Beaver Creek, CO: Men Giant Slalom; Lake Louise: Ladies Super G

Sunday, December 2nd  the last two events in Beaver Creek, CO and Lake Louise, Canada, the giant and super g took place.

 

The first run of the giant slalom, designed by the coach of the Finns, had a very angled tracking, while the second run, drawn by the coach of the Swiss, was more spaced and fast.

 

On both runs dominates a Ligety that seems to come from another planet and that makes once again the void behind him. A true feline, who manages to make incredible lines and carve with the new ski, in the same way in which he used to with the previous materials. And to think that he was the one that fought most of all against the decision to change the lengths and curve radii of the giant skis taken from the FIS.

Second by a second and seventy-six cents, comes the Austrian Marcel Hirscher. First among humans! It shows the usual aggressive and spectacular skiing that characterizes him, allowing him to go once again on the podium.

 

Amazing was the Davide Simoncelli’s performance, back from a serious injury he incurred in in summer, who managed to win a great podium, thirty-one cents from Hirscher. In Soelden already made a good first run, but on Sunday it was huge, giving us two perfect runs, soft and clean, and with these he proves to be the back to the game he was few seasons ago.

 

At the foot of the podium, fourth to forty-nine cents from Simoncelli, there is Manfred Moelgg, author of a fantastic race, even though, in the second round, he loses a little bit too much into the steep part.

Fifth is Alexis Pinturault, just back from a bad injury he incurred in during the summer, showing that he is already now back at the highest levels.

Sixth, thanks to an excellent second run, due to the fact that the poles were wider, so the track faster, ranks Aksel Lund Svindal, who also in this race can gain valuable points for the overall cup.

Max Blardone arrives ninth, due to a bad mistake in the first round that makes him slip back in the eighteenth partial time. He makes up well, however, with a beautiful second run.

Who does an incredible second run is the Austrian Christoph Noesig, who started with the forty four and who finished twenty-eighth in the first on, setting is the best partial time, passing by thirty-five cents Ted Ligety.

 

Twenty-fifth, by four seconds and eighty cents, instead is Florian Eisath, and does not qualify for the second run Giovanni Borsotti. Go out during the course of the first run Matteo Marsaglia, Luca De Aliprandini and Roberto Nani.

 

On the top step of the podium at Lake Louise again, Lindsey Vonn, who after an initial quiet part of th race,  turns on the turbo and goes to take another hundred points.

Already last year the American had a hat-trick in Canada and with this latter victory, the thirteenth in Lake Louise and the fifty total, overcomes Vreni Scheider’s record and becomes the second most succesful woman, third overall. Now she can put in the viewfinder to the sixty-two Annemarie Moser-Proell successes to be crowned the most successful female skier of all time.

 

Second an American again, Julia Mancuso, separated by forty-three cents from the compatriot, author of a wonderful performance, especially in the second half of the race.

 

Third, by forty-five cents, is the Austrian Anna Fenninger, who put together a very good race, especially in the first part, where she manages to do a lot of speed.

 

Important for the World Cup, is the fourth place Tina Maze, that partially redeems the first two races, that did not go well.

 

Unfortunately Dada Merighetti goes out, while Elena Curtoni, with a good race, ranks eleventh. Are twentieth, twenty-sixth and thirtieth respectively Verena Stuffer, Francesca Marsaglia and Elena Fanchini. Unable to gain points Camilla Borsotti and Enrica Cipriani, thirty-third and trenacinquesima.

 

What can I say? It was a great weekend of skiing, and light-blue and stars and striped, where both winning teams have proved to be strong and full of talents, all competitive, able and willing to get ahead.

Our appointment is next weekend in Europe, with the ladies super combined, super g and giant slalom in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and the men giant slalom and slalom in Val d’Isere, France.