Macuga Wins Bronze To Kick Off Alpine Junior World Ski Championships
Lauren Macuga skied to third place on Thursday to kick off the 2022 Alpine Junior World Ski Championships In Panorama, B.C.
Macuga, a Development Team member and resident of Park City, Utah, skied to 1:28.58 in the downhill, the first event in the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships. She finished .25 seconds behind winner Magdalena Egger of Austria, who posted the winning time of 1:28.33. German Emma Aicher was the last athlete to kick out of the start gate and ended the race sliding into the second position, with a time of 1:28.46.
Alpine Development Director Chip Knight explained how Macuga had been progressing throughout her speed career and was ready for a bigger stage for her talents to shine through. “She has been working hard on her technical skiing, while also gaining experience in the speed events on a higher level World Cup and Europa Cup tracks. Those efforts paid dividends here in Panorama,” said Knight.
Macuga was ecstatic about her bronze finish and could not believe that it happened today despite the conditions in the past few days.
“To open at Junior Worlds at Panorama Resort with a third is incredible. I knew I could put one down, but to see it in the results with all the best juniors in the world is the craziest feeling ever,” reflected Macuga.
Macuga added that she wants to keep her skiing at this level and keep progressing for the future. “I plan to keep the ball rolling into the next few days of racing! And I am ready to ski my best against these women and can’t wait to see my teammates up there with me,” Macuga said.
Ava Sunshine Jemison of Edwards, Colo., finished 20th, having waited out two long race interruptions—one due to heavy fog. Twenty-six women started in the field, and there were two DNFs.
The women's downhill was the first race in the nine-day competition featuring 11 events, open to the world’s best junior alpine skiers, born in the years 2000 to 2003.
Macuga’s family is no stranger to the mountains and ski competition. She has two siblings also on the U.S. Ski Team; sister Sam Macuga is a ski jumper and her sister Alli Macuga is a moguls skier.
The men’s downhill was canceled due to the fog. The men will strap on the downhill skis again on Friday for the rescheduled race while the women will tackle super-G. The men's super-G has yet to be rescheduled. More information will be forthcoming.
RESULTS
Women's downhill
PANORAMA 2022 COMPETITION SCHEDULE
March 4 – Men’s Downhill and Women’s Super-G
March 5 – Mixed Team Event
March 6 – Men’s Alpine Combined
March 7 – Women’s Alpine Combined
March 8 – Men’s Giant Slalom and Women’s Slalom
March 9 – Women’s Giant Slalom and Men’s Slalom
MORE INFORMATION
Panorama 2022 Official Website
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Lauren Macuga celebrates her Junior Worlds' bronze medal with Magdalena Egger of Austria (gold) and Emma Aicher of Germany (silver).
