Vonn Sixth, Macuga Ninth, Johnson 11th in St. Anton
It was an electric day for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team women with three placing in the top 15, highlighted by the return of Lindsey Vonn who landed sixth in her first downhill after six years.
“It was fun. I love being back in the start and I know this hill really well so I knew the challenges that would come today and was ready to execute,” said Vonn.
After a canceled training run the day before the weather cleared and the stage was set for the women to race their second downhill of the season in St. Anton. The air was crisp and the snow a touch soft. Due to the heavy snowfall a few days earlier the women started a little bit lower at the super-G start making for a close race.
Jackie Wiles was first up for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team women - she went out early after the first split due to soft snow and being a touch low on the line. Luckily she is OK. Next came Lauren Macuga for the Americans and she did not disappoint. Macuga blazed down skiing strong and aggressively to ultimately claim ninth place. Macuga thrilled with her performance could be seen smiling from the top.
“I am really excited. It felt like good skiing and I was able to hit the points that I wanted to,” said Macuga. “I think the conditions were a bit softer than we all thought, so we made some game time adjustments with our line to avoid the soft snow."
The long-anticipated return of Olympic Gold Medalist and one of the most successful women alpine ski racers of all time, Lindsey Vonn, came just after the top 30. All eyes were on Vonn as she knifed down the course as if she had been in the game all these years. She skied aggressively to find that finish line in the top ten. An exceptional performance. Vonn's teammates were quick to run and hug the speed queen congratulating her and welcoming her back to the downhill circuit.
“I know I can be faster but I think for the first downhill race in six years it is a good start,” said Vonn. “Downhill has always been my favorite discipline so I am really happy and I think it was a great first step.”
The crowd could not get too distracted from Vonn’s strong race with Breezy Johnson right on her tail. Johnson, with a lightning-fast top split maintained her speed through to land in 11th place from bib 33.
“I feel pretty good but I also know that I have better skiing within me and there was just a couple places where I messed up but I do feel like the progression is good,” said Johnson. “It is great to see the women doing awesome. I think we are all using this energy and will try to keep building as we head into Cortina.”
The show was not over yet as the podium was a bit of a surprise with some late field advances. Federica Brignone claimed her first downhill win with second place going to Swiss skier Malorie Blanc blazing into second place from bib 46. Rounding out the podium was Czech skier Ester Ledecka. Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Bella Wright, Keely Cashman, Tricia Mangan and Haley Cutler also raced placing 32nd, 41st, 42nd and 44th respectively.
Overall the women are feeling very content about the start of the season and look forward to the next few weekends of downhills.
"The team result is so exciting because just two years ago there was only four of us racing and now there is three in the top 15, it’s crazy," said Macuga.
The women have another exciting day of racing in St. Anton on Sunday with a super-G.
RESULTS
women's downhill
HOW TO WATCH
5:15 a.m. ET - women's super-G, St. Anton, AUT - live/on-demand on Peacock
