SCHLADMING, Austria — In a contest that was delayed 14 times due to bad weather and ultimately terminated after 36 racers, Lindsey Vonn crashed and was airlifted off the race hill, while Tina Maze picked up the super G World Championship in Schladming, Austria on Tuesday.
Fog, rain and darkness are some of the reasons why the opening event could have — some will say should have — been cancelled, but a brief period of sun in the afternoon and jury decision at the last minute had the girls running speed down the Streicher race course.
Vonn, who reported earlier in the week that she was stronger and feeling better than she ever has before a major event, led the field at the first split, slipped back 0.12 seconds by the second and never reached the third. In what can only be described as an ugly crash, for lack of a better term, the American star jarred her leg, went over the handlebars and was reportedly screaming as she was airlifted off the mountain.
According to U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Kyle Wilkens, Vonn suffered a torn ACL and MCL in her right knee and a lateral tibial plateau fracture. She will be out for the remainder of this season.
U.S. Ski Team doctor Bill Sterett and Wilken were with Vonn Tuesday evening.
"Lindsey is resting and in good spirits," wrote USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt in an email. "Details on surgery and her training plan for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi are pending, but she is already thinking what she needs to do to come back for next season."
Certainly a bright spot for the Americans was Julia Mancuso rallying just three racers after Vonn's crash to take the World Championship bronze, just her second top three of the season. She was joined on the podium by Switzerland's Lara Gut, who took second.
"I think that might've been one of the most difficult races I've ever been in," said Mancuso. "It was a really long course and a lot of hurry up and wait. I didn't know I'd be so tired at the end of the run. Every time, no matter what kind of run, I know I could have a much better run. But to finish on the podium is kind of all you can ask for."
Mancuso finished with a time of 1 minute, 35.91 seconds, just more than a half second behind Maze.
"Yeah, that was hard. I think just with a long day everything, even your mental game, can be effected. I knew the course well, but my reactions weren't totally on but I guess they were on close enough to notice that I was going on the wrong side of the gate. Then, I think that just made me a little out there for that compression, but I made it to the finish."
For Maze, who may be on her way to a record-setting season, it's her second World Championship title (the other came two year's ago in GS) and fourth medal.
"I believed there would be a race today because, I don't know, just kind of a feeling," said Maze. "They were delaying for every 15 minutes so I was staying focused. ... Was not easy to race today because that's a long day waiting."
Leanne Smith and Laurenne Ross rounded out the American representation. Neither was pleased with their respective 16th- and 26th-place results.
"I'm not very happy with my performance today," said Smith. "But everyone had the same opportunity and I'm not that excited about it, but there's always next race and you learn from your mistakes and shortcomings."
Smith refused to play Monday morning quarterback and pass judgment on the jury's decision to hold the race, but she did say the snow was inconsistent at best.
"It is what it is. It's out of our control. If they're going to run us, they're going to run us," said Smith. "You can complain about the snow. You can complain about waiting three hours, but you have to be ready to go when it's time to go."
THIS STORY IS BEING UPDATED
By Geoff Mintz
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