Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany – Three-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso attacked a gnarly Garmisch super G that forced 14 racers off course, including Lindsey Vonn and all other Americans, to win her first Audi FIS Alpine World Cup of the season on Sunday. The victory, Mancuso’s career sixth, completed a U.S. Ski Team weekend sweep following Vonn’s historic victory in the opening downhill.

“At this point in my career, I really want to win. I go into every race with that attitude and I knew that today – just like the other super G’s – you have to put it all on the line,” Mancuso, of Squaw Valley, Calif., said. “You can’t hold back at all if you want to win a super G. When I crossed the finish line, I thought, ‘if that wasn’t good enough, then I don’t know what is.’

“It was very difficult, I really couldn’t see much, but that was what you had to do – you had to go for it,” Mancuso said of light conditions on the course. “I knew that I kept my speed the whole way despite a couple of mistakes. I stayed in there, it was a rough ride, but I managed to make it to the finish. You had to go fast and not care where you are. I like to see – it’s better when it’s sunny – but it gives me an advantage, because I know I can perform in difficult conditions.”

Frigid temperatures and extremely flat light added to the challenging conditions in Garmisch on Sunday.

“The course was set really fast, besides a couple of turns, and I knew I had to push myself to the limit and make those technical sections clean, then it was just a case of trying to go as fast as possible,” Mancuso added.

Mancuso and Vonn last combined for a sweep Dec. 19-20, 2006 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Vonn was held for nearly five minutes prior to her run for course repair before catching an edge and careening out of the course. She continues to lead the overall World Cup chase by 482 points, although her super G lead dropped to 20 points following Sunday’s race.

“I’m not sad or disappointed. Yesterday was an amazing day and I’m really proud of the way I’m skiing right now,” said Vonn. “I’m third in the giant slalom World Cup and I’ve never been in that position before. I’m going there [Soldeu] to win. The giant slalom World Cup title is definitely a goal.”

The women’s World Cup now moves to Soldeu, Andorra for a giant slalom and slalom.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Audi FIS Alpine World Cup
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany – Feb. 5, 2012
Women’s Super G