Zauchensee: Vonn victorious in super-combined
Lindsey Vonn proved she does indeed know both short and long skis Saturday, winning the Zauchensee super-combined race in 2 minutes, 40.53 seconds, edging Austrian Kathrin Zettel by .30 seconds and Swede Anja Paerson by .66.
In another abrupt display of how quickly things can change in ski racing, slalom and World Cup overall standings leader Maria Riesch, who was .01 seconds ahead of Vonn after the downhill portion of the race, straddled a gate coming into the first flush of the slalom, eliminating herself from contention.
Lindsey Vonn proved she does indeed know both short and long skis Saturday, winning the Zauchensee super-combined race in 2 minutes, 40.53 seconds, edging Austrian Kathrin Zettel by .30 seconds and Swede Anja Paerson by .66.
In another abrupt display of how quickly things can change in ski racing, slalom and World Cup overall standings leader Maria Riesch, who was .01 seconds ahead of Vonn after the downhill portion of the race, straddled a gate coming into the first flush of the slalom, eliminating herself from contention.
While Riesch still leads the overall Cup standings with 729 points, Vonn is hot on her trail with 716 and Zettel is gaining, too, with 651. Vonn watched from the finish area as her friend Riesch worked her way down the slalom course and screamed “No!,” slapping her hand over her mouth when Riesch went out.
“In slalom, anything can happen so quickly,” Vonn said. “I know exactly what she’s feeling right now. I had the same thing happen to me in Zagreb. I hope she’s strong for tomorrow. I’m sure she’ll be OK. But it hurts. We’re friends to the end. We’re going to support each other no matter if i’m winning or she’s winning.”
That said, Vonn was thrilled with her victory. She said she was in dangerous body position over one of the airs in the downhill, but pulled it back together to build speed and go into slalom clean and solid.
“All in all, it was a great day,” she said. “It was great to be back on the top of the podium. After that fall in Zagreb, it feels good to come to the finish and be in first place.”
It was only Vonn’s second win ever in a World Cup combined race, the first came in St. Anton, Austria, in 2007. She was second in Zauchensee that same season. It is her third win this season.
“This was a huge one because we haven’t done any speed events in a while,” said U.S. women’s speed coach Alex Hoedlmoser. “This combined is setting the pace for the rest of the season on the speed side. Winning it puts her closer to the overall.”
Not letting an opportunity to shine in front of a ravenous home crowd go to waste, Austrians Michaela Kirchgasser finished fourth (2:41.83), Elisabeth Goergl fifth (2:41.86) and Ann Fenninger sixth (2:42.00).
Also on the American team, Leanne Smith had one of the best World Cup races of her career (not usurping her 17th and 19th super G finishes the last couple of seasons in Lake Louise) Saturday, finishing 24th, while teammates Stacey Cook and Chelsea Marshall finished on her heels, 25th and 26th, respectively.
Watch Sunday’s downhill live on Universal Sports at 5 a.m. EST.
The SCOOP
By Hank McKee
Equipment
Women’s Combined, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, Jan. 17, 2009
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Vonn, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
2 Zettel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
3 Paerson, Head/Head/Head
4 Kirchgasser, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
5 Goergl, Head/Head/Head
6 Fenninger, Head/Head/Head
7 Marchand-Arvier, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
8 Merighetti, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
9 Brydon, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
10 Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/Rossignol
Women’s super combined, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, Jan. 17, 2009. … It is the 16th race of the women’s 36 race 2009 World Cup schedule. … The second of three scheduled combined events. … It is the 22nd World Cup held at Altenmarkt, the 21st women’s race. … It is just the third combined at the site.
It is the 16th career World Cup win for Lindsey Vonn. … It is the 190th World Cup U.S. victory. … Vonn is now two shy of Tamara McKinney’s U.S. women’s record of 18. … She is fourth all time for both genders behind Bode Miller, Phil Mahre and McKinney. … It is just her second combined win, the first coming at St Anton Dec. 22, 2007. … It is her third win of the season in a third discipline having won in slalom at Levi and in DH at Lake Louise.
