night prompting officials to call in several dozen Swiss Army troops to pack down the course and delay the start two hours as they treated it with chemicals and water in an effort to firm up the track. The challenging weather also persuaded organizers to lower the start about eight gates, taking out the steepest part of the hill. The delayed start meant cramming both runs in a few hours. To compensate, both runs were run on the same German-set, 49-gate course with no second-run course inspection.
Similar snowy and fog conditions that caused the cancellation of yesterday’s final super G races also canceled the men’s final giant slalom scheduled for this morning.
With tomorrow’s weather forecast calling for similar conditions, all Vonn can do is hope that race officials can pull off tomorrow’s GS where they could not today. FIS rules dictate that Finals races are not rescheduled.
"I did my best. I'm really disappointed that yesterday's race was canceled. I really hope they try for tomorrow's race because I know I have a chance to be in there tomorrow,” said Vonn. “But, all I can hope for is that FIS pushes hard to have the race and they try and then I'll fight and we'll see what happens."
Vonn was tied for 14th after the first run and fought her way down the chewed up course to secure only her fourth finish in a World Cup slalom this season. Julia Mancuso - the only other American to qualify for the slalom final - finished 26th after standing 23rd in the first run. The day did have a sweet finish for the U.S. duo as they received their awards for finishing first (Vonn) and third (Mancuso) in the super G standings. Vonn also officially collected her crystal globe representing her super combined title. She now has 12 World Cup titles total.
"Beginning my career I never thought I'd have so many titles. I'm really proud of what I've been able to achieve so far in my career. But I still have a lot more goals for the future,” said Vonn. “I'm going to ski for quite a few more years still. I'm just going to try to keep building on what I accomplished – try to win races every year, try to continue to win titles and we'll see where it takes me."
Marie-Michele Gagnon, the only Canadian in today’s field, finished 14th after jumping from 22nd in the first run with the fifth fastest second-run time.
Maze’s record season was also highlighted by her first gold medal (Olympic of World Championships) in the Worlds giant slalom. She also grabbed her first World Cup super combined win and stands untouchable in the third spot in this season’s overall rankings. “This is my best season,” she said. “I had some tough times this season but it’s my first victory in slalom today and it’s amazing.”
World Cup Finals competition continues Saturday with the women’s giant slalom and men’s slalom. The World Cup season concludes Sunday, March 20 with a team event. For more details including results visit SkiRacing.com.
