3 U.S. women in top 30 in super G in Austria

By Elizabeth Karam, U.S. Ski Team

ZAUCHENSEE, Austria -– Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn of Vail kept the podium streak alive in Zauchensee, finishing second in Sunday’s super G behind Switzerland’s Lara Gut. Vonn continued to close the gap in the overall World Cup standings, gaining 40 points on German Maria Riesch. Vonn now has five consecutive top three results in the postcard Austrian valley.

Vonn, once again proved her focus, fighting the entire way to the finish. While exiting the extremely difficult Panorama turn, Vonn went down on her right hip, bounced back to her feet and nearly flew over the tip of her skis before regaining her balance and diving back into her tuck. It was the fourth speed race this season where Vonn was able to turn what could have been a serious crash into a World Cup podium and Sunday was her career 71st World Cup podium.

“I really have to stop making those saves. It’s probably pretty fun to watch on TV, but they’re definitely not fast,” joked Vonn. “But first and second is a great weekend. I’m skiing well but I could have cleaned up some sections and skied a little bit better.”

Vonn led a trio of U.S. athletes inside the top 30. Julia Mancuso of Squaw Valley finished 16th and Laurenne Ross of Klamath Falls, Ore., in 23rd.

The remainder of the U.S. women finished just outside of the World Cup points with Stacey Cook of Mammoth Mountain 31st, Leanne Smith of Conway, N.H., 32nd and Chelsea Marshall of Pittsfield, Vt., 34th.

Mancuso had a near mishap just out of the start, losing balance in her tuck, but was able to recover without losing a considerable amount of time to place just outside the top 15.

“It’s a really fun course the way it turns through the trees – it’s exciting. I’m just still looking for speed, things have been a little off lately,” said Mancuso. “Things are good. I just have to find it again. I hopefully figure it out for the next races.”

Official Results, Audi FIS World Cup, Zauchensee, Austria, Super G

1. Lara Gut, Switzerland, 1:12.82

2. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 1:13.35

3. Dominique Gisin, Switzerland, 1:13.54

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16. Julia Mancuso, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:14.64

23. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR, 1:15.13

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31. Stacey Cook, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 1:16.05

32. Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 1:16.25

34. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 1:16.62