Are, Sweden – German Olympic giant slalom champion Viktoria Rebensburg halted the four-race GS win streak of Slovenia’s Tina Maze with her first victory of the season in a World Cup giant slalom under the lights in Are on Wednesday. Maze finished third behind Anna Fenninger of Austria.
A win by the dominant Maze would have locked the 2013 GS title in 2012, but she still holds a commanding lead in both the GS and overall standings.
It was Rebensburg’s first victory of the season and the 16th podium result of her World Cup career.
“It was much different, it was a much better piste here, not too icy,” Rebensburg said in comparing the course in Are to the one in Courchevel, France, last weekend. “That’s what skiing is supposed to be. Now I can go home now and celebrate Christmas and this victory with my family and friends.”
Julia Mancuso, of Squaw Valley, Calif., skied a brilliant bottom section to finish 14th to lead the U.S. women.
“Julia is still trying some things with her equipment and she was using the same ski she used in Courchevel in the first run and it just didn’t work out. The snow conditions were totally different,” explained U.S. Ski Team head coach Alex Hoedlmoser. “She switched skis for the second run and she was two tenths out of the fastest time. It was good progress and we’re going to keep that going. She’s going to skip tomorrow’s slalom and focus on testing GS skis.”
Colorado’s Mikaela Shiffrin also made the final with the 17th fastest opening run, but hooked a gate with her right shoulder and was bounced off course.
“Mikaela’s first run was OK and she was right in there, even with a big mistake. Second run she was really going for it an was just a little bit too close on one gate and when out,” Hoedlmoser said. “If you’re attacking, that can happen. We always want to see our athletes attacking.”
Reigning overall champion Lindsey Vonn did not start after leaving the World Cup circuit to return stateside to regain strength from an intestinal infection.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Audi FIS Alpine World Cup
Are, Sweden – Dec. 19, 2012
Women’s Giant Slalom
| Rank | Bib | Name | Year | Nation | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total Time | FIS Points |
| 1 | 5 | REBENSBURG Viktoria | 1989 | GER | 1:13.94 | 1:15.00 | 2:28.94 | 0.00 |
| 2 | 1 | FENNINGER Anna | 1989 | AUT | 1:15.09 | 1:14.47 | 2:29.56 | 3.70 |
| 3 | 6 | MAZE Tina | 1983 | SLO | 1:15.06 | 1:14.79 | 2:29.85 | 5.44 |
| 4 | 7 | WORLEY Tessa | 1989 | FRA | 1:16.12 | 1:13.92 | 2:30.04 | 6.57 |
| 5 | 23 | HANSDOTTER Frida | 1985 | SWE | 1:15.89 | 1:14.32 | 2:30.21 | 7.59 |
| 6 | 16 | HOEFL-RIESCH Maria | 1984 | GER | 1:15.88 | 1:14.52 | 2:30.40 | 8.72 |
| 7 | 18 | BREM Eva-Maria | 1988 | AUT | 1:16.48 | 1:14.32 | 2:30.80 | 11.11 |
| 8 | 14 | LINDELL-VIKARBY Jessica | 1984 | SWE | 1:16.87 | 1:14.25 | 2:31.12 | 13.03 |
| 9 | 10 | POUTIAINEN Tanja | 1980 | FIN | 1:16.49 | 1:14.83 | 2:31.32 | 14.22 |
| 10 | 3 | ZETTEL Kathrin | 1986 | AUT | 1:16.09 | 1:15.25 | 2:31.34 | 14.34 |