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Winds Whip Through Bad Kleinkirchheim

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
January, 10 2015

BAD KLEINKIRCHHEIM, Austria (Jan. 10, 2015) - An early morning windstorm shredded the race hill and finish area at Bad Kleinkirchheim, forcing FIS officials to cancel Saturday's scheduled Audi FIS Ski World Cup downhill. Sunday's super G is still in the plans with ongoing discussion on whether the downhill can be replaced next weekend in Cortina. The windstorm also delayed Lindsey Vonn's (Vail, CO) run at a record 62nd World Cup win.

While the track was hard and firm, it was getting warm in Bad Kleinkirchheim, with rain overnight followed by warm wind Saturday morning. Damage along the race course was widespread but officials are hopeful in running Sunday's super G.

QUOTES
Julia Mancuso
The weather changed dramatically - so we were pretty surprised. It was just like forecast - warm and windy this morning. It rained all night then was warm this morning There were probably a lot of branches on the hill as it’s already a lot of debris from it being a woodsy course. I imagine it will be soft but it was a really firm base underneath so there’s a chance it didn’t ruin the hill and we’ll have a good super G race.

I like these kind of conditions - like spring snow, changing from super hard icy to spring. W’ell have to see how it is in the morning or if it freezes tonight.
 
Alice McKennis
Obviously we’re disappointed the race was canceled but looking at the conditions it didn’t really look like a good option to go up there and race.

 

Finally I figured out this downhill course and we have a wind storm...ugh. Race is canceled. #badtime

 

 

Heavy damage was caused in the finish stadium after a windstorm blew through Bad Kleinkirchheim just hours before Saturday's downhill. (Getty Images/AFP-Joe Klamar)

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Lindsey Vonn

Known as one of the world's most successful female ski racers, Lindsey Vonn is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. She is the only American woman to capture downhill gold at the Olympics, has 82 World Cup victories, 137 World Cup podiums, seven World Championship medals, and 20 World Cup titles (including four Overall World Cup Crystal Globes).

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