COURCHEVEL, France (Dec. 20, 2015) - Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), still feeling a bit rattled from Saturday’s near downhill disaster in Val d’Isere, was the lone U.S. finisher in Sunday’s Audi FIS Alpine World Cup giant slalom.
“I didn’t really feel very balanced today,” Vonn said after finishing 13th and surrendering her overall World Cup Lead to Switzerland’s Lara Gut. “I think I rung my bell a little bit yesterday.
“I came over a roll and caught my inside ski and it launched me,” Vonn said of Saturday’s near disaster. “I’m lucky I didn’t crash; it definitely did not feel good. I’ve been trying to recovery and be ready for today, but wasn’t really in it. I tried everything - got a lot of therapy but wasn’t quite right today.”
Lindsey Vonn was 10th after first run.
Austria’s Eva-Maria Brem took her second-career World Cup victory Sunday. Gut and Norway’s Nina Loeseth tied for second. Megan McJames (Park City, UT) and Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA), making her first World Cup giant slalom start in more than five years, did not qualify for the second run.
Vonn was 10th after the first run and struggled as the afternoon shadows darkened the slope for the second run. A late right turn on the second steep section cost her not only time, but valuable World Cup points.
“It was a really dark second run,” Vonn said. “Normally I’m pretty good at that. But I kept catching my edge, doing weird stuff. It was a good effort, I tried really hard and I got some points, so it’s good.”
Vonn moved back three places in the second run to take 13th overall.
Up next, the women head to Lienz, Austria for slalom and giant slalom events Dec. 28 and 29.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Lindsey Vonn was the lone U.S. finisher in 13th.
- Switzerland's Lara Gut finished second and overtook Vonn atop the overall World Cup standings.
- Gut’s second-pace finish was her third straight podium in the past three days.
- Stacey Cook's giant slalom start was her first in more than five years (St. Moritz on December 12, 2010).
QUOTES
Lindsey Vonn
I didn’t really feel very balanced today. I think I rung my bell a little bit yesterday.
(Yesterday’s near crash in the downhill) was weird. I came over a roll and caught my inside ski and it launched me. I’m lucky I didn’t crash; it definitely did not feel good. I’ve been trying to recovery and be ready for today, but wasn’t really in it. I tried everything - got a lot of therapy but wasn’t quite right today.
It was a really dark second run. Normally I’m pretty good at that. But I kept catching my edge, doing weird stuff. It was a good effort, I tried really hard and I got some points, so it’s good.
BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAMING (times EST)
Sunday, Dec. 20
2:30 p.m. – Women’s GS, Courchevel, Universal HD
RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom
