Vonn Cracks Top 5 in Lake Louise

LAKE LOUISE, AB (Dec. 8) – Four-time World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) skied confidently into the top five in the Lake Louise super G Sunday, showing her strength and ability to mount a podium challenge for the first time since her return to the World Cup circuit Friday. Leanne Smith (North Conway, NH) finished just behind Vonn in sixth, finding the familiar form that exemplifies the U.S. Ski Team’s speed squad. Swiss skier Lara Gut won the race, her third victory on the season. Sunday’s super G wraps up racing in Lake Louise with the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup heading to St. Moritz for a super G and giant slalom Dec. 14-15.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Four-time World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) skied confidently into the top five in the Lake Louise super G Sunday, showing her strength and ability to mount a podium challenge for the first time since her return to the World Cup circuit Friday.
• Vonn will make a decision this week concerning her status in the next World Cup races.
• Leanne Smith (North Conway, NH) finished just behind Vonn in sixth, finding the familiar form that exemplifies the U.S. Ski Team’s speed squad.
• Olympic gold medalist Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) finished 17th while veteran Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) finished 18th, her best World Cup super G result since 2008.
• Swiss skier Lara Gut won the race, her third victory on the season.
• Sunday’s super G wraps up racing in Lake Louise with the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup heading to St. Moritz for a super G and giant slalom Dec. 14-15 and then Val d’Isere for downhill and giant slalom Dec. 21-22.

QUOTES
Lindsey Vonn
This is exactly what I wanted to take away from this weekend–to know that I could ski for the win. I'm happy with today. I scrubbed some speed in a few spots but it still showed me that I can ski for the podium. I'm going to be selective in my races this season, and I'll take a few days home, talk to the coaches and determine a plan.

Leanne Smith
It was definitely more along the lines of what I’ve been looking for. I’m totally psyched. It’s been a rough couple of days. Yesterday was definitely better. Today I just wanted to forget the last couple days and Beaver Creek and just move on. I know that I’m skiing well and we’re all skiing really well. It’s just time to get it done and not dwell on the past so much.

Stacey Cook
This is the first time I haven’t finished between 25th and 30th in super G in like two years, so I’m happy to make a little step forward and get some confidence and keep trying to move up. Getting an early start position would be nice one of these days.

Chip White, Women’s U.S. Alpine Ski Team Head Coach
I’m really pleased. I think we’re just starting to move in a positive direction. I knew this would be the case. I think everybody is in a positive light and we are moving forward. It was a good super G day for us. It was great to see Lindsey back in there in the top five. Leanne did a great performance running early when she did and sent a message to the rest of our team that the line that we were on was correct and that they knew that they could charge. So I think that that helped with Lindsey.

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