Lindsey Vonn's Return Has Added Instant Edge to World Cup Skiing Season
It is often referred to as "Lake Lindsey" for a reason. The Canadian ski venue, more commonly known as Lake Louise, had been host to 14 of Lindsey Vonn's previous 59 World Cup victories.
A fortnight ago, the American added No. 15 of 60 in the second of that weekend's downhill races. A day earlier, she finished eighth in her first competitive skiing in nearly a year. A day later, the former World and Olympic champion finished second to Lara Gut in the weekend-concluding super-G.
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It all combined for a successful comeback for Vonn (which included a first-ever American podium clean sweep on the day of her downhill win, with Stacey Cook and Julia Mancuso just behind her) which has instantly added an edge to the fledgling season.
Her first attempted return from knee problems in 2013 was not without its bright points—she finished what looked an encouraging fifth place in the Lake Louise super-G. However, Vonn admitted in a recent blog for The Red Bulletin that, compared to her current state, she never quite felt right previously:
"At this time last year at Lake Louise I was in a completely different position. I had a blown-out knee, and was trying to race, hoping I could still go to the Olympics. I was pushing myself beyond my physical limits and felt my confidence deteriorating. I wasn’t focusing on my skiing; I was focusing on my knee and worrying if and when it would give out. It was wobbly and unstable, but I couldn’t admit to anyone, even myself, how serious it was because I wanted to get to Sochi so badly.
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Disappointed as she was to ultimately miss out on the Winter Olympics, the 30-year-old believes the experience at least informed her approach to getting it right this time. We will get our next look at her progress this weekend in Val d'Isere as the women take on the downhill and super-G.
In a press conference earlier this week—via the FIS' official website—Vonn described the first Lake Louise downhill earlier this month as "roughly what I expected." Her initial reaction as she eyed her time of 1:51.83 betrayed a hint of disappointment, though, even if she rightly understood she deserved to be pleased with the performance.
The delight she displayed when she skied into the top spot a day later—a beaming smile as she collapsed happily to the ground shouting, "yes!"—suggested the familiar, intoxicating feeling of a job well done was much more like it for Vonn. A degree of patience must still be exhibited with this ongoing comeback, but combined with the super-G runner-up spot that followed, the indications are Vonn is already back at a highly competitive level.
In the context of an already exciting season, that could be brilliant news for ski fans.
In regards to the overall World Cup standings, the pace has been well and truly set by Tina Maze this season. The Slovenian has three victories in three different disciplines, not to mention another couple of podium places. Heading into the weekend, that has left her 257 points ahead of the nearest place challenger, the current holder of the big crystal globe, Anna Fenninger.
The Austrian might prove to be the best challenger to Maze's early lead if she can replicate her excellent late run of form from last season (built upon consistent podium places from earlier on). But now fully focused in the way coaching issues denied her the chance to be during a tumultuous spell a year ago, the versatile Maze could be be set for a repeat of her extraordinary 2013 season when she was not lower than second in any discipline and won World Championships gold in super-G.
In the aforementioned press conference, Vonn revealed she plans to ski giant slalom in 2015, though slalom was likely to be off the table. That comparative tentativeness to the full-on Maze might deny the U.S. star the chance to secure a fifth overall title. The prospect of two of the sport's best directly facing off for other honours is very much alive, however.
Both share first place in the downhill standings, albeit after just one weekend of speed events. That contest could gather further momentum in France this week. With the upcoming Worlds in Vonn's hometown, Vail, the gold rush in Colorado should see her and her closest rivals at the forefront, too (though the Olympics proved such one-off events can be subject to more surprising victors).
Vonn and Maze are not the only names worth talking about, of course. Fenninger and Austrian team-mate Eva-Maria Brem have begun 2014-15 brightly. Others ranging from Mikaela Shiffrin to Sweden's Maria Pietilae-Holmner and Frida Hansdotter have contributed to the season's unfolding story with their own notable mixed fortunes.
Gut joined Maze and Vonn headlining the pre-Val d'Isere press conference this week, a result of the Swiss' own campaign kicking into gear with the Lake Louise super-G win. She holds the title in that discipline, and having pipped her last time out will be among the obstacles to Vonn pulling closer to Annemarie Moser-Proll's World Cup win number of 62, as tallied by the FIS.
Vonn has had mixed success at Val d'Isere. She has won there five times, including two downhills, but it was at the French resort in 2013 where her Olympic hopes were ended.
Whatever she does this weekend, it is good to have her back.
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