Bennett Top 20 in Kitzbühel Super-G
On Friday’s super-G in Kitzbühel, Austria, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Bryce Bennett led the way in 19th place. It was his best super-G result at this venue. Jared Goldberg was 22nd and Wiley Maple rounded out the points for the U.S. in 29th.
“I have been skiing good super-G and it was alright, but it was more about trying to figure out the edges,” said Bennett. “It was almost like another training run for me. I’ve been struggling with ice and we tried a new solution today. We are really close and I feel confident to be dialed in for tomorrow.”
After rain overnight in the valley, the surface firmed up nicely for the top of the race. However the sun came in and out throughout the race day, making for a crash-ridden day. The first bib did not finish, which meant Ryan Cochran-Siegle, running bib 2, was the first man to make it down the course. Cochran-Siegle skied a bit conservatively, coupled with a costly mistake which left him out of the top 30.
With multiple crashes and helicopter evacuations causing course holds throughout the day, it was a long race. The French team was particularly victimized, with former World Cup overall champion Alexis Pinturault suffering a fracture, bone bruise and knee injury. Almost all of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team men were stuck in the start gate for a while while the course was fixed.
“I felt like I pushed through a lot of boundaries mentally with Pinturault being helicoptered away right before I went,” said Goldberg. “I watched a lot of guys go before me lose skis so I knew from inspection that it was going to be pretty gnarly and I was hoping that I would be able to step on the ski and just plow through that stuff.”
Goldberg's strong performance in 22nd place will give him confidence into Saturday's downhill, a race where he had his best downhill result two years prior.
But the day belonged to Bennett, who stole the show for the U.S., popping in one of his best super-G results and the best super-G finish at Kitzbühel.
The winner of the race was none other than Swiss skier Marco Odermatt for his first win at the venue. In second was Austrian Raphael Haaser and Swiss skier Stefan Rogentin was third. Cochran-Siegle, River Radamus and Kyle Negomir also raced and landed in 32nd, 34th and 39th. Sam Morse did not finish but is OK.
It was clear however that the true Hahnenkamm day is on Saturday for the downhill. The downhill has already sold out of tickets and will surely bring in the lively and electric atmosphere that makes the race iconic.
“I’ve been enjoying the classic World Cup downhill schedule so you can put all of your eggs in one basket and focus," said Bennett. "Connecting all the sections here top to bottom and carrying speed onto the road is so important. The easy things are key here.”
The race will be live and on-demand on Peacock, and on tape delay on NBC.
RESULTS
Men's super-G
HOW TO WATCH
Saturday, Jan. 25
5:30 a.m. ET - men’s downhill, Kitzbühel, AUT - LIVE on Peacock
12:30 p.m. ET - men’s downhill, Kitzbühel, AUT - TAPE DELAY on NBC
