Mancuso 6th in downhill at Lake Louise

By U.S. Ski Team

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta – Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn of Vail made spectacular athletic recovery Saturday to finish second in downhill again at Lake Louise leading a pack of seven Americans into the top 25. Audi FIS Alpine World Cup leader Maria Riesch of Germany earned back-to-back downhill wins as Julia Mancuso of Squaw Valley posted another solid result with sixth.

On a critical left turn midway down the course Vonn’s skis released from the snow sending her sailing through the air sideways. The three-time World Cup downhill champion then landed hard on her left hip, immediately bounced up, regained her tuck and continued to charge missing the win by a mere 0.10 seconds.

“I realized I was on my hip and thought I was going into the fence and I just kept thinking ‘get back up, get back up, get back up,'” said Vonn, who attributed the save to her rigorous off season conditioning program. “Somehow I caught my edge and was able to stand back up. Once I was on my feet again I just kept thinking ‘make up time.'”

Mancuso continued to show she’s a contender landing in the top 10 in her last three World Cup downhill races.

U.S. women close out racing in Lake Louise on today.

Official Results, Audi FIS Alpine World Cup, Lake Louise, Dec. 4, 2010, Downhill

1. Maria Riesch, Germany, 1:29.60

2. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 1:29.70

3. Dominique Gisin, Switzerland, 1:30.38

4. Daniela Merghetti, Italy, 1:30.44

5. Elisabeth Goergl, Austria, 1:30.64

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6. Julia Mancuso, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:30.65

14. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 1:30.99

15. Alice McKennis, Glenwood Springs, CO, 1:31.03

15. Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 1:31.03

19. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR, 1:31.39

25. Stacey Cook, Mammoth, CA, 1:31.53

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42. Julia Ford, Plymouth, NH, 1:33.00