Vonn Wins, Mancuso 3rd in Lake Louise

Lake Louise (AB), Canada – Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn returned to the top of the Lake Louise podium Sunday with a commanding super G victory over Maria Riesch of Germany. Julia Mancuso was third as six Americans finished inside the top 25.n”Today I dropped the hammer a little bit more and believed in myself,” said Vonn, who barely escaped a near-crash on Saturday. “For me the bottom line is never giving up.”

Vonn, of Vail, Colo., crushed the field by nearly a full second, just under an hour before teammate and fellow Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety won the Audi Birds of Prey giant slalom in Beaver Creek. It was the first time since 2006 that two Americans won World Cup races on the same day.

“I was really happy with my run today, I wanted to end the weekend on a positive note and really take advantage of the opportunity,” said Vonn during a live call broadcast over the stadium speakers between giant slalom runs in Beaver Creek. “I skied with aggression and passion and had a great inspection and really nailed the line. I’m extremely happy with the win.”

Sunday’s win marked Vonn’s 14th podium and eighth win in Lake Louise over the course of six years. With second place, Riesch earned her third podium result in the three races in Lake Louise. It was second career podium finish in Lake Louise for Mancuso, who stamped an exclamation mark on the incredible skiing she produced throughout the week.

“I just went out of the gate charging. I was psyched to be on the podium,” said Mancuso. “It’s nice to have been skiing really well and consistent in the downhill, so to finish it off with a third place and my best super G result there is refreshing. I’m excited and I think it will just get better through the season.”

Stacey Cook (Mammoth, Calif.), Laurenne Ross (Klamath Falls, Oore.), Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) and Leanne Smith (Conway, N.H.) all scored World Cup points, taking positions 20-23. Chelsea Marshall (Pittsfield, Vt.) and Julia Ford (Plymouth, N.H.) finished just outside the top 30 with 31st and 34th.

Despite another day of disappointment for the home Canadian team, it nonetheless marked a promising return to speed racing for Marie-Michèle Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Quebec, who finished 27th in 1:24.03. Gagnon has been focused on the technical disciplines of slalom and giant slalom in recent seasons.

“I am really stoked to be doing speed, I haven’t been in the last few years. I said to myself today that top 30 would be good. Eventually I want to be better than that but it’s a good start, it’s a good step,” said Gagnon. “I am pretty much planning to race the speed circuit this season (as well as tech). I am racing in St. Moritz and Val d’Isere before Christmas so that’s great.”

Gagnon was the only Canadian to finish in the top 30 to earn World Cup points on Sunday. Fellow Canadian Britt Janyk (Whistler, British Columbia) finished 33rd in 1:24.74 followed by Marie-Pier Préfontaine (Saint-Sauveur, Quebec) in 35th, Georgia Simmerling (Vancouver, British Columbia) 38th and Kelly McBroom (Canmore, Alberta) 40th.

The next stop on the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup tour is St. Moritz, Switerzland Dec. 9-12.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Audi Alpine FIS World Cup
Lake Louise, AB, Canada
December 5, 2010
Super G

1. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 1:20.72
2. Maria Riesch, Germany, 1:21.55
3. Julia Mancuso, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:21.61
4. Anna Fenninger, Austria, 1:21.83
5. Andrea Fischbacher, Austria, 1:22.34

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