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Headline RSS FeedBode Miller, Lindsey Vonn draw attention and accolades in Soelden
October 23, 2009 —
So much of Soelden happens completely outside the actual races.
Yesterday alone, there were three press events. Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) hit up them all, the last of which honored her with the "Golden Ski" award presented by the International Association of Ski Journalists.
Bode Miller (Franconia, NH), Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) and Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) blitzed through a couple as well and there are six more on the schedule for today, then the women's public bib draw.
It's actually pretty sweet. There were easily 150 journalists in the room when Lindsey received the AIJS award, but there could have been double that for the Head press conference featuring her and Bode. It was crazy, fun and adds a ton of gas to this World Cup.
OK now let's pick up from yesterday...
Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) has a lot of energy. This is her first injury free prep period in two years and she's certainly showing it, skiing super well in New Zealand, Chile and in Saas Fee, Switzerland prior to coming to Soelden. How many people do you know that have 35+ days on snow before Oct. 23? In between camps, she did some European and NYC touring, taking lots of pictures along the way. Check them out at www.resi-stiegler.com. She also started up a blog for Universal Sports. Do yourself a favor and cue that one up, too: http://blogs.universalsports.com/skiing/resistiegler
By the way, the last time Resi was in the start gate, she finished 19th. It was the slalom at the World Championships and she celebrated by climbing into the stands in Val d'Isere, France for Prez Sarkozy's signature on her race bib. Who loves ya?
Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV) scored his first World Cup points last season in Soelden and didn't look back. After switching from Dynastar to Fischer skis prior to last season, Jit found his rhythm and his confidence. Post World Champs, he popped a 5th at the Sestriere, Italy World Cup GS and claimed his spot as a podium contender. The guy is driven for sure and knows there's only four Olympic GS spots. He'd like to stick a fork in his spot ASAP. There are only five World Cup GS races prior to the Olympics and Sunday is the first. Here's what he has to say about it on www.SkiRacing.com.
In other news Jit, he raised some $$ for breast cancer research this fall - over 8 G's to be exact by doing a 5K run in Reno. His mom is a survivor and he'd always wanted to support the cause, so he went all in with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and will be representing them on the World Cup tour all season. Check this story out:
http://www.rgj.com/article/20090930/NEWS/909300427/1321/news
Jake Zamansky (Aspen, CO) deserves to be in Soelden. Last year, Jake missed qualifying for the U.S. Ski Team, but that didn't slow him down.
Actually, it made him faster. I snagged a ride last October in a van he rented in order to train in Austria leading up to Soelden. He had three pairs of skis in it, they were the only ones he owned - that's right, he was buying them.
Fast forward and Jake scored three times on the World Cup for the greatest season of his career earning back his spot on the Team. The best part is that Jake missed much of the prep period last year with a broken collar bone. He was healthy all summer and skied well through camp sessions. Sunday marks only his second start in Soelden - go get it Jake.
Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) is a full on family women. Little Lasse is no longer so little. He's running, talking and as of last night doing pull ups on a flower planter in the Team hotel here at Soelden.
"Chasing him is making me faster," said Schlep. Last Oct. was her first start since the 2006 Olympics and while she didn't snag any points in Soelden, it didn't take her long to get them, nailing top 30's in Levi, Aspen and La Molina. Remember this video:
http://www.youtube.com/usskiteam#p/search/0/QgF8uzC-vic
Well, the mommy legs are officially gone and the ski racing legs are fast. She credits coaching at Mt. Hood and water skiing at her families lake house in Minnesota for bringing back the muscle. Women's tech Head Coach Trevor Wagner said Sarah was crushing it in Saas Fee last week and will get another shot at Soelden tomorrow. Not bad for only the second woman in history to continue ski racing after starting a family.
Tommy Ford (Bend, OR) is a two time Ski Racing Junior of the Year and raced in the Junior World Championships last year. This year, he's starting the World Cup opener - it will be his first big league event.
Remember when I said the GS Olympic pool is deep. Well, Tommy could very well drop a cannon ball off the high dive this season. I watched his nip Ligety by a couple of tenths more than once while training GS in Portillo. Aside from being a fast skier, Tommy is an all around good guy. Super mellow and adds a lot to the mix of this training group.
