Paris Finally Gets His Globe in Andorra
At the start of Thursday’s men’s World Cup Finals super-G in Soldeu, Andorra, six men had a shot at the title. Italy’s Dominik Paris sat in the driver’s seat, holding a 44-point lead over Austria’s Vincent Kriechayer, with four others hot on their tails. With such a tight spread separating so many skiers, it was anyone’s title to win heading into Thursday’s race.
On a fast and flowing course set by U.S. Ski Team coach Johno McBride, Paris made it clear that he would not be leaving anything to chance as he kicked out of the start seventh wearing the red leader’s bib. Unique for a super-G, Thursday’s course featured two sizable jumps that threw their fair share of racers off track. Paris, however, managed the terrain wonderfully and skied the middle technical section of the course with tactical precision in order to carry more speed to the finish than anyone else in the field.
Paris crossed the line with a time of 1:20.42 seconds, 0.15 seconds ahead of eventual second-place finisher, Switzerland’s Mauro Caviezel. Paris let out a loud yell in the finish, knowing that his performance could very well be good enough or his first crystal globe.
Kriechmayr rounded out the podium in third place, 0.44 seconds back.
In contrast to Wednesday’s downhill, where Paris was the man chasing eventual globe winner Beat Feuz of Switzerland, the Italian felt a different type of pressure knowing that he was the one being chased this time around.
“I was pushing really hard,” Paris said. “I felt a little pressure today, it was not a race like other races and I knew that I had to to very well without mistakes and I was fighting to win the race until the end. I was a couple of times close and in the lead for globes in the past but never at the end of the season so for me, the globe is very important. It means everything, you are the best skier in this season and to think that you did so well the whole season is very emotional.”
Paris has been on fire in the second half of the season with Thursday’s victory being his seventh of the year, a tally of victories that includes wins at the legendary tracks of Bormio, Italy, and Kitzbuehel, Austria. The 29-year-old also took the gold medal in the 2019 World Championship super-G.
“Everything is working really well,” he continued. “My equipment, I have a lot of confidence, and when I can do what I want on my skis it makes me smile. I think there are a lot of guys that can beat me but if I can do some runs without mistakes and on my limit then maybe I am untouchable.”
The American contingent was led once again by Californian Travis Ganong in 13th place. Ganong now wraps up his comeback year following a season-ending knee injury ranked 20th in downhill and 16th in super-G in the world. With a full, healthy prep-period awaiting him, things are looking good for Ganong’s future.
Ganong enjoyed a successful comeback season on the World Cup. Image Credit: GEPA Pictures/Christian Walgram
“After my first big injury of my career I didn’t really know what to expect,” Ganong explained after the race. “I obviously wanted to come back but last year, after being on crutches for eight weeks and the rehab process being pretty slow, I was really unsure. Even this year, when I wasn’t having good races, I was really unsure how I was going to do. I’m really happy with how everything turned out. I had some really solid races.”
Looking ahead, Ganong will head back to his home in Lake Tahoe — which is having a record winter of snowfall — and enjoy some well-earned time at home before jumping back over to Europe for the first training camp of next season.
“My knee is really sore now after that but I have time now to rest and chill,” Ganong continued. “I’m going to go home and shovel out my truck and my house because they are buried right now. I’m a little worried about my roof right now because nobody has been home all winter. It looks sunny and warm all next week so I’ll go ski touring, I’m not even bringing any of my race gear home. I’m just going to climb in the mountains, enjoy home, and get away from the stress of the circuit a little bit.”
Following Ganong in 16th was Ryan Cochran-Siegle and 2019 World Junior super-G champion River Radamus in 19th.
The men now race in the team event in Soldeu on Friday, March 15.
Top 10
- Dominik Paris (ITA)- Nordica/Nordica/Marker
- Mauro Caviezel (SUI)- Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
- Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT)- Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
- Kjetil Jansrud (NOR)- Head/Head/Head
- Christof Innerhofer (ITA)- Rossignol/Rossignol/Look
- Matthais Mayer (AUT)- Head/Head/Head
- Adrian Smiseth Sejersted (NOR)- Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
- Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR)- Head/Head/Head
- Beat Feuz (SUI)- Head/Head/Head
- Christian Walder (AUT)- Head/Head/Head
For complete FIS results, please click here.
For complete super-G standings, please click here.
About the Author: Sean Higgins
