Julia Mancuso on the big podium
Source: World Ski News
A year after clinching a stunning Olympic gold medal in giant slalom at the Turin Olympics, Julia Mancuso confirmed her impressive progression in the world rankings in capturing an encouraging 3rd place in the 2007 Overall World Cup standings - the best US finish since 1984! The Californian was also a strong 2nd in the downhill and in the Super-combined classifications.
Julia scored almost twice more points than last year, when she ended 8th in the Overall rankings, thanks to her four wins and her six podium finishes! With a total of 21 top-10 results this winter, Julia was one of the most consistent skiers on the World Cup tour that she dreams to dominate in the coming years.
"It has for sure been a great season for me, it was cool to have been one of the top contenders and fight for the Overall," she said at Lenzerheide. "I didn't expect so much at the start of the winter after my hip surgery last spring. I could not train as intensively as usual and I needed a few weeks before finding back my best rhythm," she added.
"I'm very proud to have won so many races and reached so often the podium. These results will certainly help me to be very motivated this summer when we will be training again."
A big goal for Julia
"The Overall World Cup title is a big goal for me and it was quite exciting to have been battling for it during the last part of the season. It was an interesting experience and I certainly learned a lot this winter."
"I'm only 23 and still many more years ahead of me to clinch it once. The other favorites are older and have more routine than I. To win the Overall title, you have to be extremely determined in each single race and overcome many difficult moments," also said Julia who managed to remain very focused and relaxed until the races at Tarvisio before losing part of her momentum.
"This season has been really long and also difficult for the North American athletes who can't go back home and relax with their friends and family for a few days. It's not easy to be all the time on the roads or in the hotels without having the chance to recoup in another ambience. That's why I really enjoyed the short break I took last month after Are. It was great being back at home for a few days. I was really tired at that point."
Julia, one of the most popular athletes at Lenzerheide, received great support from the crowd which appreciated her style and her original look. She tried again hard to end the last race among the leaders, but she had a hard time finding back her momentum. She was only 11th in the giant slalom.
"I made a few mistakes in both runs, the course was very demanding," she said. "I was aiming to win at least the second run but I didn't succeed."
More gold at the US National?
Her next goal is to improve her record of medals won at the US Nationals since March 2000. She captured five titles since then and finished fourteen times 2nd or 3rd. "I like medal events, they are fun and I like racing at Anchorage where I already did well."
Yet she is for sure looking ahead for more fun moments this spring when she will be travelling to Thailand for holidays along her friends Resi Stiegler, Chemmy Alcott and Janette Hargin. During the summer she will also relax at Maui with her family while kyte-surfing with friends.
She should be able to tank enough energy at those occasions to find back her best form right at the beginning of the season and eventually fight sooner for the Overall standings!
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Julia Mancuso on the big podium