Megan McJames (Park City, UT) shredded to a PR 14th at Soelden last year, skiing up several spaces in the second run after biting her nails after the first run to hang on the last qualifying spot. If not for sending her forearm through a gate in Lake Louise - Gate Wins, McJ snapped wrist - she really could have turned some heads last season. But hey, that's old news. She's back in Austria for game day and ready to up her Soelden status. Head Coach Jim Tracy says she has the same feel for snow as Mancuso. Jules has been on the podium at Soelden.
Warner Nickerson (Gilford, NH) is a two-time NCAA All American from Colby College. He's also the winner of his first World Cup start since 2006. Head Coach Sasha Rearick invited the top 100 GS racers in America to vie for a start in Soelden. Warner earned it with a best-of-two run ski off over friend and training mate Dane Spencer (Boise, ID). He does a good job of keeping friends and fans up to speed with his travels through http://www.warnernickerson.com/news/ so check it out now, then check it out after Sunday. Hopefully there's some really good news.
Jessica Kelley (Starksboro, VT) has a bone to pick with Soelden. She ruptured a disc in her back last season in the World Cup opener and had to sit out the rest of the year. Imagine an Olympic swimmer looking at the pool from the stands for a season. Not fun. Recharged, healthy and ready Jess is looking to get back in the World Cup points for the first time since January of '08.
Less than 24 hours to go. Make sure you get to bed early tonight because www.UniversalSports.com is airing the race LIVE online. First run starts at 3:45 a.m. ET with second run set for 7:45 a.m. ET.
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Courtesy U.S. Ski Team
Lindsey Vonn continues marathon tour leading up to 2010 Vancouver Olympics
October 22, 2009 —
Guten Morgen Alpine Fans!
It's less than 48 hours to the start of the 2010 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season, which offers plenty o' time for me to get you up to speed with everything U.S. Ski Team back logged to last May. Take breaks if needed:
Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) has most people wondering if she's a robot.
Seriously. After winning her second straight World Cup overall title, fifth WC globe and two World Champs gold medals, she went to Alaska - signed a million autographs (enough to run the length of the Yukon) and won another U.S. title. This time slalom.
She celebrated with a trip to NYC for TV appearances...went to LA for, well more TV appearances and some special time with NBC...took a trip to Mexico with BFF and Numero Uno competitor Maria Riesch of Germany...hung out in Austria training with Red Bull...spent the month of August in New Zealand testing some new skis...signed some nice sponsorship deals, one of which included a big party in Vail (http://usskiteam.com/alpine/news?storyId=1929) ...went to Chile for September and shredded the DH training slope...departed on a six city tour (LA, Aspen, NYC, Bean Town, Chicago, and Minneapolis) to sign more autographs, toss out a Cubbie first pitch and then packed her bags for Austria. I think somewhere in there she saw a few tennis matches
(http://usskiteam.com/alpine/news?storyId=1865) and took in the Emmys.
Breathe, someone please stop the spins.
She's been in Austria since Oct. 5, signing more autographs, doing more TV shows, training like a mad women and excited to start racing. We're having lunch in a minute...i'll let you know what she orders.
Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) opened up the shiny new Center of Excellence in Park City in early June by testing every piece of exercise and physical therapy equipment known to man (and probably some top secret stuff just invented by Sports Science el jefe Troy Flanagan). His March knee injury didn't last long and Shred was back on snow in New Zealand by August and ripping the downhill boards by September in Chile. Earlier that month he took a trip to NYC to kick Natalie Morales' butt in tennis for the TODAY Show, so the knee must be good. While there he also hung with the NY Times and took in the now infamous Serena Williams match at the U.S. Open.
After quick trip to the Shred Factory (new goggle, sunglass and helmet line is out - go get it kids) in Venice with teammate Jake Zamansky (Aspen, CO), he arrived in Soelden today and thinks a third podium in three tries at Soelden would be a good way to start the season. I agree.
We'll see what sort of bets he's made with his ski technician for this season at the Audi Presser tonight.
Bode Miller (Franconia, NH), that's right Bode Miller, is rolling with the U.S. Ski Team again and having a good time of it too. Following a summer hanging with his daughter, celeb golf tournies, an trip to the Bahamas to nearly win SuperStars again and some chill time in NH lay out his organic garden he's recharged for skiing. It's about time this guy took a break after 13 World Cup seasons rarely missing a start.
