Vonn wins World Cup downhill, Mancuso 16th

By U.S. Ski Team

ZAUCHENSEE, Austria -– Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn of Vail nearly skied into the fence Saturday, but reeled it back in to win the women’s Audi FIS Alpine World Cup downhill in Zauchensee, her fourth win of the season. Vonn gained 50 points on overall leader Maria Reisch of Germany, who finished fourth.

In the tiny mountain village nestled above Altenmarkt, just south of Salzburg, Vonn charged out of the gate to beat the women’s downhill field by 0.43, marking her second career World Cup win and fourth podium in Zauchensee.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into me this year. I seem to be making big mistakes in almost every downhill that I race in and still have a good result,” Vonn said. “For me, it’s just a matter of keeping my cool. It’s just belief and the cool factor – just staying cool even though you make mistakes.”

Teammate and fellow Olympic champion Julia Mancuso of Squaw Valley experienced trouble on the same section as Vonn finishing 16th.

Sweden’s Anja Paerson finished behind Vonn in second with Austria’s Anna Fenninger in third. Despite gaining 50 points on overall World Cup leader Riesch, Vonn remains 136 points behind heading into Sunday’s super G.

The women will push out of the Zauchensee start house again on Sunday for a super G race.

Official results, Audi FIS Alpine World Cup, Zauchensee, Austria, Downhill

1. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 1:46.39

2. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 1:46.82

3. Anna Fenninger, Austria, 1:47.37

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16. Julia Mancuso, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:48.50

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34. Stacey Cook, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 1:49.87

37. Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 1:49.91

40. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR, 1:50.27

46. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 1:51.03