Red-hot Gagnon 6th in St. Moritz super-G

Another day, another career-best result in super-G for Canada’s Marie-Michèle Gagnon, who continued her red-hot start to the season on Saturday with a sixth-place finish at the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

The 24-year-old all-rounder from Lac-Etchemin, Que., followed up her standout 10^th-place finish in the super-G in Lake Louise, Alta., last weekend with a second consecutive top-10 – giving her four top-10 results in only six races, in three different disciplines.

Marie-Pier Préfontaine, of Saint-Sauveur, Que., was also having a strong run Saturday before she slid on her hip and went out, while Larisa Yurkiw, of Owen Sound, Ont., finished 34^th.

“I’m in this magical zone right now and I don’t want to overthink it,” said Gagnon, who started 28^th in near perfect conditions and clocked a time of one minute, 18.42 seconds. “I’m feeling confident in every discipline.”

Gagnon, who was the first Canadian alpine skier to punch her ticket to the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games by meeting the nomination criteria, has had some strong results in St. Moritz over the years and she crossed the line in fifth place at the end of her run.

“Once again I was kind of surprised. I thought, ‘Maybe I was 10^th in Lake Louise because of the home crowd.’ I know I’ve been skiing well but I haven’t had a lot of time to ski super-G,” said Gagnon, who has been known primarily as a slalom and giant slalom skier but is also strong in super combined, as well as super-G.

“It’s really exciting. I’m attacking like I do in giant slalom. I’ve got skis this year that are a little bit stiffer and I’ve got a lot more power. I’m not afraid of speed and I’ve always loved super-G but I’m skiing it well and clean and fast. I feel like I’m building.”

Gagnon’s run wasn’t perfect, but her attacking approach served her well and she was headed for a top-five finish until the 44^th skier out of the gate – Sweden’s Kajsa Kling – jumped into second place to push her back.

“It was a close race,” Gagnon said. “You have to make the least mistakes and ski smart and just attack. In super-G you only have one chance and you have to be aggressive and ski well.”

Hugues Ansermoz, the head coach of Canada’s ladies’ team, was a happy man after watching Gagnon ski so well once again.

“Incredible. Incredible day,” Ansermoz said. “She’s so confident right now. It was absolutely awesome.

“She has been training well, she had a good summer and made progress in her technical skiing but it’s just the confidence.

“MP (Préfontaine) was 19^th in her split when she just went on her hip. She came back up but missed the gate. We’re working well with the other nations in speed and there’s a great spirit in the group right now.”

Liechtenstein’s Tina Weirather won the race in 1:17.38. Kling was second (1:17.69) and Austria’s Anna Fenninger was third (1:17.77). Weirather sits second in the overall World Cup standings (445) behind Switzerland’s Lara Gut (482). Gagnon is 12^th (157 points).

The action continues in St. Moritz on Sunday with the ladies’ giant slalom. Gagnon is ranked in the top 15 and will be joined in the start gate by Préfontaine, Erin Mielzynski, of Collingwood, Ont., and Mikaela Tommy, of Wakefield, Que.

DEC. 14, 2013 — ST. MORITZ, SUI — AUDI FIS ALPINE WORLD CUP — LADIES’ SUPER-G