His first time back on snow since February was early this month in Saas Fee, Switzerland. Over 20 days on snow later and he's feeling good, skiing well, having fun with the Team and hoping to join the World Cup by Levi in mid Nov. Sorry gang, no start here in Soelden. Good on ya Bode, glad to have you back.
Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) is also back and when i say back, i mean her back is healed and feeling good. Jules doesn't sugar coat things and will strait up tell you last season was not so sweet - well, she did http://wcsnblogs.com/skiing/juliamancusoo. She spent two full months in Hawaii working on her health and fitness then killed it at New Zealand and Chile training camps.
Coaches report a Super Jules that's stronger, happier and skiing better than ever before - better than her WC overall title run in '07. She's been hanging in Saas Fee, Switzerland training along side the men's Team and rolled to Soelden earlier this week. She's been on the podium here and dag nab it, she can be up there again.
There's also a full cast of other characters here in Soelden including Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV), Tommy Ford (Bend, OR), Warner Nickerson (Gilford, NH) and Jake Zamansky (Aspen, CO). Plus Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY), Megan McJames (Park City, UT), Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) and Jessica Kelley (Starksboro, VT). BUT, i'll get you up to speed on them tomorrow. Call it a cliff hanger of sorts.
World Cup Notes are back...
Onward,
doug
1 Comment on "Lindsey Vonn continues marathon tour leading up to 2010 Vancouver Olympics"
Henry Drockton — February 12, 2010
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U.S. Ski Team athletes span the globe in search of sun, fun and media opps
May 15, 2009 —
Aloha, Buenos Dias, etc. from all places tropical. Following U.S. Champs and Spring Series races in Mammoth, the crew hit the road in search of warm surf, a campfire and days of bare feet left to experience a world outside of ski boots.
Needless to say, they're back and in the gym, but I'll still hook ya'll up with a little insight on the lives of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team post- (and pre-) race season. Here's the notes:
U.S. Women's Alpine Ski Team
During a three-day blitz in NYC, Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) hit up NBC's Today Show, CBS's Early Show, Fox Business News, The NY Times, NY Daily News, Channel One and spent some time chilling with Mr. Olympics himself - Dick Ebersol.
Then it was off to Verbier, Switzerland for the High Five pro/am event where she beat her husband (yet again) in every event. The Vonnterrage then rolled to Mexico for a week of R&R with World Cup No. 2 racer, Maria Riesch of Germany.
A few sponsor meetings later and a quick few days with the in-laws in Florida and Lindsey is back in Park City gearing up for the NBC Media Summit this week in L.A. Post L.A., look for her to be setting up a cot in the newly opened USSA Center of Excellence ... 6-8 hours a day officially begins Monday.
After winning her U.S. record 10th title Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, Calif.) busted back to Europe for ski testing with Rossignol, then hit up the High Five and finished second. But when Jules needs to charge (she's solar powered), she just goes home.
A solid week of surf and hiking with Brit racer and chum Chemmy Alcott and Jules was in the Center of Excellence on opening day. According to team trainer Ernie Rimer, her fitness plan for the off season is full on and Jules commitment is even more intense.
Other members of the World Cup posse were just as busy and most all have hit up the Center of Excellence for the first round of testing - some are calling Park City home for the warm months renting apartments in town to stay close to the state of the art gym.
Just take a stroll around the blogosphere to see what's up with Resi Stiegler, Stacey Cook and other members of the women's team.
U.S. Men's Alpine Ski Team
Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah) doesn't like to sit around. A knee injury kept him out of the U.S. Champs, but luckily he didn't have to go under the knife and has been busting his butt with rehab with all eyes set on summer on-snow camps.
Like Mancuso, Ligety was in the Center of Excellence on day one and got caught on camera using the swim-X. Other than spending most waking moments with the trainers Ligety has been pumping the new Shred Helmet line - look for more neon domes in '09.
Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, Calif.) spent an extra couple of days in Alaska, thanks to Mt. Redoubt, but he ended up racing GS and fared pretty well. Then it was down to Mammoth for an appearance before gunning it back home to get going on home projects in Truckee.
The consummate homeowner, Sully digs his cordless drill. At last check, he had just returned from a Moab road trip filled with sunsets and campfires. Now it's onto L.A. for the NBC Media Summit followed by a spring on-snow session back at Mammoth.
