St. Moritz: Paerson edges Vonn for DH win
Anja Paerson claimed her 36th career World Cup win and first of the season by claiming the St Moritz downhill Saturday, Dec. 15. American Lindsey Vonn was second by eight hundredths of a second and Maria Riesch of Germany was third.
Britt Janyk was eighth for Canada and Julia Mancuso 10th for the United States.
The win for Paerson was her first in almost two years in downhill, and her 36th career World Cup win moved her into fourth place with Germany's Katja Seizinger on the all-time victories list, led by Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell, who had 62.
Anja Paerson claimed her 36th career World Cup win and first of the season by claiming the St. Moritz downhill on Saturday, Dec. 15. American Lindsey Vonn was second by eight hundredths of a second and Maria Riesch of Germany was third, 0.33 back.
Britt Janyk was eighth for Canada and Julia Mancuso 10th for the United States.
The win for Paerson was her first in almost two years in downhill, and her 36th career World Cup win moved her into fourth place with Germany's Katja Seizinger on the all-time victories list, led by Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell, who had 62.
The Swede completed the Corviglia course in 1 minute, 39.32 seconds in sunny conditions.
Paerson won the world championship downhill gold last season in Are, Sweden but her last World Cup victory in the speed discipline dated back to a race also at Are in March 2006.
'I've always been fast here. I wasn't perfect on my line but the conditions were simply perfect for me today,'' said Paerson, whose last win came in the final super-G race at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, last season. ''I'm also finding the motivation that was missing until now. I really feel like I'm back.''
Vonn notched her second podium result in three downhill races this season. Vonn won the season-opening downhill in Lake Louise, Canada.
Paerson had finished only 18th in the last downhill in Aspen, Colorado, a controversial weather-skewed contest which was called off before 19 competitors were able to race because of fog and poor visibility and four others chose not to start.
The weekend's races — a downhill and a super-G — were moved to St. Moritz from Val d'Isere because of a lack of snow at the French resort.
Stacey Cook also scored points , finishing 27th for the U.S. Keely Kelleher was 39th and Libby Ludlow 43rd.
Miscue costs Vonn
"I made a little mistake in the middle section and that cost me the win. I caught an edge and lost my line a little bit. It wasn't big but with eight-hundredths of a second [her differential from Paerson], it doesn't take much. On the whole, though, I'm pretty happy with my skiing," Vonn said.
She plans to spend Christmas in Europe, visiting again with Riesch and her family in Germany. "Maria's a good friend and we enjoy hanging out. It was so cool to be on the podium together, although I wish we'd been 1-2 – with me No. 1," Vonn laughed. "Her family is always so welcoming to me, so it'll be a nice holiday."
After three downhills, Vonn has 230 points to Canadian Britt Janyk's 182. Vonn won the season's first downhill in Lake Louise two weeks ago and was fourth at the Audi Aspen Winternational last weekend in Aspen. Overall, she's fifth in the points after nine races.
"There are two sections you have to nail to be fast — in the middle and the lower section. I didn't get it today, but maybe tomorrow" in the super G, she said. The super G course was set following the downhill by U.S. coach Alex Hoedlmoser.
Hoedlmoser said Vonn's mini-miscue "happened right in front of me in the middle part. It was a key section where you needed to set up for a turn. One of her skis hooked up and there was just this little bobble, which cost her. Eight-hundredths of a second can disappear quickly … and other than that she did a great job."
"She was attacking all the way, really charging, and definitely was in the hunt again. A little bobble like that happens sometimes when you're going for it like she was," he said.
Mancuso skied the upper section well but uncharacteristically had a problem in the middle. "She usually skis the middle well because it's a technical part, but she got back on her skis in a key section and that cost 'Jules' speed for the bottom of the run," he explained. "She's coming, though. We're getting some things figured out with her equipment and she's definitely going in the right direction now."
