Svindal gets his 1st Kitzbuehel win in SG

It had been a long time coming, but Aksel Lund Svindal could not be denied. The Viking claimed his first Kitzbuehel win Friday (Jan 25) winning the super G on an overcast day that dissolved the clarity of vision. He had never won in either of the sports two biggest weekends – Wengen and Kitzbuehel – and he had started 33 races here.

“You hear it in every interview,” Svindal said.”Today I’ve managed to take the pressure and use it.”

The surprise of the day was in second where the fastest Austrian of the day was none of the favored skiers, but 22 year old Matthias Mayer with his first World Cup podium.

“It is crazy,” a wide eyed Mayer said. “You have to take much risk to get down. I’m not for pointless risk, but you if you know it’s going (well) you have to show it.”

Italy’s Christof Innerhofer, smarting over a training penalty that took away his first seed start advantage from Saturday’s downhill, finished third.

“I went with a lot of anger,” he said. I think this action (being penalized) is simply shameful. I followed what I was told.” Innerhofer was fined (999swiss francs) and had his downhill start set at 46 after continuing down the course after a crash. He said he asked a course worker if he could proceed and was told he could. Rules forbid continueing.

Svindal’s teammate Kjetil Jansrud was fourth. North America was represented in the top 10 with Erik Guay in fifth and Ted Ligety sixth. There was a three way tie for seventh.

“I felt like I skied really well in sections,” said Ligety. “I just got locked on my edge coming over Hausberg and ditched a lot of speed there and didn’t attack as hard as I should have. Some guys are really direcot and ski in really hard and maybe it’s sloppy looking, but they make up a lot of time there where I was a little bit too neat.”

Coach Sasha Rearick said, “He executed the plan right to the money. He skied aggressive, he was stacked up over the ski and I’m looking forward to seeing the same kind of skiing tomorrow.”

Guay’s take was pretty similar to Ligety’s. “I skied well in sections but didn’t put it together,” he said.”This one turn I pushed in fairly direct and went into the soft snow. … Nobody is going to remember what the result is here if you win tomorrow.”

A fresh look to the super G course set, courtesy of French coach Patrice Morisad, that had some unique twists to the more traditional set, caught many racers off guard and maybe a bit light on inspection. There were 15 DNF’s including supr G runner-up Matteo Marsaglia, the Beaver Creek winner. Marsaglia skied through a gate carrying the panel away with him. It was only a remarkable recovery that kept him on his feet.

Andrew Weibrecht had a disheartening error sliding too low off the fall-away turn leading to the finish schuss within sight of a potential podium finish.

With two super G’s remaining on the men’s schedule, Svindal now holds a 171pt lead in the discipline standings. Just Marsaglia and Mayer have even a mathematical chance to beat him for the crown.

Svindal photo by Gepa

The SCOOP
by Hank McKee

Men’s World Cup super G, Kitzbuehel, Austria, Jan 25, 2013
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Svindal, Head/Head/Head
2 Mayer, Head/Head/Head
3 Innerhofer, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
4 Jansrud, Head/Head/Head
5 Guay, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6 Ligety, Head/Head/Head
7 Clarey, Head/Head/Head
7 Theaux, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
7 Fill, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
10 Klotz, Nordica/Nordica/Marker

Men’s World Cup super G, Kitzbuehel, Austria, Jan 25, 2013. … It is the opening race of Hahnenkamm weekend. … It is the 45 race of the 2012-13 World Cup season. … the 22nd of 36 races on the men’s schedule and the fourth of six men’s super G’s. … It is the first of four events at the 73rd annual Hahnenkamm.

It is the 20th career World Cup win for Aksel Lund Svindal. … his ninth in super G. … It is his first career win at Kitzbuehel though he was second in SG in 2003 and third in 2011. He also owns two combined podiums from Kitzbuehel. … It is his fourth win of the season and third in SG. … It is also his first win since Dec. 14.

It is the first career World Cup podium for Matthias Mayer, his previous best sixth scored at Kvitfjell, Lake Louise and Val Gardena, all in SG and all in the last calendar year. … It is his first score at Kitzbuehel.

It is the tenth career World Cup podium for Christof Innerhofer. … And his first at Kitzbuehel. … It is his third podium of the season, the other two wins in DH (Beaver Creek and Wengen).

It is the 31st career World Cup top five for Erik Guay. … his 12th in SG. … It is the third time he has finished fifth at Kitzbeuehl (career best) the others in DH 2006 and in SG 2010. … It is his best SG result of the season. … It is the fourth best career Cup SG finish for Ted Ligety. … It is one placing off his best finish at Kitzbuhel (combined in both 2008 and 2012. … It is his third best SG result of the season having placed third at Lake Louise and Beaver Creek. … Jan Hudec matches his 26th best career Cup result. … It is just his second finish at Kitzbuehel. … It is his third best finish of the season. … Manuel Osborne-Paradis matches his 49th best career result. … It is his third best career finish at Kitzbuehel and best in super G. … It is the first SG score at Kitzbuehel for Steven Nyman. … And matches his second best finish of the season. … It is just the second Cup SG score for Benjamin Thomsen. … his fourth score of the season.

Marcel Hirscher (did not race) retains the lead of the World Cup Overall Standings 935-847 over Svindal. … Ligety is third at 736. … Guay is top Canadian in 14th with 284pts. … Svindal leads the super G standings 380-209 over Matteo Marsaglia (DNF in race) with Mayer moving into third at 196pts. … Ligety is seventh at 146 and Guay eighth at 111pts. … Austria leads the men’s Nations Cup 3682-2645 over Italy. … France is third at 2107. … The US sits sixth at 1222 and Canada ninth at 599.

Kitzbuehel (AUT)
FIS World Cup
Men’s Super G
Jan 25, 2013