It is the 20th World Cup podium for Kathrin Zettel. … Her fifth of the season. … It is her second career combined podium after a third place finish at Reiteralm Dec. 15, 2006.
It is the 81st career World Cup podium for Anja Paerson. … Her second of the season after winning the St Moritz combined Dec. 19. … It is a career best placing at Altenmarkt-Zauchensee. … With eight results in World Cup combined, it is her seventh podium. …
It is the 32nd career World Cup top 10 for Emily Brydon. … She has finished ninth in four Cup combined events and has just one better combined result, a third at Sansicario in 2005. … It is the sixth career scoring result for Leanne Smith and her second in combined. … It is her second score of the season having placed 17th in super G at Lake Louise in December. … It is the 33rd career World Cup score for Stacey Cook. … Her first score of the season. … It is the sixth career scoring result for Chelsea Marshall and third of the season, second of the season in combined.
Maria Riesch (SL DNF) maintains the lead of the World Cup overall standings 729-716 over Vonn. … Zettel is third with 651. … Anja Paerson leads the combined standings 160-102 over Zettel. … Vonn is third with 100.
Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total Time | FIS Points |
1 | 22 | 537544 | VONN Lindsey | 1984 | USA | 1:48.02 | 52.51 | 2:40.53 | 0.00 |
2 | 12 | 55838 | ZETTEL Kathrin | 1986 | AUT | 1:48.65 | 52.18 | 2:40.83 | 2.32 |
3 | 20 | 505483 | PAERSON Anja | 1981 | SWE | 1:47.72 | 53.47 | 2:41.19 | 5.10 |
4 | 26 | 55759 | KIRCHGASSER Michaela | 1985 | AUT | 1:49.74 | 52.09 | 2:41.83 | 10.04 |
5 | 18 | 55576 | GOERGL Elisabeth | 1981 | AUT | 1:48.33 | 53.53 | 2:41.86 | 10.27 |
6 | 9 | 55947 | FENNINGER Anna | 1989 | AUT | 1:49.38 | 52.62 | 2:42.00 | 11.35 |
7 | 6 | 196460 | MARCHAND-ARVIER Marie | 1985 | FRA | 1:48.28 | 54.12 | 2:42.40 | 14.44 |
8 | 7 | 296008 | MERIGHETTI Daniela | 1981 | ITA | 1:49.64 | 52.91 | 2:42.55 | 15.60 |
9 | 15 | 105997 | BRYDON Emily | 1980 | CAN | 1:48.63 | 54.27 | 2:42.90 | 18.31 |
10 | 5 | 565243 | MAZE Tina | 1983 | SLO | 1:49.70 | 53.44 | 2:43.14 | 20.16 |
11 | 13 | 515766 | SUTER Fabienne | 1985 | SUI | 1:48.77 | 54.41 | 2:43.18 | 20.47 |
12 | 52 | 515849 | DETTLING Andrea | 1987 | SUI | 1:49.78 | 53.63 | 2:43.41 | 22.25 |
13 | 16 | 195671 | JACQUEMOD Ingrid | 1978 | FRA | 1:48.41 | 55.21 | 2:43.62 | 23.87 |
14 | 28 | 55750 | FISCHBACHER Andrea | 1985 | AUT | 1:49.03 | 54.62 | 2:43.65 | 24.10 |
