Battling headwinds, crosswinds and blowing snow, Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) salvaged a sixth-place finish to lead the U.S. Ski Team at the FIS Ski World Cup super-G in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday.

“I’m not mad, I’m just a little bit frustrated,” Vonn said after her run where midway down the course strong winds blew up clouds of snow, reducing visibility and changing the snow surface. “Sometimes this happens in ski racing, where the races aren’t really fair and the wind comes, the light comes, the clouds come, but I tried my best and I’m happy with my skiing. But unfortunately, I just wasn’t very lucky today.”

Swiss Lara Gut picked up her 24th career World Cup victory, with Italy’s Johanna Schnarf in second and Austria’s Nicole Schmidhofer in third. Jackie Wiles (Aurora, Ore.) was 19th; Laurenne Ross (Bend, Ore.) 21st; and Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) was 23rd. Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) had an uncharacteristic DNF after getting low and late on a gate midway down the course. 

Sunday’s event was the final opportunity for athletes to achieve Olympic Selection Criteria. Based upon results this season, Ross, who suffered a significant knee injury last March, met the criteria after scoring a top-10 super-G finish in Lake Louise. Vonn and Shiffrin also qualified.

Despite Sunday’s super-G results, the weekend was very successful for the U.S. ladies with Vonn and Shiffrin going 2-3 in Friday’s downhill, and Vonn and Wiles going 1-3 in Saturday’s downhill.

“I’m still very happy with the weekend,” Vonn said. “I’m happy with the way I’m skiing and I have a lot of confidence now going into February. We still have some more races before the Olympics, but this is a good place for me to be and yesterday’s win was amazing.”

Shiffrin continues to lead the overall World Cup standings heading into Tuesday’s giant slalom in Kronplatz, Italy.

RESULTS
Women’s super-G

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST 
Sunday, Jan. 21
9:00 p.m. - Women’s super-G; Cortina – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
10:00 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Tuesday, Jan. 23
6:30 a.m. - Women’s giant slalom; Kronplatz – Olympic Channel TV
2:30 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – Olympic Channel TV
12:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Steven Nyman (Sundance, Utah) finished 15th to lead four Americans into the top 30 in Saturday’s FIS Ski World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

“I’m not too satisfied with my performance,” said Nyman, who is still not 100 percent following last season’s knee injury. “I skied some sections pretty well, and I was a little hesitant in some sections, but it’s coming along … every day it’s getting better with my confidence and my knee.”

Germany’s Thomas Dressen won his first career World Cup race, edging out Swiss Beat Fuez by 0.20 seconds for the victory. Austria’s Hannes Reichelt was third.

Tommy Biesemeyer (Keene, N.Y.) came out of the 46th start position to finish one place behind Nyman in 16th.  Wiley Maple (Aspen, Colo.) came out of the 45th start position to finish 22nd; and Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calif.) was 28th.

The weekend will culminate with slalom Sunday, where David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, Colo.) and Nolan Kasper (Warren, Vt.) will headline the roster for the Americans. Kasper led the way in his first World Cup slalom race in nearly three years, earning a top 20 result in Wengen, Switzerland last weekend.

RESULTS
Men’s downhill

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Saturday, Jan. 20
3:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – NBC (same day broadcast)
11:00 p.m. - Women’s downhill; Cortina – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
12:00 a.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Sunday, Jan. 21
5:30 a.m. - Women’s super-G; Cortina – Olympic Channel TV
7:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom; Kitzbuehel – Olympic Channel TV
9:00 p.m. - Women’s super-G; Cortina – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
10:00 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Tuesday, Jan. 23
6:30 a.m. - Women’s giant slalom; Kronplatz – Olympic Channel TV
2:30 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – Olympic Channel TV
12:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Beaming with confidence and skiing with power, Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) produced a dominating performance to win her 79th career FIS Ski World Cup race and secure her Olympic Team selection in Saturday’s downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Jackie Wiles (Aurora, Ore.) finished third and also punched her ticket to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

“I was definitely disappointed with my result yesterday with that big mistake, but today was a great run - clean, solid,” said Vonn, who won by 0.92-seconds over Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein. “I’m very happy with my skiing and it gives me a lot of confidence going forward into the Olympics.”

Wiles was skiing just off Vonn’s pace at the top intervals but nearly overcooked a turn after catching a rut. But she made a strong recovery and built speed toward the bottom of the course to grab her second career World Cup downhill podium.

“I had a lot of fun,” Wiles said. “A little scary at the bottom, but I kept is rolling and it came together. “

“It was a great day having Jackie on the podium,” added Vonn, who has been a mentor for Wiles and provided financial assistance for her early in her career through the Lindsey Vonn Foundation. “I’m really, really proud of her!”

 “She has done a lot to help me get to this point,” Wiles said of Vonn. “She’s a great friend and role model, and I’m super thrilled to be on the podium with her.”

It was a banner day for U.S. Ski Team with seven athletes finishing in the top 30, including Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) in seventh; Breezy Johnson (Victor, Idaho) in 11th; Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 16th; Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, Calif.) in 25th; and Laurenne Ross (Bend, Ore.) in 26th.

Shiffrin leads the overall World Cup standings by a massive 907 points over Italy’s Sofia Goggia.  She also leads the overall World Cup slalom and giant slalom standings and is third in the downhill standings behind Goggia and Weirather.

Up next, the women compete in super-G Saturday in Cortina. 

“I’m excited,” Vonn said of Sunday’s super-G. “I think I’m skiing better super-G than downhill. I have a lot of confidence from today and yesterday, so I’ll attack as always and see how it goes.”

