It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful place or day for a super G race than Thursday in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The sky’s blue was flawless and snow was smooth. Women started the day and it became clear that even though conditions would not pose a problem, the technical set would.

Of the first ten athletes, half failed to finish the course. Tina Weirather, bib 16, came down charging. Able to learn from the first 15 athletes, she created a 0.70-second lead over then-leader Kajsa Kling of Sweden. The win boosted Weirather into second in the final discipline standings.

“I knew I have to win if I want to have chance for the globe,” Weirather said. “There was just one thing I wanted today and that was to win.”

Weirather risked a lot in her run, saying that she had to force herself to push the line and there were a few times on course where she was nearly certain that she would ski out.

Shortly after Weirather’s run, Switzerland’s Lara Gut came down in the second-place position, where she would stay to secure the super G title for the second time in her career. The 80 points she gained with that result pushed her ahead of the U.S. Ski Team’s Lindsey Vonn, who ended up in third place in the super G standings.

“I’m really happy,” Gut said of holding the globe in her hand. “Super G is my favorite discipline and it feels good to have it for a second time.”

The Swiss skier is never one to celebrate prematurely, repeatedly saying that she wants to win every race. The second place finish proves that she isn’t resting on the fact that she has secured the overall title already. Her philosophy on each race applies to each new season.

“Every year, you have to give your best, to ski fast,” she said. “It’s not because you win something one year, the year after is going to be easier. I know I have to work and the next months will be about that.”

Gut was followed by Cornelia Huetter of Austria, 0.59 seconds off of the winning pace, which placed her in the third position. Kling was bumped off the podium, resulting in a fourth place result — tying her best finish of the season.

American Laurenne Ross was able to rock the course despite the fact that it didn’t necessarily play to her strengths. She was potentially in contention for a podium result before a mistake in the lower portion of the course cost her significant time. She finished in fifth place.

Tomorrow men and women race together in the team event – a dual slalom that is sure to entertain – set to start at noon CET.

The Scoop
by Hank Mckee

1. Weirather, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
2. Gut, Head/Head/Head
3. Huetter, Volkl/Lange/Marker
4. Kling, Head/Head/Head
5. Ross, Volkl/Lange/Marker
6. Rebensburg, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
7. Suter, C, Head/Head/Head
8. Brignone, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
9. Stuhec, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
10. Suter F, Dynastar/Lange/Look

• Women’s World Cup super G, St Moritz, Switzerland, March 17, 2016. … It is the second of four races for women at World Cup Finals. … The 38^th race of the women’s season and the eighth of eight super Gs. … Five of the first eight starters failed to finish.
• It is Tina Weirather’s sixth career World Cup win, her fourth in super G. … It is her second win of the season, the previous in SG at La Thuile Feb. 21. … The winning margin is .41 of a second. … Top five finishers are within the same second. … Top 13 within two seconds.
• It is the 32^nd career World Cup podium for Lara Gut. … Her 12^th of the season and fourth of the season in super G.
• It is the ninth career World  Cup podium for Cornelia Huetter, and eighth this season. … It is her fourth career podium in super G. … All of them from this season.
• Laurenne Ross matches her sixth best career World Cup finish. … It is her 10th career top five World Cup finish. … Half of them from this season.
• Lara Gut leads the World Cup overall standings 1462-1235 over Lindsey Vonn (did not race) with Viktoria Rebensburg (sixth in race) is third with 1047 and cannot catch Gut for the overall crown.
• Gut wins the super G trophy 481-436 over Weirather with Vonn third at 420pts. … Ross finishes eighth at 250pts.
• Austria leads the women’s Nations Cup standings 4544-4113 over Italy with Switzerland in third at 3945, the U.S. fourth at 2893 and Canada eighth at 1263.

Official Results