15 | 43 | 505632 | LINDELL-VIKARBY Jessica | 1984 | SWE | 1:48.72 | 55.01 | 2:43.73 | 24.72 |
16 | 14 | 155415 | ZAHROBSKA Sarka | 1985 | CZE | 1:50.71 | 53.78 | 2:44.49 | 30.59 |
17 | 3 | 55818 | KOEHLE Stefanie | 1986 | AUT | 1:49.69 | 54.82 | 2:44.51 | 30.74 |
18 | 40 | 515747 | GISIN Dominique | 1985 | SUI | 1:48.76 | 55.85 | 2:44.61 | 31.52 |
19 | 2 | 55898 | BREM Eva-Maria | 1988 | AUT | 1:49.75 | 55.33 | 2:45.08 | 35.15 |
20 | 17 | 195972 | AUBERT Sandrine | 1982 | FRA | 1:52.16 | 53.22 | 2:45.38 | 37.46 |
21 | 37 | 55806 | ALTACHER Margret | 1986 | AUT | 1:51.20 | 54.63 | 2:45.83 | 40.94 |
22 | 42 | 515573 | AUFDENBLATTEN Fraenzi | 1981 | SUI | 1:49.38 | 56.69 | 2:46.07 | 42.79 |
23 | 10 | 296427 | SCHNARF Johanna | 1984 | ITA | 1:50.40 | 55.74 | 2:46.14 | 43.33 |
24 | 45 | 538305 | SMITH Leanne | 1987 | USA | 1:48.94 | 57.24 | 2:46.18 | 43.64 |
25 | 29 | 537582 | COOK Stacey | 1984 | USA | 1:48.95 | 57.41 | 2:46.36 | 45.03 |
26 | 36 | 538038 | MARSHALL Chelsea | 1986 | USA | 1:49.64 | 56.87 | 2:46.51 | 46.19 |
27 | 30 | 206175 | STECHERT Gina | 1987 | GER | 1:50.11 | 56.43 | 2:46.54 | 46.42 |
28 | 38 | 55766 | MADER Regina | 1985 | AUT | 1:49.77 | 56.79 | 2:46.56 | 46.58 |
29 | 53 | 495318 | RUIZ CASTILLO Carolina | 1981 | SPA | 1:49.61 | 57.06 | 2:46.67 | 47.43 |
30 | 33 | 296729 | FANCHINI Nadia | 1986 | ITA | 1:49.69 | 57.01 | 2:46.70 | 47.66 |
30 | 25 | 505679 | HANSDOTTER Frida | 1985 | SWE | 1:52.07 | 54.63 | 2:46.70 | 47.66 |
32 | 27 | 515587 | PUENCHERA Jessica | 1982 | SUI | 1:51.99 | 54.72 | 2:46.71 | 47.74 |
33 | 35 | 196812 | PELLISSIER Marion | 1988 | FRA | 1:51.22 | 55.90 | 2:47.12 | 50.90 |
34 | 49 | 505886 | KLING Kajsa | 1988 | SWE | 1:51.40 | 56.11 | 2:47.51 | 53.92 |
35 | 50 | 196573 | REVILLET Aurelie | 1986 | FRA | 1:48.87 | 58.82 | 2:47.69 | 55.31 |
36 | 41 | 106410 | DESFORGES Emilie | 1983 | CAN | 1:50.69 | 57.29 | 2:47.98 | 57.55 |
37 | 24 | 297134 | BORSOTTI Camilla | 1988 | ITA | 1:50.87 | 57.37 | 2:48.24 | 59.56 |
38 | 47 | 106849 | YURKIW Larisa | 1988 | CAN | 1:47.66 | 1:02.08 | 2:49.74 | 71.14 |
39 | 46 | 465059 | MIKLOS Edith | 1988 | ROU | 1:51.18 | 59.82 | 2:51.00 | 80.87 |
40 | 51 | 155431 | MARKOVA Dana | 1985 | CZE | 1:58.15 | 1:01.83 | 2:59.98 | 150.24 |
Did not start 1st run: GUT Lara (SUI)
Did not start 2nd run: MAZZOTTI Lucia (ITA)
Did not finish 1st run: KELLEHER Keely (USA), BENT Nike (SWE)
Did not finish 2nd run: RICHARDSON Kaylin (USA), RIESCH Maria (GER), GRAND Rabea (SUI), ROBNIK Petra (SLO)
Disqualified 2nd run: ROLLAND Marion (FRA)