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Headline RSS FeedRiesch makes move as Vonn injures knee in GS; Guay wins season super G title
March 11, 2010 —
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany - Germany's Maria Riesch finished third during the giant slalom at the Audi FIS World Cup Finals on Thursday, narrowing the gap in the hunt for the overall title to just 165 points. Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), who currently leads the title race, went out in the first run.
Germany's Kathrin Hoelzl was able to lock up the women's GS title, finishing second in the race behind Tina Maze of Slovenia.
Vonn crashed when her skis locked up in a right hand turn. According to U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Richard Quincy, Vonn suffered a small bone bruise on the outside of her right knee but expects to be prepared to race in Friday's super G.
Despite the pain in her knee, Vonn intends to race on Friday.
"I'm going to race tomorrow. I'm not going to back down from this. At this point, I'm used to fighting through pain," Vonn said.
Vonn needs only a top-7 finish in the super G to take the overall title. Riesch, meanwhile, would need a win and a second in the super G and slalom with Vonn finishing outside the top-15 in both races.
With her teammate out, Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) led the way for the U.S. team, finishing 25th. According to the racing mother, she had to let loose on the second run if she wanted to move up, but a loss of rhythm cost her time.
"I had nothing to lose on the second run. I just thought to link the turns and come into the arcs," Schleper said. "I knew I slayed the middle pitch, and I tried to tuck it out onto this flat but I just got a little jacked on the line. I kind of missed the timing of it."
For Schleper, training time with teammate and 2008 World Cup giant slalom champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) the last few days was an added benefit.
"I need more mileage and it would be great to train more with the men," Schleper said. "But just to get those two days with Ted was really motivating. I'm pulling for him all the way tomorrow."
While Ligety battles for his second giant slalom title on Friday, the women move on to the super G where Vonn has already locked up the discipline title, but intends to race in order to lock a third straight overall title. She will be joined in the start by 2010 double Olympic silver medalist Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) will race.
Fans can catch the action live on www.unversalsports.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 AUDI FIS WORLD CUP FINALS
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany - March 11, 2010
Women's Giant Slalom
1. Tina Maze, Slovenia, 2:10.72
2. Kathrin Hoelzl, Germany, 2:10.75
3. Maria Riesch, Germany, 2:10.93
4. Viktoria Rebensburg, Germany, 2:11.16
5. Andrea Fichbacher, Austria, 2:11.52
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25. Sarah Schleper, Vail, CO, 2:16.11
DNF1: Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO)
Guay wins first Canadian title since 1982
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (March 11) - Canada's Erik Guay kept his stride Thursday, winning his second straight super G to notch the discipline title at the Audi FIS World Cup Finals in Germany, the first World Cup globe for a Canadian since Steve Podborski in 1982. Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) led for the U.S., finishing 16th.
Ligety was having a strong race until falling slightly off the race line into powder on the side of the track as heavy snow fell throughout the men's race.
"I feel like I skied well in places, but just made that one huge mistake. When you get off the track, especially when it's been snowing, you slow down a lot," Ligety said. "The snow on the hill was good and the light on the course was OK. It was just if you got outside the line it would definitely be pretty powdery."
However, for Ligety, being able to get on the hill in the super G meant having one more trip down the race slope before Friday's all-important giant slalom where he will be challenging for his second GS crystal globe.
"It's good to get on the hill. It's not the greatest speed hill for me, but we'll see how it goes in GS. It isn't the toughest hill in the world," Ligety said. "Hopefully I can hold on to the title and ski well tomorrow. To keep the giant slalom title is all that really matters."
In the GS globe race, Ligety leads the competition by 43 points, which he said serves as a little bit of extra motivation.
"I like my chances for sure. I was skiing well, so it's just a matter of how I will pull through. 43 points isn't a good enough lead to feel comfortable and that's good because I have to push myself," Ligety said.
Despite missing the super G points in the season finale, Ligety closed the season 14th in the discipline standings boosted by a second at the Val d'Isere, France World Cup in December. Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) wrapped the year in 18th for super G followed by Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) in 23rd and Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) in 25th.
Fans can watch live to see Ligety race for the globe on www.universalsports.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 AUDI FIS WORLD CUP FINALS
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany - March 11, 2010
Men's Super G
1. Erik Guay, Canada, 1:26.36
2. Ivica Kostelic, Croatia, 1:26.75
3. Aksel Lund Svindal, Norway, 1:26.99
4. Hannes Reichelt, Austria, 1:27.24
5. Georg Streitberger, Austria, 1:27.48
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16. Ted Ligety, Park City, UT, 1:28.17
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