ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. LAKE LOUISE, Canada – Conditions were the talk of the day at today's ladies World Cup downhill in Lake Louise. With fog banks rolling on and off of the course, snow, and variable light – the conditions were tough. In downhill especially, conditions can really affect a race like today, but the ladies who compete know this and know that they could be dealing with anything. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it does not. Weather is a huge factor in downhill and with a huge hold after number 25, Anna Fenninger, who came into the race as a favorite for the podium, had to deal with some of the most challenging conditions. The hold was to ensure the safety of the racers and, although it was a long hold, the conditions improved and the race went on. Unfortunately for Lara Gut, with the quickly-changing conditions and the concern for her safety, she was flagged part way down the course and had a re-run later on; “That was ridiculous :( .” Despite the crazy weather, some girls stepped it up, including Chemmy Alcott who scored points on her first race back since her injury here two years ago. A very special but mentally tough day for her. After warming up five different times mentally and physically, she was finally allowed to race and fought hard to make it happen.

Lindsey Vonn started number sixteen and dealt with similar conditions to the top twenty racers: clearer, less dark, and less snow. She took full advantage of her conditions and dominated Lake Louise by 1.73 seconds. The huge margin is just a continuation of Vonn's reign over Lake Louise. Today marked her 5th win in a row here and her 12th win at Lake Louise.

“It's been a rough couple of weeks for me being sick and not having the best results in the technical events. I love it here in Lake Louise. I love going fast. I wasn't feeling well yesterday and I didn't do the training run, which I've never done before in my life! So I was nervous today, but I knew what I had to do. I know this hill better than anywhere else in the world, I gave it my best shot, and I'm really happy with my run.”

Vonn was super proud of her teammate Stacey Cook who came in second place for her first career podium: “I'm really happy for Stacey, she's been working so hard and to have her first podium here in Lake Louise and to be on the podium with her is really special. We've been on the team for a long, long time together and I've watched her get fourth and fifth place a lot of times, and always just barely miss the podium, and I'm so happy for her to be on the right side of the time today. I knew she was skiing well. November was a really good month for her and she was always fast in training, so I'm not surprised, but I'm extremely proud of her and I think that the rest of the team is as well.”

Cooks first podium, second place one one-hundredth of a second ahead of third, brought a sense of relief that she had finally stepped up onto the podium: “I had a few mistakes but I was just charging the whole way. I kept a good attitude because I knew that it was going to be a close race and, even though it was not close between Lindsey and I, behind me was as close as it gets.”

Tina Weirather and Maria Hoefl-Riesch tied for third position just one one-hundredth of a second behind Cook. Both having had podiums here in previous years, and both having good start numbers, Hoefl-Riesch and Weirather took advantage of their experience and charged the course despite the variable conditions.

Races like today are obviously controversial, but weather has and always will be a huge factor for downhill racers. Luck can be on your side one day, and not the next, and that's what makes the sport so interesting and entertaining.

By: Anna Goodman
FISalpine.com
Friday 30 November 2012
Photo: Alexis BOICHARD/AGENCE ZOOM

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