Austrian phenom Anna Fenninger takes world juniors super G

Austrian phenom Anna Fenninger takes world juniors super G{mosimage}LE MASSIF, Quebec Call it a preview of coming attractions. Sixteen-year-old Austrian sensation Anna Fenninger won her first Junior World Championships title in the March 5 women’s super G in Quebec.

Fenninger, who was the silver medalist in the downhill and narrowly missed the podium in the March 4 slalom, was clearly the most aggressive racer of the day, separating herself from the second-place finisher Camilla Borsotti of Italy by nearly eight-tenths of a second.

“I didn’t think I would win the super G,” said Fenninger, the overall Europa Cup leader. “In GS, I want to go for gold, but in speed events, I’m a lot less sure of myself. … I ski all four disciplines this season, but I think I still have some work to do on my speed skills.”

While Fenninger may have resorted to modesty, she enters her best event, the GS, on Tuesday with two medals from the speed events already in her pocket. Plus she says she has the backing of her Austrian teammates. “The team spirit is excellent even if the pressure is always there. We support each other at every moment,” she said.

Hilary Longhini, Borsotti’s Italian teammate, rounded out the podium and took bronze. The silver and bronze marked the first Junior World Championships medals for both Italian women.

“I didn’t think I would get on the podium today and I’m so happy to do it with Camilla by my side,” said Longhini, whose strenth is in GS. “This memory will stay in my mind for a long time.”

“It’s my first time in Canada and I really like this country,” added Longhini. “I will surely come back on my own to visit and have time to meet new people. … It’s very positive for us, we feel at home.”

Canadian Shona Rubens, who finished fifth, was the only North American who finished on the front page. Rubens was a member of Canada’s Torino Olympic Games team, finishing 26th in the Olympic downhill. She has scored World Cup points in downhill twice this year, finishing 15th in Lake Louise, Alberta, and 18th in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Crested Butte Academy’s Elizabeth Woods was the top American finisher, finishing in 17th place.

The women will have a day off on March 6 and will race giant slalom on March 7 at Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Women’s super G
Junior World Championships
Led Massif, Quebec
March 6, 2006

1. FENNINGER Anna [AUT] 1:10.96
2. BORSOTTI Camilla [ITA]1:11.78
3. LONGHINI Hilary [ITA]1:11.89
4. WOPFNER Stefanie [AUT]1:11.95
5. RUBENS Shona [CAN] 1:12.06
6. BREM Eva-Maria [AUT] 1:12.12
7. BRODNIK Vanja [SLO] 1:12.32
8. ABDERHALDEN Marianne [SUI] 1:12.37
9. KOEHLE Stefanie [AUT]1:12.39
10. ANSELMET Corinne [FRA]1:12.70
11. ROBNIK Mateja [SLO] 1:12.73
12. BERNARD-GRANGER Chloe [FRA] 1:12.75
13. PRESTEREL Petra [SLO]1:12.92
14. REBENSBURG Viktoria [GER] 1:12.95
15. KLING Kajsa [SWE] 1:12.97
15. BERTHOD Pascale [SUI] 1:12.97

For a link to complete results, click here.