Maze undefeated in GS, extends tour lead

It was tough day for the Americans and another flawless effort in the giant slalom for Slovenian Tina Maze, who picked up her fourth win of the season and extended her overall World Cup lead in St. Moritz, Switzerland Sunday.

Maze, now 3-3 in GS, was the first-run leader over Tessa Worley and Viktoria Rebensburg by more than a half-second — and that was ultimately the podium with Rebensburg (+0.08) and Worley (+0.55) each earning their best results of the season.

For Maze, the hope was to win all three races this weekend, and it would have come to fruition if it weren’t for a fast performance in the super G by Vonn Saturday. (Maze took second in that race.)

“In GS, it would be more possible than super G. I’m skiing well, so that’s the only thing that matters,” said Maze. “I can be really happy with my weekend. It is hard to keep this tempo and push in every race and pushing hard to be really fast. It’s been a really positive day with sunshine and everything. I am very happy.”

For Rebensburg, an Olympic gold medalist in the discipline, a straighter line on the pitch led to more speed over the flats, while Worley, who won this race last year, will be kicking herself, as a major mistake midway down the course certainly cost her crucial time.

“I have been very close to Tina today,” said Rebensburg. “I am on the right direction, improving with my technique. That’s a really good thing and it was a great result for me here today.”

After a win in Saturday’s super G and her best first-run tech result of the season, Lindsey Vonn, skiing an aggressive line, was setting a nice pace in her second run of the day, eight-tenths ahead at the first split. But a detrimental error on the pitch sent her into the back seat, then onto her hip and nearly out of the course. She finished the run, nevertheless, in 27th.

Tech wizard Mikaela Shiffrin was certainly hoping for better results in her return to racing in Europe. The 17-year-old skied to 18th position in the first run, but was unable to finish the second for her first DNF of the season.

Meanwhile, Julia Mancuso managed to put together two runs, but clearly not skiing GS the way she’d like. After finishing 19th in the first run, she lost a little bit of ground to tie for 21st on the day.

“We were actually in pretty good shape after first run,” said women’s tech coach Alex Hoedlmoser. “The girls did a good job. … We just wanted to attack and that’s what they did.”

Local favorite Lara Gut had an outstanding second run with perfect rhythm. She was able to carry speed off the pitch across the lower flat section for a fourth-place result. The day also saw more competitive skiing from Austrians Marlies Schild and Kathrin Zettel, who finished in fifth and sixth position, respectively.

Canadian Marie-Michele Gagnon had another strong race, finishing in 12th on the day.

The SCOOP
by Hank McKee

Women’s World Cup Giant Slalom, St Moritz, Switzerland, Dec.9, 2012
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
2 Rebensburg, Nordica/Nordica/Marker
3 Worley, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
4 Gut, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
5 Schild, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6 Zettel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
7 Kirchgasser, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
7 Curtoni, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
9 Hoefl-Riesch, Head/Lange/Head
10 Gisin, Dynastar/Lange/Dynastar

Women’s World Cup Giant Slalom, St Moritz, Switzerland, Dec.9, 2012. … It is the 19th of 74 races on the World Cup schedule. … The tenth of 43 on the women’s schedule and the third of nine scheduled women’s GS’s. … It is the 42nd Cup race hosted at least in part by St Moritz. … the fourth GS and third women’s GS.

It is the 15th career World Cup win for Tina Maze. … her 11th in GS. … It is her fourth career win at St Moritz and her first GS win at the site since Dec. 22, 2004. … It is her fourth win and sixth podium of the season and her second win at St Moritz this season having claimed the combined Dec. 7.

It is the 15th career World Cup podium placing for Viktoria Rebensburg. … 14th in GS. … It is her first career podium scored at St Moritz. … It is her second GS podium of the season.

It is the ninth career World Cup podium for Tessa Worley. … All in GS. … It is her second podium at St Moritz having won the GS Dec. 12, 2010. … It is her first podium placing of the season.

It is the 42nd scoring result for Marie-Michele Gagnon. … her career fifth best in GS. … Her career best GS was a fifth scored at St Moritz Dec. 12, 2010. … It is her eighth score of the season. … She was in the top 15 of all three St Moritz races. … It was the 15th scoring result at St Moritz for Julia Mancuso. … It is the worst scoring finish for Lindsey Vonn since Dec. 9, 2007 in a slalom at Aspen.

Maze leads the World Cup overall standings 677-443 over Maria Hoefl-Riesch (ninth in race). … Vonn is third with 414pts. … Gagnon is the top Canadian in 11th with 164pts. … Maze leads the GS standings with a perfect 300 score. Kathrin Zettel (sixth in race) is second with 200pts and Rebensburg third with 140pts. … Gagnon is ninth with 70 and Mikaela Shiffrin (DNF 2nd) is the top US skier in 22nd with 29pts. … Austria leads the women’s Nations Cup 1440-1117 over the US. … Germany is third with 985. … Canada in ninth with 233pts.

Results — St. Moritz GS