Johnson Leads Four Americans Into Top 30
VAL D’ISERE, France (Dec. 17, 2016) – Breezy Johnson (Victor, ID) skied into the ‘bonus points’ Saturday, leading four American’s into the top 30 in downhill at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup.
“I’ve worked really hard all summer long, so it’s great to see it pay off in a place where I really didn’t expect a whole lot because I’ve never been here before,” said Johnson, who finishing 13th - her second career top 15 World Cup result. “My technician (Ale Sopotnik) and I were talking and he was like: ‘Anything above 25 is really just bonus points.’”
Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec won her third World Cup downhill of the season Saturday by 0.28 over Austria’s Cornelia Huetter. Italy’s Sofia Goggia was third.
Stacey Cook finished 21st in Saturday’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup downhill on in Val-d'Isere, France (Getty/Agence Zoom-Christophe Pallot)
Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO) finished 14th, Stacey Cook (Mammoth Lakes, CA) was 21st and Jackie Wiles (Aurora, OR) finished 22nd. Leanne Smith (North Conway, NH) was 36th. Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR), who won the downhill portion of Friday’s alpine combined, did not start the race due to a flu bug making its way around the women’s circuit.
Up next, the ladies tackle super G Sunday in Val d’Isere. Live streaming will be available on NBCsports.com/live.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec has won all three World Cup downhill events contested this season, including both races at Lake Louise.
- Breezy Johnson scored her second career top 15 World Cup downhill result – she was 11th at Lake Louise.
- Road to Aspen: Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO), who did not race Saturday, continues to lead the overall standings with 498 points. Sofia Goggia is second with 467, and Ilka Stuhec is third with 445.
QUOTES
Breezy Johnson
I’ve worked really hard all summer long, so it’s great to see it pay off in a place like this where I really didn’t expect a whole lot because I’ve never been here before. My technician (Ale Sopotnik) and I were talking and he was like: ‘Anything above 25 is really just bonus points.’
I’m really excited about being able to come here and notch a top 15. That’s way more than I ever could have expected.
We’ve been working really hard on getting my set up dialed, getting my skiing dialed. Changing my stance, changing the way I approach the top of the turn. I’m really grateful for all the work that everyone else has put in, not just me. There are a whole slew of people out there that are still standing on the hill for me.
BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAMING (times EST)
Sat, Dec. 17
4 p.m. – Val d’Isere women’s downhill – UniversalHD
Sun, Dec. 18
4:30 a.m. – Val d’Isere women’s super G – nbcsports.com – LIVE STREAM
9:30 p.m. – Val d'Isere women's super G - NBCSN
Live streaming available on NBCsports.com/Live and the NBC Sports app, which is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.
RESULTS
Women’s Downhill