Vincent Kriechmayr won the Super-G in Beaver Creek. After starting number 31, the race was stopped due to the weather – but it will still be counted.
The Birds of Preythe raptor piste in Beaver Creek, lived up to its name: waves, bumps in the piste, strong wind, thick fog, snowfall, a sharply rotating run and several interruptions to the race demanded everything from the ski racers.
The wild ride was best achieved by Austrian speed ace Vincent Kriechmayr. With a fast line over the shortened Birds of Prey, the 34-year-old gained a lead of 56 hundredths of a second over second-placed Fredrik Moeller from Norway. Kriechmayr’s compatriot Raphael Haaser came third (+1.03).
Race canceled after 31 starters
The three DSV drivers in the squad, Romed Baumann, Simon Jocher and Maximilian Schwarz, were no longer able to enjoy the Birds of Prey: after starting number 31, the race was canceled due to the weather. Because 30 athletes had already started, the race will be counted.
The three-time Super-G overall winner Marco Odermatt couldn’t keep up with Kriechmayr’s run either. The Swiss, who confidently won the descent the day before, had difficulty holding the line. As he entered the steep slope it carried him far away. The 28-year-old finished fifth, 1.23 seconds behind.
Interruption due to fog and wind
For Odermatt’s teammate Franjo von Allmen, the second Super-G race of the season ended in the net: After the fall, the 24-year-old was able to get up and ski down on his own. Immediately after von Allmen’s departure, FIS race director Markus Waldner decided to interrupt the race: the snowfall and fog had increased significantly.
When the race resumed after the 20-minute break, the athletes had great difficulty keeping up with the racers who had already started because the fresh snow slowed down the slope significantly. After further interruptions, the FIS then pulled the ripcord: after 31 starters, the race was finally stopped. It continues in Beaver Creek on Sunday: Then the giant slalom is on the program.