Vonn Favorite in Zauchensee Speed Series
ALTENMARKT-ZAUCHENSEE, Austria (Jan.8, 2016) – Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) led the final training run in Altenmarkt/Zauchensee Friday, after taking third in Thursday’s training. The Audi FIS Ski World Cup will feature a rare two-run sprint downhill Saturday with super G Sunday. The men's tour stops in Adelboden for a giant slalom and slalom. TV broadcasts will be LIVE on NBCSN for both men and women, so make sure to set your DVR to record the early morning broadcasts.
The talk of the training runs has been the two-run sprint downhill format. Vonn, having run a sprint downhill when she was just 17 years old, is the only one in the field who has experienced the format. “It’s awesome, I think it’s a really good change of pace, and it’s something exciting and new – not just for the athletes, but for the spectators as well,” Vonn said of the sprint format. “It’s interesting that I’m the only one that’s ever done a two-run downhill—it was in 2002 and I was 17 years old, so it was kind of a long time ago—but it’s fun. It’s a totally different tactic.”
Vonn has seen quite a bit of success on this more technical downhill track in the past. Most recently, in 2011, Vonn finished first in downhill and second in super G. “This is a really difficult course. I mean, you make one mistake and the race is gone,” Vonn noted. “Most downhill and super G skiers have never done a second run except for me. So, it will definitely be interesting to see how people deal with that and I think the more technical skiers who do more GS will probably have more of an advantage.”
This, of course, means current World Cup overall point leader Switzerland’s Lara Gut – who finished just behind Vonn in fourth yesterday, and grabbed fourth again today – will be one to watch.
Over in Adelboden, the guys are experiencing the same unseasonably warm temperatures the rest of Europe has encountered. And it’s not only warm; it’s raining too. But Head Men’s Coach Sasha Rearick hopes the rain doesn’t go away. “Hopefully it stays rainy and we should have a good, fun race,” noted Rearick. “If it turns to snow it will be very difficult conditions due to insulation.”
Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) has had a rough start to the season, but he and the tech team have had a great training block in Hinterreit, Austria. They’ll look to build off their impressive second run performance in Alta Badia, Italy prior to the holidays – where Tommy Ford (Bend, OR) won the second run by .8 seconds and Ligety, Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV) and Ford stacked the top 10 with fourth, seventh and 12th place finishes, respectively.
Last but not least, it’s “Welcome to the big leagues” time for Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA) and Samuel Dupratt (Dixon, CA), who will each be skiing in their Audi FIS Ski World Cup this weekend.
Zauchensee (DH, SG) Starters
Stacey Cook – DH, SG
Abby Ghent – SG
Breezy Johnson – DH, SG
Anna Marno – SG
Alice McKennis – DH, SG
Alice Merryweather – DH, SG*
Laurenne Ross – DH, SG
Lindsey Vonn – DH, SG
Jackie Wiles – DH, SG
Adelboden (GS, SL) Starters
Michael Ankeny – SL
David Chodounsky – GS, SL
Kieffer Christianson – GS
Sam Dupratt – GS*
Tommy Ford – GS
Tim Jitloff – GS
Robby Kelley – SL
Tim Kelley – SL
Ted Ligety – GS, SL
Brennan Rubie – GS
*denotes first World Cup race
QUOTES
Lindsey Vonn
[On the sprint downhill format]
It’s awesome, I think it’s a really good change of pace, and it’s something exciting and new – not just for the athletes, but for the spectators as well. It’s interesting that I’m the only one that’s ever done a two-run downhill—it was in 2002, I was 17 years old, so it was kind of a long time ago—but it’s fun. It’s a totally different tactic. You have a chance to make up time in the second run, and it’s not like GS or slalom where you have a different course set and you have to re-inspect; it’s the same exact course. It’s kind of nice. You can kind of build off your confidence and maybe even improve in the second run.
[On the fact that it’s a really technical downhill, and Vonn being the favorite]
This is a really difficult course. I mean, you make one mistake and the race is gone. So, hopefully I can keep it together for two runs, but I think having been in the lead in GS after the first run is definitely an advantage. I know what it feels like to have the pressure. Most downhill and super G skiers have never done a second run except for me. So, it will definitely be interesting to see how people deal with that and I think the more technical skiers who do more GS will probably have more of an advantage.
[On Vonn and Heinzy’s (Heinz Hmmerle, her tech) strategy for skis]
We’re not sure yet. We’ve been talking about it, and I’ve got one pair I really like. He’s not sure if we can do two runs on the same pair, so we’re debating. I think we’re going to make two pairs ready, and then make a decision tomorrow morning for what we’re going to do.
[On the pressure of record winning and title chasing]
This year is a lot easier and I have a lot less pressure. I’m just going out there trying to win as many races as I can. That’s the goal. I’m not thinking about titles, I’m not thinking about globes—I’m just thinking about skiing fast.
BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAMING (times EST)
Saturday, Jan. 9
3:30 a.m. - Women's DH1, Zauchensee - LIVE STREAM
5:50 a.m. - Women's DH2, Zauchensee - LIVE STREAM
5:50 a.m. - Women's downhill, Zauchensee - LIVE - NBCSN
7:00 a.m. - Men's giant slalom, Adelboden - LIVE STREAM
7:00 a.m. - Men's giant slalom, Adelboden - LIVE - NBCSN
NOTE: TV broadcast live on NBCSN; no afternoon broadcast
Sunday, Jan. 10
5:30 a.m. - Women's super G, Zauchensee - LIVE STREAM
5:30 a.m. - Women's super G, Zauchensee - LIVE - NBCSN
7:00 a.m. - Men's slalom, Adelboden - LIVE STREAM
7:00 a.m. - Men's slalom, Adelboden - LIVE - NBCSN
NOTE: TV broadcast live on NBCSN; no afternoon broadcast
RESULTS
Women’s downhill training 1
Women’s downhill training 2