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Fenninger golden in World Championship opener
The ladies have had to be patient in the lead-up to the opening race at the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado, but today after a bit of a delay, they had their chance to shine as Anna Fenninger (AUT) captured the first gold medal of the Championships in the super-G.
Fenninger, the defending World Cup champion, built the bulk of her lead on the top of the course, but it was slowly erased with each interval as she squeaked across the finish line a mere 0.03 seconds ahead of Tina Maze (SLO).
“I only watched about the first 10 racers,” Fenninger said after the race. “I didn’t know what Lindsey or Tina or any of the others had done, I just focused on me and what I had to do and it worked.”
Maze had the dubious honor of playing spoiler to the home fans hopes for a Lindsey Vonn gold medal as she knocked Vonn out of the top spot. Ultimately, the American finished in third place 0.15 off the pace. But she still had the honor of taking home the first medal of the Championships for the host nation.
“I couldn’t have skied any better than I did today,” Maze said. “The weather was always changing and it was hard, but I am proud of how I did and I know I could not have done any better.”
Today’s World Championship super-G race played out much the same way as the World Cup has so far this season. Both Vonn and Fenninger landed on the podium today and the duo are in first and second in the super-G World Cup standings.
Rounding out the Top Six, who will all be honored at tonight’s medal ceremony in Vail, were Cornelia Huetter (AUT), Viktoria Rebensburg (GER), and Tina Weitrather (LIE).
“I’m really happy with the way I skied today,” said Vonn. “It was really tough conditions. But to come away with a medal at my hometown World Championships is something really special.”
Flurries and high winds at the top of the course forced the race to be delayed by a half hour and also forced the start to be moved down to a lower position, but it did little to dampen the spirits of sell-out crowd at the Red Tail Stadium as the near five-year wait for this day at last came to an end.
There were a bevy of VIPs on hand for today’s opening race with IOC Presdient Thomas Bach and professional golfer Tiger Woods turning heads. All who turned out were treated to an excellent start to the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championship.
Tomorrow the men take to the slopes in super-G action at 11:00 MST following today’s downhill training. The forecast is calling for moderate to heavy snow in the next 24 hours meaning they too may have play the waiting game a bit tomorrow before it is their chance to take center stage.
Fenninger, the defending World Cup champion, built the bulk of her lead on the top of the course, but it was slowly erased with each interval as she squeaked across the finish line a mere 0.03 seconds ahead of Tina Maze (SLO).
“I only watched about the first 10 racers,” Fenninger said after the race. “I didn’t know what Lindsey or Tina or any of the others had done, I just focused on me and what I had to do and it worked.”
Maze had the dubious honor of playing spoiler to the home fans hopes for a Lindsey Vonn gold medal as she knocked Vonn out of the top spot. Ultimately, the American finished in third place 0.15 off the pace. But she still had the honor of taking home the first medal of the Championships for the host nation.
“I couldn’t have skied any better than I did today,” Maze said. “The weather was always changing and it was hard, but I am proud of how I did and I know I could not have done any better.”
Today’s World Championship super-G race played out much the same way as the World Cup has so far this season. Both Vonn and Fenninger landed on the podium today and the duo are in first and second in the super-G World Cup standings.
Rounding out the Top Six, who will all be honored at tonight’s medal ceremony in Vail, were Cornelia Huetter (AUT), Viktoria Rebensburg (GER), and Tina Weitrather (LIE).
“I’m really happy with the way I skied today,” said Vonn. “It was really tough conditions. But to come away with a medal at my hometown World Championships is something really special.”
Flurries and high winds at the top of the course forced the race to be delayed by a half hour and also forced the start to be moved down to a lower position, but it did little to dampen the spirits of sell-out crowd at the Red Tail Stadium as the near five-year wait for this day at last came to an end.
There were a bevy of VIPs on hand for today’s opening race with IOC Presdient Thomas Bach and professional golfer Tiger Woods turning heads. All who turned out were treated to an excellent start to the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championship.
Tomorrow the men take to the slopes in super-G action at 11:00 MST following today’s downhill training. The forecast is calling for moderate to heavy snow in the next 24 hours meaning they too may have play the waiting game a bit tomorrow before it is their chance to take center stage.
Source: fis-ski.com
