Important Weekend for Vonn, Team
CRANS MONTANA, Switzerland (March 6) - Titles are on the line for U.S. Ski Team racers as the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup heads into the final weekend before the World Cup Finals. The U.S. Ski Team's Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) hopes to protect her 54 point lead over Austrian Nicole Hosp this weekend in downhill and super combined in Crans Montana. Teammate Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) has his eyes on the giant slalom title with races in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. And American Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, NH) still holds a commanding lead in the men's overall.
Following this weekend's World Cups, the circuit heads to Bormio, Italy for the Finals with racing beginning Wednesday.
Here's a few factoids on where the Americans stand heading into the homestretch:
Vonn Leads Overall
Vonn is currently 54 points ahead of Austrian Nicole Hosp for the Audi FIS World Cup overall title with six races remaining. Hosp, the reigning champion is stronger in technical disciplines (GS and SL) while Vonn has an edge in speed (DH and SG). Four of the six remaining races are speed races (including the super combined), with two in Crans Montana this weekend.
Dual American Leaders
If Vonn and Miller win the overall titles, they will match the feat of Tamara McKinney and Phil Mahre who won together 25 years ago in 1983.
Vonn Has Clinched Downhill Title
Vonn has already locked the World Cup downhill title with her second place in Whistler, BC on the 2010 Olympic course, becoming only the second American to win the title. (Picabo Street won in '05 and '06, ironically receiving her first crystal globe in Bormio, just as Vonn will next Wednesday evening.)
Vonn Could Set U.S. Win Mark
If Vonn wins the downhill in Crans Montana or Bormio, she will become the most successful downhill racer in American history, surpassing Street (her childhood hero and now good friend) and Daron Rahlves with whom she's now tied with nine World Cup victories.
Vonn, Mancuso Battle for Combined Title
Vonn and Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) both have a shot at the World Cup super combined title this weekend. Vonn is second, 40 points behind her good friend Maria Riesch of Germany, with Mancuso close behind in third. Sunday is the final combined of the season where racers ski one run of downhill speed and one run of slalom, with the fastest combined time winning.
Ligety Eyes GS Globe
Ligety is now just 23 points behind Austrian Benni Raich for the giant slalom globe with two races to go, including this Saturday in Kranjska Gora.
American Downhill Power
An American man has been on the podium in every World Cup downhill this season, including the U.S. Ski Team's Steven Nyman (Provo, UT), second at Beaver Creek, CO, Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA), who won the famed Kandahar in Chamonix, France and second at the opening race in Lake Louise, ALB and Scott Macartney (Crystal Mountain, WA), third in Val Gardena, Italy. Miller is just five points behind leader Didier Cuche of Switzerland going into Wednesday's final downhill in Bormio, where Miller won earlier this year. Sullivan is fourth in the standings.
"This weekend is nothing different," said Women's Head Coach Patrick Riml. "We want to win again and we want to be on the podium and then go into Bormio and see where we're at. Lindsey and Julia have been skiing well and there's a lot to be excited about, but we'll save all the celebrations until the end of World Cup finals. It's going to be exciting."
"The athletes are positioned really well as we head into the homestretch of the season," said Alpine Director Jesse Hunt. "We've had good U.S. success in the past in Bormio and the Team is prepared to wrap up the season strong."
World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) will webcast same-day coverage of all Audi FIS World Cup events through the Finals.
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Important Weekend for Vonn, Team
