JEONGSEON, South Korea (Feb. 7, 2016) – In a rough day for top athletes and Americans, Tommy Biesemeyer (Keene, NY) had the top USA finish in the Jeongseon super G, finishing 21st.
The first Audi FIS Ski World Cup super G on the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic run was a tumultuous one, with plenty of DNFs throughout the event—including favorites Kjetil Jansrud of Norway and Dominik Paris of Italy. Switzerland’s Carlo Janka pulled out a dominating victory, skiing cleanly and fast to take the win by .82 seconds. Christof Innerhofer of Italy was second with Vincent Kriechmayr of Austria third.
“It was OK,” said a disappointed Biesemeyer. “My performance was OK. I’m not really that proud of my skiing and that’s what I’m thinking about the most from today. I’m looking towards the next race.”
Just .01 seconds behind Biesemeyer, Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) held the second-best American finish in 22nd. Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY), who was also favored coming into the race, was leading at the first split but got late off the first jump, put his body through a panel and DNFed.
Rounding out the Americans, Wiley Maple (Aspen, CO) and Jared Goldberg (Holladay, UT) broke into the points, finishing 24th and 27th, respectively. Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) was 37th.
"Though the result wasn’t good, it was a clear wake up of what we need to focus on going forward on the Olympic venue," said Head Coach Sasha Rearick. "I’m really, really looking forward to analyzing what we have to do and practicing those things to get better each day from now until we come here in 2018."
Next up, the men head further east to race tech events at Yuzawa Naeba, Japan next weekend.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Tommy Biesemeyer led the Americans in 21st place.
- It was Biesemeyer’s second World Cup points score of the 2015-16 season.
- Marcel Hirscher of Austria finished 12th, and still sits in first in the overall World Cup standings.
- Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway (injured) still leads the super G standings with 310 points. Andrew Weibrecht is second with 190.
- Next up, the men head to Japan for tech events at Yuzawa Naeba next week.
QUOTES
Tommy Biesemeyer
It was OK. I think our team didn’t make the best inspection as a whole. My performance was OK. I’m not really that proud of my skiing and that’s what I’m thinking about the most from today. I’m looking towards the next race.
Sasha Rearick
Today’s performance I’d say was not the performance we were looking for. But at the same time, we definitely found what we need to work on to find the speed on this hill. It’s an easy super G hill. Because of the terrain and some course sets, there will be some key sections you’ll really have to pay attention to. The rest of this thing—you just have to keep your skis going down the fall line, looking for aerodynamics. Though the result wasn’t good, it was a clear wake up of what we need to focus on going forward on the Olympic venue.
On the same side, we got four guys in the points. Although they’re not high in the points, I am stoked that at least we were present with the younger guys and the guys that haven’t been on top of the steps with the super G guys. Nice to see Wiley Maple, Jared Goldberg, Tommy Biesemeyer and Steven Nyman were at least in the points. Bummer for Andrew—tactical mistake we have to work on as a group. Without Travis here, based on what is going on with his health, OK result. Not nearly what we’re capable of. I’m really, really looking forward to analyzing what we have to do and practicing those things to get better each day from now until we come here in 2018.
RESULTS
Men’s super G
