Vonn wins with special feeling in Beaver Creek ‘home’ race
Lindsey Vonn described winning her 46th career win, her
16th in Super G, as the most special of her career.”
Of the 46 wins that I have so far, this is probably the most
special,” she said after the race.
In a race that she has dreamed of since she slipped the
course in the 1999 World Championships, Vonn admitted that she had
not put in a perfect run but this did not matter to her: this was
all about racing and winning at home. This was her fourth victory in
a row to add to the plaudits.
Listening to music in the start did little to calm the nerves and
her normally blistering pace on the top section deserted her. Yet
Vonn is a fighter and she proved this again as she recovered from
almost missing a blind gate at the top of the course.
“On the start, I was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been. I
tried my best to keep it together,” Vonn said. “It wasn’t my best
run; I went off-course a couple of times but I just charged at the
bottom and was able to make up time. I wanted to win at home so
badly. I wanted to win on a men’s course. I wanted to prove to
everyone here at home that I could win no matter what, under any
circumstances. There are just so many reasons why today is so
special. I’m so proud to have won.”
Anna Fenninger took her second podium in a row
in third behind Fabienne Suter, Fenninger just missed second spot by
a mere four hundredths yet she was happy with second place: “That
was really cool for me,” Fenninger explained after her run. “Perhaps
Lindsey had more speed at the bottom but my resume is good, in Super
G I am really happy,” explained the Super Combined World Champion.
So while the local school children were given the day off school and
were able to witness Vonn winning at home, this was about the result
and not so much the style. While many of the racers were full of
praise for the course that used much of the Men’s course apart from
the steep section in the middle, Fenninger described the course as
“really fun”, adding “Maybe the next time we will go closer and
closer and we can beat her,” as she believes that Vonn is not
unbeatable. Fenninger continued that it was a thrill to race on the
men’s slope. “The steep section was very fast and a little dark, so
you have to change very fast from turn to turn. It was fun for a
super G. It’s difficult because we don’t know how the slope is, how
fast you can go, how much risk you need.”
Earlier in the day, Chemmy Alcott had tweeted that she was looking
forward to the race with it being a “fantastic
opportunity for the girls to tackle a man's hill.” This was
definitely a feeling echoed through the field.
So while Vonn won what happened to her rivals Maria Hoefl-Riesch and
World Champion Lizzi Goergl. Goergl admitted that she had struggled
with the snow conditions yet managed to grab 10th spot.
For Hoefl-Riesch, while Vonn has excelled, Hoefl-Riesch does not
seem to have got started. She has just one third place so far in the
slalom in Aspen and in the Super G she struggled in down in 21st.
With four wins in the last four races, Vonn is cantering off into
the distance in the race for the Overall. Commentators are already
looking at the 1900 points that Janica Kostelic scored in her record
breaking season being under threat if she continues this form.
If ever a resort needed a glowing testimony for its permanent
inclusion on the World Cup calendar then this comment from a certain
local resident can do no harm:
“There’s no jumps but it’s always coming at you,” Vonn said of the
course. “It’s just really technical. Speeds are pretty high for a
super G course. There’s flats, there’s side hills, there’s terrain …
Beaver creek has everything in this course.”
Result:
1.
Lindsey Vonn (USA)
2.
Fabienne Suter (SUI)
3.
Anna Fenninger (AUT)
FIS Results
