Ross Second in Soldeu Super G

SOLDEU-EL TARTER, Andorra (Feb. 27, 2016) – On a day full of delays, crashes and tough conditions, Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) powered through fresh snow to take second in the Soldeu Audi FIS Ski World Cup, her first podium spot since Garmisch in 2013.

Battling wind and snow that caused the race start to be lowered and the start time pushed back by three hours, many skiers struggled down the gnarly course, including Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), who was a pre-race favorite. Vonn slid out of the course, crashing near the bottom, and was taken off the hill on a sled by ski patrol. Her injuries are being evaluated.

Lindsey Vonn had to be carried off the mountain after crashing in Saturday’s World Cup super G. 

Ross - who has been on a roll this season with five straight top-10 finishes - took full advantage of the good course conditions during her run to put down a blazing time before the snow really started falling.

“It’s been coming and my skiing has been improving. I got on the lucky side of things today and I took advantage on it,” said Ross. “I’m really happy with it. It’s an outdoor sport, it’s very rarely perfectly fair … but that’s ski racing.”

Ross finished behind Federica Brignone of Italy. Tamara Tippler of Austria was third.

Laurenne Ross stands on the podium in second place. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Alexis Boichard)

Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) was the next American, finishing in 24th, with Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) also cracking the points in 29th. It was Shiffrin’s first speed event back after her injury and only her second super G World Cup start ever. Anna Marno (Steamboat Springs, CO) was 33rd, Jackie Wiles (Aurora, OR) 43rd and Abby Ghent (Edwards, CO) 52nd. Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO) DNFed.

Next up, the ladies attack Sunday’s alpine combined - one run super G and one run slalom.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Laurenne Ross took second in the super G in Andorra. It is her second podium finish after finishing second in a Garmisch downhill.
• Federica Brignone of Italy won with Tamara Tippler of Austria in third.
• Lindsey Vonn crashed and went down in a sled for further evaluation.
• Lara Gut of Switzerland finished 16. Vonn still leads the overall title chase by eight points.
• Vonn leads the super G standings over Gut by 64 points. Ross is in seventh place.

Laurenne Ross skis to second place.

QUOTES

Laurenne Ross
It’s been coming and my skiing has been improving. I got on the lucky side of things today and I took advantage on it. I’m really happy with it. It’s an outdoor sport, it’s very rarely perfectly fair. It started snowing pretty hard in the middle of the race and definitely created some slow surfaces for the girls behind. But that’s ski racing. If you’re on the good side of it, you have to take advantage of it.

RESULTS
Women’s super G