High Winds Sweep Weekend Away
By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
January, 11 2015
BAD KLEINKIRCHHEIM, Austria (Jan. 11, 2015) - For the second day in a row, high winds wreaked havoc in Bad Kleinkirchheim, resulting in cancelation of the women's Audi FIS Ski World Cup super G. This time organizers got it started - albeit 45 minutes late - but after 11 racers officials pulled the plug as winds contnued to sweep over the venue destroying race venue infrastructure. The tour will now move on to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy next weekend. A decision on rescheduling the canceled races is pending.
Three Americans were among those who actually skied the course, including Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA). "It was a lot of fun - a lot like what we see in the spring," said Mancuso. "The storm’s definitely moving in. It was snowing the whole way down. There was a good base underneath and it had compacted well. It was definitely skiable."
Conditions continued to change through the first 11 starters. Mancuso ran eighth and was sitting in fourth place. Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) and Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) also got a start before it was canceled.
"Everyone has their own comfort zone," said Mancuso. "I trust that FIS and the race organizers did the best job they could to put a race on they believe is safe."
Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), who was looking to challenge for her record 62nd World Cup win, was 20th on the start list and did not get a chance to ski.
FIS officials will regroup to determine a plan for rescheduling the two canceled races.
Lindsey Vonn
Known as one of the world's most successful female ski racers, Lindsey Vonn is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Stifel U.S. Ski Team.