Who'd of thunk Western boys Steven Nyman (Provo, Utah) and Erik Fisher (Middleton, Idaho) would have gone East this spring. But thanks to sponsor POC, the boys set up shop fishing and kite flying in North Carolina's Outer Banks. Nyman has a yarn on it at http://nymansworld.blogspot.com/ along with his thoughts on the NBA playoffs and some shots from wind tunnel testing with Spyder. Meanwhile Fish has thown his line into the eCommerce pond by launching www.Skodeo.com - a hybrid of Craig's list and ebay.
Most of these boys will be in Mammoth next week for a spring camp, so stay tuned for an update.
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Courtesy of U.S. Ski Team
A look back at the amazing season of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail's Lindsey Vonn
March 15, 2009 —
ARE, Sweden – Lindsey Vonn labored under the weight of the huge globe of Joska crystal – reflecting the crystal blue skies above the mystical central Swedish mountain of Areskutan.
Soon there were five globes in front of her for photographers – a few borrowed for the occasion. But the titles weren't borrowed, they were hers – five of them in two years.
It was another milestone for American ski racing, much like the scene in Furano when Tamara McKinney won in 1983 and when Picabo Street broke a decade long drought standing proudly with the downhill globe in the town square of Bormio in 1995.
Lindsey wasn't born in 1983. But in 1995 she was an athletic young girl from Buck Hill looking for a hero. Picabo's downhill World Cup globe rocked the American ski racing world. Two years earlier she had medaled in combined at the World Championships – the same event McKinney won in Vail to close out her career in 1989. A year earlier Street took silver in the Olympic downhill in Kvitfjell. But this was a season-long title.
Three years later, Picabo became an Olympic champion. But it was her 1995 crystal globe that really lifted a nation and inspired a generation of ski racers – athletes like Lindsey Vonn.
Picabo had that will to win. Every time she stepped into the downhill start gate you had this sense that she could win. It was powerful. You could see her eyes intensely staring out of her goggles, focused on being the fastest. In 1995 she and Hilary Lindh combined to win all but one downhill (Picabo was second by .02 in Cortina). Picabo, alone, won six and wrapped up the title in Lenzerheide, Switzerland a week before the Finals.
The fiery Sun Valley native was all smiles parading into the town square that evening in Bormio. Fans from Valtellina packed the square as the American flag was raised for the first time since McKinney won the slalom title in 1984. It was an emotional time for the U.S. Ski Team which was ushering in an era of success on the wins of Street, Tommy Moe and Diann Roffe.
Fast forward 14 years – through Topolino and JO titles, thousands of hours of work every year, and the support of legions of family, friends, coaches, volunteers and fans – and it was Lindsey Vonn's turn (again).
Gone from her mind in that moment were the bitterly disheartening fourth place finishes at Worlds in 2005 and the training crash in Torino where she first won the hearts of Americans. Those were the learning experiences that made her strong.
Today, she was a champion - standing on the podium, her hand on her heart, and beaming her trademark smile to the crowd as the national anthem played. Like Picabo, she, too, has the will to win.
Somewhere back in America there's another young boy who was up early this week to watch her win the super G title on UniversalSports.com and a young girl longing to meet her at an autograph session next fall. And there's thousands of aspiring champions who are putting poster of the World Cup champion up on their bedroom walls - just like Lindsey did.
At Tyson Junior Olympic races around the USA this month, there's a bigger bounce in the steps of young athletes as they walk in the footsteps of their U.S. Ski Team hero.
There are plenty of Lindsey Vonn stats to fill an entire page. Those have all been well reported. And her work ethic and goal setting are already legendary.
But the real statistic isn't the number of wins or number of globes she wins. It’s the inspiration she conveys to boys and girls across America who now have a hero and are saying to themselves, "hey, I can do that, too."
As she left the Audi FIS World Cup finish line for the final time this year she paused – globes in tow – to sign autographs for young Swedish fans. "Hey, Lindsey, did you see that little girl's face? Don't ever lose that," someone said. She replied, "Don't worry, it's the most important thing I do!"