The SCOOP
By Hank McKee
Women's Downhill, St Moritz, Switzerland, Dec. 15, 2007
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2 Vonn (Kildow), Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
3 Riesch, Head/Lange/Tyrolia
4 Goetschl, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
5 Aufdenblatten, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
6 Jacquemod, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
7 Schild, Volkl/Lange/Marker
8 Janyk, Volkl/Lange/Marker
9 Styger, Volkl/Lange/Marker
10 Mancuso, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
Women's Downhill, St Moritz, Switzerland, Dec. 15, 2007. … It is the ninth race of the women's 39 event 2007-08 World Cup schedule. … The third of 10 scheduled women's downhills. … The race is relocated from Val d'Isere, France. … It is the 16th downhill held at St Moritz. … The 11th for women. … It is the 26th Cup event at St Moritz including a split combined. … it is the first of four races set for St Moritz, two of them on the original schedule for February and the Val d'Isere make-up races. … The February courses will feature a new course.
It is the 36th career World Cup win for Anja Paerson. … Matching her with Katja Seizinger on the all time win list for fourth among women. … It is her downhill win the last coming at Are March 15, 2006. … It is her first win of the season. … Her best of the year had been seventh, scored three times in three disciplines. … It is her first Cup win at St Moritz, though she had been second twice, in GS Dec. 22, 2004 and in combined Jan. 22, 2006.
It is the 23rd career World Cup podium for Lindsey Vonn. … Her 13th in downhill. … She has been on three podiums at St. Moritz in three different disciplines having been second in SG Dec. 21, 2004 and third in combined Jan. 22, 2006 as well as in DH today. … It is her second podium of the season having won the Lake Louise DH Dec.1. … She was fourth in the other downhill, at Aspen Dec. 8.
It is the 12th career World Cup podium for Maria Riesch. … Her fourth in DH. … Her second in DH at St Moritz having also placed third Dec. 20, 2003. … It is her second podium of the season, having been second in SG at Lake Louise Dec.
2. … She was also fourth in DH at Lake Louise Dec. 1. … She is the only German to reach a podium this season.
It is the 13th career top 10 for Britt Janyk. … Just her fourth top 10 in DH. … But it is her third best DH result of the season having won at Aspen Dec. 8 and been third at Lake Louise Dec. 1. … It is the 52nd career top 10 for Julia Mancuso. … Her third of the season. … It is her first scoring result in a DH at St Moritz. … Her best finish at St Moritz is a sixth in GS from 2004. … It is the third scoring result of the season for Emily Brydon who has scored between 14th and 16th in all three downhills this season. … It is the fourth score of the season for Kelly Vanderbeek. … and also her weakest placing by one slot. … Her best was sixth in the Aspen DH. … It is the 23rd career scoring result for Stacey Cook. … her second of the season.
Winning margin is .08 of a second. … Top five skiers are within the same second. … Top 18 within two seconds. … Marlies Schild (42nd in race) maintains the lead in the overall standings 343-339 over Nicole Hosp (18th in race). … Anja Paerson moves into third overall with 283 pts and Riesch to fourth at 264. … Vonn is fifth overall at 252pts. … Vonn regains the lead of the downhill standings 230-192 over Britt Janyk. … Renate Goetschl (fourth in race) is third in the standings with 190 pts.
