“I feel like there were some people that doubted whether I could win today, and especially because Lara [Gut] had won the last couple races here in super-G”, Vonn said, according to media in Lake Louise.
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Sunny skies, foreboding clouds, low visibility – no matter the conditions, Vonn simply proved in a different league than the rest of the field. She won the downhills on Friday and Saturday with gaps of 58 hundredths and 1.05 seconds, respectively.
Vonn seeks her fifth overall crown in nine seasons and first since 2012, her sixth Super-G crown in eight seasons and eighth downhill crown in nine seasons.
“I have to come with everything I have every day”. I don’t take it for granted that I’m successful here.
Somehow, she recovered. The mistake hardly even slowed her down as the American standout was her dominant self on a hill that’s become like a second home.
The American finished in a time of 1 minute, 19.79 seconds, beating Tamara Tippler of Austria by 1.32 seconds. Her teammate Ramona Siebenhofer was third, 1.07 seconds back of Vonn.
Canada’s top performer was Larisa Yurkiw.
“I think the good thing is I’m feeling more confident in being aggressive”, Yurkiw said. “I just kind of have to keep my chin up and know that was positive”.
“It’s just astounding to me how good of an understanding she has of the terrain, above everybody else and knowing exactly when to let her skis go”, Shiffrin said.
“Today I tried to limit my risk but at the same time my skis were so fast and the light was really flat and also it was a little more bumpy today, that I was kind of hanging on for dear life”, Vonn said. “It was pretty sketchy here and there. Lake Louise has proven again it’s my favourite place on the tour and I’m leaving here with a lot of confidence”. Only Vonn was able to overtake the 39-ranked super G skier on the day. Joe Klamar Getty Images Vonn and Bode Miller, of the United States, hold their overall crystal globe trophies, at the alpine ski, World Cup finals, in Bormio, Italy, March 16, 2008. She swept all three races in 2011 and 2012.
Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, who swept the men’s downhill and super-G in Lake Louise last weekend, won Friday’s downhill in Beaver Creek, Colo. “It’ll be fun to watch her race”.
With her three wins, Vonn now leads the overall World Cup rankings after 6 races so far this season. “I caught an edge and did some sort of split manoeuvre”, Vonn said. “I should probably not do that (Saturday)”.
Vonn was impressed by Shiffrin’s super-G debut.
Vonn’s flawless weekend is the first one after her return to racing from a long series of injuries.
Vonn has always had a special relationship with the spectacular resort that will now always be known as Lake Lindsey.
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“It was a big deal”. “You’ve skied it before, you believe in what you’re doing and you don’t get afraid”.
