LAKE LOUISE, AB (Dec. 1, 2017) – Surprise performances are nothing new for Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) in slalom and giant slalom events. But Friday’s third-place finish in the first downhill of the FIS Ski World Cup season just may be the biggest surprise yet in the young career of the defending overall World Cup champion.

Austria’s Cornelia Huetter took the win Friday, a career-first World Cup downhill victory and her second career World Cup win. Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein finished second. For Shiffrin, her third-place finish was a career-first podium in a speed event. 

“The track was totally buffed out. Really in perfect condition,” Shiffrin said. “I was confident in my plan and I tried to stay in my tuck as much as I could. I tried to be soft on my edges and do the couple things I know are fast with speed … I skied within my limits and it was a really good run.”

Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) was well on her way to her 19th Lake Louise World Cup victory after leading at all four intermediate times, but crashed hard into the safety netting near the finish. Vonn was able to get up and ski to the bottom of the course.

With a steady snow falling, Shiffrin came out of the 10th start position and absolutely nailed the lower portion of the Olympic downhill course to move into the race lead. However, Weirather, starting 13th, nipped her at the line by 0.21 seconds. Huetter, starting 15th, displayed masterful technical skills to best Weirather by 0.09 seconds and take the win.

Jackie Wiles (Aurora OR) scored her second career World Cup top-five result, finishing fifth. Breezy Johnson (Victor, ID) matched her career-best World Cup result, finishing 10th, as Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) was 11th. Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO) was 24th.

The women race another downhill Saturday, followed by super G Sunday at Lake Louise.

Weibrecht 21st in Birds of Prey Super G
Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) led the American Downhillers, taking 21st in Friday’s super-G. Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr took his first career World Cup victory, while Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud was second, followed by Austria’s Hannes Reichelt in third.

Thomas Biesemeyer (Keene, NY) also scored points, finishing 24th. Sam Morse (Sugarloaf, ME), made his World Cup super G debut, finishing 48th. The Birds of Prey event continues Saturday with downhill and Sunday with a giant slalom.

RESULTS
Women’s Downhill – Lake Louise
Men’s Super G – Beaver Creek

WHERE TO WATCH
Dec. 1
7:00 p.m. – Birds of Prey Men’s super-G – Olympic Channel TV (same day delay)

Dec. 2
1:00 p.m. – Birds of Prey Men’s downhill – Olympic Channel TV
2:00 p.m. – Women’s downhill – NBCSN
4:00 p.m. – Women’s downhill – Olympic Channel TV (same day delay)
5:00 p.m. – Birds of Prey Men’s downhill – NBC

Dec. 3
11:45 a.m. – Birds of Prey Men’s giant slalom run 1 – nbcsports.com
1:00 p.m. – Women’s super-G – Olympic Channel TV
2:30 p.m. – Birds of Prey Men’s giant slalom run 2 – Olympic Channel TV
5:00 p.m. – Birds of Prey Men’s giant slalom – NBC
6:30 p.m. – Women’s super-G – NBCSN (same day delay)