Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic – Reigning Audi FIS Alpine World Cup overall champion Lindsey Vonn rocketed to the first World Cup giant slalom podium of her career Friday to make a bold move toward a fourth consecutive season-long title. Vonn, who wrapped up the super combined, downhill and super G titles last weekend, finished third and has now earned a World Cup podium in every discipline. In doing so, she trimmed German Maria Riesch’s overall World Cup season long lead to just 38 points with five races remaining in the season.nViktoria Rebensburg of Germany took over the giant slalom standings lead with the win as Julia Mancuso, of Squaw Valley, Calif., was sixth and Vail, Colo.’s Sarah Schleper 20th. Fifteen-year-old Mikeala Shiffrin, also of Vail, made her World Cup debut, yet did not qualify for final, a fate also met by Laurenne Ross of Klamath Falls, Ore.
“I’ve been waiting for a long time for a good result in giant slalom. I knew the skiing was there it was just a matter of putting down two solid and aggressive runs. This is just great timing to say the least,” said Vonn, of Vail, Colo. Riesch made a huge mistake on the course to finish 29th. “I didn’t actually know that Maria almost went out until after the race was over. When I was in the starting gate, I actually thought Maria was winning and was more motivated to attack.”
Since suffering through the World Championships with post-concussive symptoms, Vonn finished 6-1-2-2-2-1-3 in each race through Friday since the break. She has come back from a nearly 200-point deficit to Riesch since races last month in Are, Sweden.
“Right now I feel fresh and I have lots of energy. I’m ready for the overall fight,” Vonn added. “I just changed my mental approach. I basically had nothing to lose at that point and that’s how I’ve been skiing.”
Alex Hoedlmoser, U.S. Ski Team women’s Head Coach, said that he wasn’t surprised by Vonn’s first ever World Cup giant slalom podium finish.
“We’ve known for so many years that she can be on the podium in GS too. It’s not like this is a big surprise, now is just a really good time to do it. I have to say, things are moving in the right direction,” he said Saturday afternoon. “That break she had after the medal at World Championships was totally the right decision. She got some rest, which was really important and then the new mission started. She just started focusing on every race – one at a time – and started hammering it.”
Two members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team finished in the top 20 in Friday’s giant slalom. Marie-Pier Préfontaine, of Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, finished 18th Friday to end her season in 26th position in giant slalom, one slot out of reaching the World Cup finals. Lac-Etchemin, Quebec-based athlete Marie-Michèle Gagnon finished in 19th place. The 22-year-old qualified for the World Cup finals in giant slalom, finishing in 16th place.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Audi FIS Alpine World Cup
Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic – March 11, 2011
Giant Slalom
1. Viktoria Rebensburg, Germany, 2:15.22
2. Denise Karbon, Italy, 2:16.48
3. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 2:16.67