ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. BEAVER CREEK, USA - In today’s giant slalom race in Beaver Creek, the story line the same with a small twist. There was Ted Ligety sitting atop the field. But his fellow podium mates changed as teammate Bode Miller finished in a surprising second place 0.22 seconds off the pace. Austrian Marcel Hirscher picked up yet another podium finish just over a half second off the mark. 

Bode Miller (USA) is sitting 2nd after a snowy Audi Birds of Prey giant slalom first run (Photo: Getty Images - Doug Pensinger)

“It’s awesome to see that Bode is back in it and skiing fast. He put it together today.” Ligety said after the win. “I love this hill. I had a lot of friends and family here today which means a lot. I could have gone a little harder, but with the conditions, I didn’t want to take any big risks.”

Ted Ligety of the USA takes the 1st place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Giant Slalom on December 08, 2013 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)

It was less than ideal conditions for the last race of the Beaver Creek series. With wind, snow and a delayed start of 30 minutes on the first run to clear the course of excess snow, all competitors faced an uphill battle throughout the day.

In the end, it was two of the three the competitors that have dominated the giant slalom standings in the last year that were able to conquer the conditions. Ligety, Hirscher and Pinturault have shared the podium at the last three World Cup giant slaloms. But in Beaver Creek, Pinturault was bumped off the podium in favor of American Bode Miller, who was the stunner podium finisher with two spectacular runs that thrilled the hometown crowd.

The win made Ligety the first man in 22 years to win four straight giant slaloms, tying Italian Alberto Tomba’s mark set in 1991. Ligety has won seven of the last nine giant slaloms and has earned a podium in all nine of those races.

Ligety said of his performance, “I feel like I skied well the whole way done considering the conditions are tough out there; it’s pretty bouncy. I was able to arch the places I needed to arch. I was a bit surprised by the time difference because with the snow conditions right now it’s not a feel-good course.”

For Austria’s Hirscher it was an impressive 13th podium finish in the last 14 races.

Marcel Hirscher of Austria takes the 3rd place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Giant Slalom on December 08, 2013 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)

Within the rest of the field, two athletes stood out as they made their way up the rankings. France’s Mathieu Faivre nearly claimed his first-ever podium after a fantastic second run. Switzerland’s Carlo Janka, who struggled last seasons, finished sixth from bib 68 after two good runs.

Carlo Janka of Switzerland competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Giant Slalom on December 08, 2013 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)

Alexis Pinturault of France competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Giant Slalom on December 08, 2013 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)

In the first run, American Bode Miller gave the hometown fans reason to celebrate when he surprisingly finished in second place as the 31st skier down the hill. The strong run was a clear signal that Miller is quickly getting back to his pre-hiatus form.

Bode Miller of the USA takes the 2nd place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Giant Slalom on December 08, 2013 in Beaver Creek, Colorado. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)

The last time Bode Miller earned a podium in the giant slalom was in 2007 in Lenzerheide. And the last win was in Beaver Creek in 2005.

Miller said of his steadily improving results, “My confidence had never been my issue but now I also have the fitness to back it up. I can go full speed right from the start and don’t have to worry.”

FISalpine.com
08 December 2013 18:12

Lara Gut tops super g podium in Lake Louise

Lake Louise, Canada – A slightly less cold but windy morning welcomed the World Cup ladies to their third and last speed race of the week. Switzerland's Lara Gut, who won the first super g race of the season last week in Beaver Creek, would not have left Lake Louise without at least a podium to bring back home, after finishing 10th and 13th in the last two days. She actually completed the 1'951-metre-long course in the winning time of 1:22.86, at times hitting speeds of 105 km per hour. The 22-year-old was just 0.03 seconds ahead of Liechtenstein's Tina Weirather, who climbed onto the second podium spot for the second time in a row. 0.33 seconds off the pace, Austria's Anna Fenninger took third and landed her second podium in two days. After a big step forward yesterday, Lindsey Vonn put a solid run together to finish 5th, just behind Austria's Elisabeth Goergl in 4th position.

Lara Gut of Switzerland takes 1st place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Super-G on December 08, 2013 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom)

Starting with bib 22, Lara Gut won today her fourth career super g race and her fourth race this season to retake the lead in the overall standings.

“I knew that coming to Lake Louise was not going to be easy for me”, said the overall leader. “Finding the right line and pace on the downhill course is still a big mystery to me. I was hoping that with the way I have been skiing this season, things would go better. But going into the super g today was something different. I knew what to do to ski fast and it worked out.”

“Being in the top 3 in the overall standings is something new to me. I don't focus on that for now. If I start thinking about the overall title, I will for sure be nervous on my skis. What matters is the way I ski and how I can improve”, she concluded.

Tina Weirather got her fourth career podium in super g. “The course was set by my coach and it suited me well”, said the 24-year-old. “I had a plan before the race and stuck to it.”

“I had a pretty bad accident at fish net last year in the super g race. So I was really careful coming into this specific turn this time. Once in the finish, I knew I had lost speed and a little bit of time there, that would eventually cost me the win. That is exactly what happened, but I am for sure happy about the two good results of the week.”

With the third position today, Anna Fenninger made it her 11th career podium in super g, her favorite discipline. “I really like the super g course here, but my run today was not perfect, reason why I am really satisfied with a podium today”, said the skier from Salzburg. “I was too direct in top section and made a little mistake. I then struggled to find the right rhythm for the speed section.”

USA's Lindsey Vonn, who holds the ladies' record with 20 World Cup Super G victories, took another big step forward today ending only 0.85 seconds behind the winner in fifth position. “I was too straight in the top section and it cost me some time”, she admitted. “Then I tried to be a little bit to aggressive going on to the flat. I got pretty low on the line. But I'm really happy with my skiing. It's getting better everyday. I know now that I can win and be on the podium. That gives me confidence and that was my goal of this weekend.”

Lindsey Vonn of the USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Super-G on December 08, 2013 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom)

“To be honest I don't know yet what races I am going to do in Europe. My focus is on the Olympics and with my knee the way it is, I am just not sure how many races I will do. My goal is to put myself in the best position going into Sochi very confident and try to win. I will think about all this after this weekend and come up with a decision with my coaches.”

In the overall standings, Lara Gut has now 446 points, 41 points more than Maria Höfl-Riesch. She obviously dominates the super g standings as well with 200 points, 60 more than Anna Fenninger.

The whole World Cup tour is now on its way back to Europe with a super g and a giant slalom race scheduled next weekend in St-Moritz.

FISalpine.com
08 December 2013 20:07