Women's World Cup downhill
| Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time | FIS Points |
| 1 | 22 | 505483 | PAERSON Anja | 1981 | SWE | 1:39.32 | 0.00 |
| 2 | 16 | 537544 | VONN Lindsey | 1984 | USA | 1:39.40 | 1.09 |
| 3 | 18 | 206001 | RIESCH Maria | 1984 | GER | 1:39.65 | 4.49 |
| 4 | 21 | 55069 | GOETSCHL Renate | 1975 | AUT | 1:39.70 | 5.17 |
| 5 | 27 | 515573 | AUFDENBLATTEN Fraenzi | 1981 | SUI | 1:39.99 | 9.11 |
| 6 | 20 | 195671 | JACQUEMOD Ingrid | 1978 | FRA | 1:40.38 | 14.41 |
| 7 | 1 | 515560 | SCHILD Martina | 1981 | SUI | 1:40.58 | 17.13 |
| 8 | 17 | 106022 | JANYK Britt | 1980 | CAN | 1:40.62 | 17.67 |
| 9 | 15 | 515170 | STYGER Nadia | 1978 | SUI | 1:40.66 | 18.21 |
| 10 | 19 | 537545 | MANCUSO Julia | 1984 | USA | 1:40.74 | 19.30 |
| 11 | 32 | 295136 | CECCARELLI Daniela | 1975 | ITA | 1:40.82 | 20.39 |
| 12 | 39 | 206175 | STECHERT Gina | 1987 | GER | 1:40.84 | 20.66 |
| 13 | 6 | 55669 | HOLAUS Maria | 1983 | AUT | 1:40.97 | 22.43 |
| 14 | 9 | 55576 | GOERGL Elisabeth | 1981 | AUT | 1:41.06 | 23.65 |
| 15 | 11 | 196460 | MARCHAND-ARVIER Marie | 1985 | FRA | 1:41.18 | 25.28 |
| 15 | 8 | 105997 | BRYDON Emily | 1980 | CAN | 1:41.18 | 25.28 |
| 17 | 4 | 296472 | FANCHINI Elena | 1985 | ITA | 1:41.21 | 25.69 |
| 18 | 5 | 55690 | HOSP Nicole | 1983 | AUT | 1:41.30 | 26.91 |
| 19 | 26 | 495318 | RUIZ CASTILLO Carolina | 1981 | SPA | 1:41.34 | 27.46 |
| 20 | 28 | 515409 | BERTHOD Sylviane | 1977 | SUI | 1:41.51 | 29.77 |
| 21 | 12 | 55750 | FISCHBACHER Andrea | 1985 | AUT | 1:41.59 | 30.85 |
| 22 | 14 | 106402 | VANDERBEEK Kelly | 1983 | CAN | 1:41.72 | 32.62 |
| 23 | 48 | 296431 | STUFFER Verena | 1984 | ITA | 1:41.74 | 32.89 |
| 24 | 7 | 515429 | DUMERMUTH Monika | 1977 | SUI | 1:41.84 | 34.25 |
| 24 | 3 | 296008 | MERIGHETTI Daniela | 1981 | ITA | 1:41.84 | 34.25 |
| 26 | 34 | 55596 | WILHELM Kathrin | 1981 | AUT | 1:42.13 | 38.19 |
| 27 | 29 | 537582 | COOK Stacey | 1984 | USA | 1:42.17 | 38.74 |
| 28 | 37 | 296473 | SIORPAES Wendy | 1985 | ITA | 1:42.20 | 39.15 |
| 29 | 2 | 55588 | RUMPFHUBER Ingrid | 1981 | AUT | 1:42.24 | 39.69 |
| 30 | 38 | 515692 | GRAND Rabea | 1984 | SUI | 1:42.30 | 40.51 |
| 31 | 46 | 255098 | KRISTJANSDOTTIR Dagny L. | 1980 | ISL | 1:42.69 | 45.81 |
| 32 | 25 | 515348 | BORGHI Catherine | 1976 | SUI | 1:42.72 | 46.21 |
| 33 | 50 | 505886 | KLING Kajsa | 1988 | SWE | 1:42.74 | 46.49 |
| 34 | 40 | 196573 | REVILLET Aurelie | 1986 | FRA | 1:42.78 | 47.03 |
| 35 | 49 | 296763 | HOFER Larissa | 1986 | ITA | 1:42.85 | 47.98 |
| 36 | 24 | 225206 | ALCOTT Chemmy | 1982 | GBR | 1:42.97 | 49.61 |
| 37 | 23 | 515244 | CASANOVA Carmen | 1980 | SUI | 1:42.99 | 49.88 |
| 38 | 47 | 196412 | WEYRICH Clothilde | 1985 | FRA | 1:43.06 | 50.84 |
| 39 | 43 | 537565 | KELLEHER Keely | 1984 | USA | 1:43.10 | 51.38 |
| 40 | 41 | 565261 | ROBNIK Petra | 1984 | SLO | 1:43.16 | 52.19 |
| 41 | 35 | 296427 | SCHNARF Johanna | 1984 | ITA | 1:43.19 | 52.60 |
| 42 | 10 | 55590 | SCHILD Marlies | 1981 | AUT | 1:43.21 | 52.87 |
| 43 | 45 | 536884 | LUDLOW Libby | 1981 | USA | 1:44.09 | 64.84 |
| 44 | 44 | 505632 | LINDELL-VIKARBY Jessica | 1984 | SWE | 1:46.51 | 97.73 |
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Did not start 1st run
RABIC Urska (SLO), RICHARDSON Kaylin (USA)
Did not finish 1st run :
COLETTI Alexandra (MON), SPONRING Christine (AUT), BENT Nike (SWE), GISIN Dominique (SUI)
About the Author: Pete Rugh
