It was a day to remember for US skiers in the St. Anton Super G on Sunday (12 January 2025).
On a technical test on the Karl Schranz course, the dark clouds which had made visibility difficult for some of the earlier starters suddenly cleared. And Lauren Macugawhose previous best result was fourth in December’s Beaver Creek downhill, took full advantage to claim her first Alpine Ski World Cup victory.
Wearing start bib number 15, Stephanie Venier delighted the home fans by taking the lead. But her time at the top of the timesheets would prove shortlived as Macuga produced a superbly clean run to triumph by almost seven-tenths of a second.
The 22-year-old from Park City, Utah – whose sister Alli competes in moguls and brother Sam is a World Cup ski jumper – was left openmouthed in disbelief as she saw her time and screamed with delight.
A clearly overjoyed Macuga told FIS, “I can’t believe it. It’s so exciting! I don’t even think the nerves have settled. I’m just waiting for it to hit me. This is a dream. I’ve been dreaming of this forever.
“I knew after the last two Super G races, I knew I had the potential to ski onto the podium. I tried to do a run without mistakes. I had a mistake at Beaver Creek and a mistake at St. Moritz. I knew it was there. I didn’t think it would be today. I was hoping and here we are.”
Saturday’s downhill winner Federica Brignone shook her head in disappointment after her run, but held the advantage until the sun appeared and Venier displaced her. The Italian veteran would finish third for her second podium placing of the weekend.
With darkness descending again, Lindsey Vonn – after her sixth in Saturday’s downhill – produced a superb run to take fourth place. The 40-year-old looked in shock in the finish area as she recorded her best result since her comeback from retirement.
Lara Gut-Behrami was quickest at the midway checkpoint despite coming perilously close to the safety netting early on. She made another big mistake on the bottom section and ending up in fifth place which was enough to take the discipline series lead.
Sofia Goggia actually rode the safety netting for a split-second but somehow made it to the next checkpoint up on fellow Italian Brignone. But she then slid out after one mistake too many in a typically hair-raising descent to make it two DNFs in 24 hours.
The next speed stop for the women is the downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy next Saturday with a Super G the following day.