Tale of the tape
Lindsey Vonn
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
Birthdate: 10/18/84
Birthplace: St. Paul, MN
Hometown: Vail, CO
Years on Team: 8
Club: Ski and Snowboard Club Vail/Buck Hill
Sponsors: Red Bull, Rossignol, Under Armour, Uvex, Alka-Seltzer, Audi, Vail Resorts
The most successful female skier in U.S. history, two-time Olympian Lindsey Vonn has captured two overall World Cup titles, two World Championship gold medals and owns more World Cup wins than any American woman. But it is her genuine passion for being a positive role model to young skiers that separates her as a true champion.
Career Highlights
2009 Second World Cup overall and downhill titles, (24 years old)
2009 First World Cup super G title for an American woman
2009 World Championship DH, SG gold
2009 Most World Cup wins in a single season for an American (male or female) with nine
2009 Most World Cup podiums for an American woman with career 47th
2008 World Cup overall and downhill champion (23 years old)
2007 World Championship DH, SG silver (22 years old)
2006 Olympic Spirit Award after crashing in DH training then finishing seventh (21 years old)
2005 First World Cup win; five podiums (20 years old)
2004 First U.S. Championships titles, Alyeska, 1st SG, SL (19 years old)
2004 World Junior Championships, 2nd DH, 3rd SG, 3rd GS, 4th SG, 4th CO (19 years old)
2004 First World Cup podium, Cortina DH (19 years old)
2003 World Junior Championships, 2nd DH (18 years old)
2002 World Junior Championships, 6th SG (17 years old)
2002 Olympic Team; best U.S. women's result, sixth in combined (17 years old)
2001 World Junior Championships, 5th SL (16 years old)
2000 First World Cup, Park City (16 years old)
2000 First NorAm Cup win (16 years old)
2000 Named to U.S. Ski Team (15 years old)
2000 First FIS race wins (15 years old)
2000 First World Junior Championship Team, 14th DH (15 years old)
2000 First U.S. Championships, Jackson, 2nd DH (15 years old)
1999 USSA team, Trofeo Topolino SL champion (14 years old)
1998 USSA Junior Olympics J3 SG/GS/CO champion (13 years old)
1998 USSA team, Trofeo Topolino GS silver (13 years old)
1997 USSA team, Whistler Cup GS champion (12 years old)
1997 USSA Junior Olympic J3 SG/CO silver, GS bronze (12 years old)
1996 First USSA Junior Olympics J3 SL silver (11 years old)
1995 Watches as Picabo Street wins the World Cup DH (10 years old)
2009 Season Detail
Nov. 15, 2008 - Vonn makes an incredible save to capture the first World Cup slalom podium of her career with a decisive victory at the opening slalom of the 2009 Audi FIS World Cup season in Levi, Finland. The win vaulted her into the World Cup lead.
Nov. 19, 2008 – Vonn severely bruises her left knee in a super G training crash. It is unknown whether she will be able to race in the only U.S. World Cup stop slated for Thanksgiving weekend in Aspen, CO.
Nov. 26, 2008 – U.S. Ski Team doctors clear Vonn to race in Aspen. Despite nagging pain in her knee, she finishes fourth in both giant slalom and slalom. It was the best giant slalom result of her career.
Dec. 5, 2008 – Vonn wins the season-opening downhill in Lake Louise, Alberta marking her fifth downhill win in five years on the Canadian speed course. She takes honor as the most successful racer in Lake Louise World Cup history prompting media to call it "Lake Lindsey."
Dec. 14, 2008 – Vonn podiums again in slalom, finishing second to best friend Maria Riesch of Germany in Semmering, Austria.
Jan. 17, 2009 – After a month of bad weather canceling downhill races in Lake Louise, Alberta and St. Moritz, Switzerland Vonn wins a super combined (one run of downhill and one run of slalom) in Zauchensee-Altenmarkt, Austria. She made an incredible save in the downhill portion, landing on her hip from 20 feet in the air, to finish the downhill portion and stay in podium contention
Jan. 18, 2009 – Vonn finishes third in the downhill at Altenmarkt-Zauchensee regaining the World Cup overall points lead from Maria Riesch. She would hold the lead for the remainder of the season.
Jan. 24, 2009 – After a three-foot snowstorm cancels two days of downhill training and one downhill race, Vonn finishes second in a downhill to Swiss surprise Dominique Gisin in Cortina, Italy.
Jan. 30, 2009 – Vonn wins her career second slalom, dominated the race from start to finish in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The hometown of her best friend and closest challenger Maria Riesch. She begins to pull away in the World Cup overall standings.
