Page 18 - ATD20Febr2016
P. 18
A18
SPORTSSaturday 20 February 2016
Vonn incensed after losing her ski and World Cup lead to Gut
ANDREW DAMPF United States’ Lindsey Vonn reacts after crashing during a women’s Alpine ski downhill race, in La Gut, who used a different
AP Sports Writer Thuile, Italy, Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. tactic on the turn where
LA TUILE, Italy (AP) — Lind- Vonn went out from most
sey Vonn was incensed Associated Press other skiers — checking
after losing her ski and the her skis sideways in a move
World Cup lead in a tricky and I was a little bit inside been using only two pairs upset,” he said. “It shouldn’t normally reserved for giant
downhill Friday, frustrated of my body position and of skis in downhill and the happen.” slalom.
and fuming over her equip- my ski just came off,” Vonn ski that was bent had been Haemmerle explained that “You really have to stay
ment said. “I’m definitely disap- used during her recent wins he already tightens Vonn’s on the ski. It helps if you ski
“My ski came off,” she said, pointed. I thought I was in Lake Louise, Alberta. bindings to level 18 and aggressive — it’s easier to
underlining her anger with skiing pretty well. ... That’s Heinz Haemmerle, Vonn’s fears turning them up to a make the turns,” Gut said.
an expletive. pretty much the one thing ski technician at Head, maximum of 20 — what the “But it’s a fine line between
Swiss rival Lara Gut won besides the weather you defended his equipment men use — because then winning and being out.”
and moved 13 points can’t control. I did my job preparation. her skis might not pop off in It was the 18th win of Gut’s
ahead of Vonn in the over- and hopefully tomorrow my “It was so bumpy and then a fall. career and her sixth this
all ranks with the season skis will also do their job.” the binding came off. “I can’t turn it up any- season, which is develop-
approaching its conclusion The American said she She was on the inside ski more,” the ski technician ing into the best of her ca-
next month. didn’t have any serious inju- and then the outside ski said. “That would be too reer.
Vonn was the last of the ries and would be ready for was (wobbling) and hit a dangerous.” “A lot can change in one
favorites to start and was another downhill Saturday. bump,” Haemmerle told More technical than most day,” Gut said.
ahead of Gut at the first “I’ll probably be pretty The Associated Press. “It women’s downhills, the Ber- Friday’s race was originally
checkpoint but then her bruised,” Vonn said. “I slid can happen.” thod piste won praise from scheduled for Crans-Mon-
right ski detached on a on my hip for quite a ways.” Haemmerle called Vonn’s Gut. tana last weekend but was
sharp turn at about 75 kph Perhaps more worrying reaction “normal” in the “It’s a challenge but I pre- moved due to excessive
(50 mph) and she slid down is that Vonn has now lost heat of the moment. fer a challenge (to) a high- snowfall in the Swiss resort.
the course on her hip. one of her fastest skis. She’s “She understands. She’s still way so that’s good,” said Laurenne Ross was the top
“I’m really confused at how American in fifth, match-
this happened. I have to ing her result in Garmisch-
watch the video again,” Partenkirchen, Germany,
Vonn said, showing off her two weeks ago.
bent ski in the finish area. “It feels good to be in the
“The whole thing is a little top five again,” Ross said.
bit perplexing to me. Nor- “I’m feeling more comfort-
mally none of this should able now than I have all
happen.” year.”
Gut finished a whopping Vonn still holds a big lead
1.02 seconds ahead of in the downhill discipline
Cornelia Huetter of Aus- standings and can clinch
tria, with Nadia Fanchini of her eighth season-long
Italy third, 1.03 back, as the crystal globe title Saturday.
Franco Berthod course in “I’m definitely going to be
the shadows of Mont Blanc fired up tomorrow, that’s
made its debut on the cir- for sure,” Vonn said. “I know
cuit. what to do on this course.
Vonn came in much wider ... Hopefully I’ll execute a
than Gut to the turn where little better and hopefully
she went out. my skis will stay on.”
“I was getting a little bit
bounced by the ice there