RESULTS
Women’s downhill

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Friday, Jan. 19
4:00 p.m. - Men’s super-G; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Saturday, Jan. 20
3:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – NBC (same day broadcast)
11:00 p.m. - Women’s downhill; Cortina – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
12:00 a.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Sunday, Jan. 21
5:30 a.m. - Women’s super-G; Cortina – Olympic Channel TV
7:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom; Kitzbuehel – Olympic Channel TV
9:00 p.m. - Women’s super-G; Cortina – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
10:00 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Tuesday, Jan. 23
6:30 a.m. - Women’s giant slalom; Kronplatz – Olympic Channel TV
2:30 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – Olympic Channel TV
12:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
 

Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, N.Y.) was the top American finisher in 24th in Friday’s weather-shortened FIS Ski World Cup super-G in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Norway went 1-2 with Aksel Lund Svindal taking the win ahead of teammate Kjetil Jansrud. Austria’s Matthias Mayer was third.

Heavy snow forced race officials to move the start lower and push back the start time to allow crews to clear the course. Tommy Biesemeyer (Keene, N.Y.) finished 26th; Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calif.) was 27th; Maple Wiley (Aspen, Colo.) was 29th; and Steven Nyman (Sundance, Utah) was 32nd. Both Biesemeyer and Weibrecht clinched Olympic spots.

Up next, the men race downhill on the Hahnenkamm track Saturday.

RESULTS
Men’s super-G

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Friday, Jan. 19
4:00 p.m. - Men’s super-G; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Saturday, Jan. 20
4:00 a.m. - Women’s downhill; Cortina – Olympic Channel TV
5:30 a.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – Olympic Channel TV
3:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – NBC (same day broadcast)
11:00 p.m. - Women’s downhill; Cortina – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
12:00 a.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Sunday, Jan. 21
5:30 a.m. - Women’s super-G; Cortina – Olympic Channel TV
7:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom; Kitzbuehel – Olympic Channel TV
9:00 p.m. - Women’s super-G; Cortina – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
10:00 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Tuesday, Jan. 23
6:30 a.m. - Women’s giant slalom; Kronplatz – Olympic Channel TV
2:30 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – Olympic Channel TV
12:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) was one slight mistake away from the top step of the podium but still managed to salvage a second-place finish in front of teammate Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) in Friday’s FIS Ski World Cup downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. It was an outstanding day for the U.S. women with six athletes finishing in the top 20.

Sofia Goggia of Italy won her second-straight downhill as Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, Calif.) wrapped up a storied 18-year career with her final race, after announcing her retirement prior to Friday’s downhill.

Vonn was clearly in the driver’s seat to achieve her 79th career World Cup victory on one of her favorite downhill tracks. However, she got caught up in a rut two-thirds of the way through her run and pulled out a dramatic one-ski recovery to not only remain upright but also hold her speed and push to the finish.

“I caught my edge, the light was flat and that happens,” Vonn said. “I’m happy that I kept fighting to the end. I was hoping that I didn’t lose too much time, but unfortunately, it was enough to lose the win.

“I still got second place, which is pretty outstanding, all things considered,” Vonn added. “I know I have the speed and I’m skiing well, so tomorrow is another opportunity and hopefully I won’t be caught in that rut tomorrow.”

Friday’s downhill was a makeup race from the event canceled in Val d’Isere, France last month. The ladies will race another downhill on Saturday, followed by super-G on Sunday.

Shiffrin, meanwhile, added to her overall World Cup lead and is second in the overall World Cup downhill standings as she continues to make huge strides in mastering the speed events with her second downhill podium finish of the season.

“I learned a lot in the first training run, the second training run and then for the race today I was aggressive,” Shiffrin said. “For tomorrow, I can build on that.”

Jackie Wiles (Aurora, Ore.) put down another top-10 World Cup result Friday, finishing seventh. Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) was 11th; Laurenne Ross (Bend, Ore.) finished 17th; and Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, Calif.) was 20th.

After announcing her retirement prior to the race, Mancuso donned a Super Women outfit for her final World Cup race and received a Champagne shower from her teammates after crossing the finish line one final time.

“For me it’s been an emotional ride, not having a body that can perform how you want,” Mancuso said of her recovery and working so hard to come back this season to try an qualify for her fifth Olympic team. “So mentally, it’s been really tough, but on the bittersweet side, I feel so incredibly grateful to have had such an amazing career. Especially growing up with Lindsey, and pushing each other and being able to be part of such a great team.

“Looking back I have no regrets,” she added. “I’m just thankful for the journey and really thankful to have had the opportunity to get healthy enough to make it down a World Cup run and feel awesome, and dress up and add that to the list of experiences.”

RESULTS
Women’s downhill

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Friday, Jan. 19
4:00 p.m. - Men’s super-G; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Saturday, Jan. 20
4:00 a.m. - Women’s downhill; Cortina – Olympic Channel TV
5:30 a.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – Olympic Channel TV
3:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – NBC (same day broadcast)
11:00 p.m. - Women’s downhill; Cortina – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
12:00 a.m. - Men’s downhill; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Sunday, Jan. 21
5:30 a.m. - Women’s super-G; Cortina – Olympic Channel TV
7:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom; Kitzbuehel – Olympic Channel TV
9:00 p.m. - Women’s super-G; Cortina – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)
10:00 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Kitzbuehel – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)

Tuesday, Jan. 23
6:30 a.m. - Women’s giant slalom; Kronplatz – Olympic Channel TV
2:30 p.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – Olympic Channel TV
12:00 a.m. - Men’s slalom; Schladming – NBCSN Encore (same day broadcast)