Feb. 1, 2009 – Vonn ties U.S. great Tamara McKinney with 18 World Cup wins following a super G victory in Garmisch. The win came just 48 hours before the same event in the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Val d'Isere, France.
Feb. 3, 2009 - Fresh from a sweep of two races on the Audi FIS World Cup in Germany, the Vonn charged to her first World Championship title, winning the super G in Val d'Isere, France to open the event.
Feb. 9, 2009 - Vonn stormed to another win at the World Championships winning the downhill to sweep the speed events in Val d'Isere. It was the first U.S. women's downhill title since Hilary Lindh won in 1997.
The Thumb
Following the podium celebration for her downhill victory, Vonn accidentally slices the flexor tendon on her right thumb during a victory celebration. She was handed a champagne bottle with the top broken off and innocently cut her thumb while attempting to spray the crowd. She was given four stitches at the U.S. Ski Team hotel to secure the wound, joined teammates and coaches in a victory toast, then sat in on a half hour teleconference call before having dinner. Ironically, she had one sip of champagne the entire evening.
Feb. 13, 2009 – Following a flight to Innsbruck, Austria to surgically repair the torn tendon, Vonn returned to Val d'Isere and was cleared to compete in the slalom by U.S. Ski Team doctors. The injury did force her to miss the giant slalom.
Feb. 14, 2009 – Despite finishing second in the first run of slalom at World Championships, Vonn crashes on her injured hand in the second run and is disqualified as her best friend Maria Riesch wins the race. She nearly missed course inspection because she miscalculated how long it would take to get dressed in the morning. She was the first to hug Riesch in the finish and spent over an hour after the race signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.
Feb. 20, 2009 - Vonn finished second in the final World Cup super combined, at Taravisio, Italy shelving her run for the American record books one more day. With 18 World Cup wins, one more surpasses Tamara McKinney's total and officially secures Vonn as the greatest female ski racer in American history. She ends the season second in the super combined standings to Anja Paerson of Sweden.
Feb. 21, 2009 – The wait continues as Vonn came within .01 seconds of a milestone 19th World Cup victory finishing second in a downhill to expand her lead in both the overall and downhill points.
Feb. 22, 2009 - It's official, Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) is the most successful female ski racer in American history. The 24-year-old double World Champion secured her 19th World Cup victory with a super G win in Tarvisio, surpassing U.S. great Tamara McKinney's previous high mark of 18 established in the 1980s.
It was Vonn's sixth World Cup win of the season and 43rd podium of her young career. She now stands an impressive third for all-time U.S. World Cup wins (male or female) behind Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) with 31 and Phil Mahre with 27.
Feb. 27, 2009 - Vonn is poised to become only the second woman in U.S. history to win back-to-back World Cup downhill titles after tying for third in a tricky downhill at Bansko Bulgaria to take a commanding 118-point lead in the title chase.
Feb. 28, 2009 – As the World Cup went to Bulgaria Vonn added a new line to the U.S. Ski Team record books becoming only the second American in history to win back-to-back World Cup downhill titles. Vonn joins childhood hero and now good friend Picabo Street, who won the season-long title in 1995 and '96, as the only American (male or female) to win back-to-back crystal globes for downhill.
March 1, 2009 - Vonn won her fourth consecutive super G to move within 15 points of the discipline lead behind second place finisher Fabienne Suter of Switzerland with one super G remaining in the season.
March 11, 2009 – Vonn rolled into Are, Sweden and added yet another landmark to an already historic season as she took her 21st career World Cup win in the downhill at the Audi FIS World Cup Finals to clinch the overall title for the second year in a row. It's the first time an American woman has ever won two overall crowns. She also notched her 46th career World Cup podium surpassing Tamara McKinney's previous mark of 45. McKinney retired after the 1989 season at the age of 26. Vonn is 24 and currently has a goal to ski through the 2014 Olympics.
March 12, 2009 - Vonn came through with her fifth super G win in a row to clinch the Audi FIS World Cup super G title during the final SG of the season in Sweden. Vonn, who marked her 22nd career World Cup win with the finish, had won the previous three World Cup super G races of the season as well as World Championships super G to claim her fifth consecutive victory. The win was also Vonn's ninth of the season, a new American record over Phil Mahre's eight season wins in 1982.
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