Tessa Worley kept on her skis as many others crashed out on the first run of the Giant Slalom in St Moritz. Jessica Lindell-Vikarby added to her win in Beaver Creek by taking second with Tina Maze getting back to her best with third. ... Kathrin Zettel and Anemone Marmottan rounded out the top five finishers.
The race was barely started and already the crowd were getting to grips with the shock of Mikaela Shiffrin having crashed out; little did the crowds know that she would not be the last to crash out. The first run also saw Lara Gut, Tina Weirather and Frida Hansdottir amongst 18 of the 70 starters crash out. With the undulating terrain that dominates the race piste in St Moritz, the need to keep the weight on the outside ski seemed to have been lost to many of the racers.
After a disappointing first run, Anna Fenninger brought the second run to life with a blistering top section and it looked like the Austrian would eek out a healthy lead at the bottom. A couple of small mistakes in the lower half of the race saw her cross the line with a lead of just over a second and while she held the lead from Maria Hoefl-Riesch, who had tied with her after the first run, you just had that feeling that the half second lead would not be enough to catapult her towards the podium. She simply had too much of a deficit to make up after the first run.
Kajsa Kling added another great result to her weekend with tenth spot. Starting at 39, the Swedish rising star is gaining in both promise and confidence and is also riding on the crest of the wave that her team mate, Jessica Lindell Vikarby is creating. Like in Val d'Isere, the large number of DNF's allowed later numbers to make the most of their opportunity. Francesca Marsaglia, starting 52, took her opportunity and eventually posted 9th best overall place, just behind Anna Fenninger.
Tina Maze, on the hill without her husband Andrea Massi, sparking rumours and counter rumours in the light of discussions that have taken place regarding her couching set up this season, took the lead but soon was displaced by Lindell-Vikarby who could only watch and wonder at the speed with which Worley tore into the course. Worley explained after the race that as she had not had many good results recently, nor had she had a good feeling for GS, this was great for her confidence and just in time for the races in France at Courchevel and Val d'Isere.
For Maze the situation regarding her coaching set up has caused her to spend a lot of energy explaining things to her new coach. With the lack of results this season talk was of whether he had been sacked yet this idea was dismissed. Maze explained that Massi's lack of presence on the hill was simply down to the fact that he was not feeling well.
The girls now head to Val d'Isere
Full Results