Alpine skiing
“Criminal” Super-G: Shiffrin unlucky, Aicher celebrates
Superstar Mikaela Shiffrin also had to struggle with the difficult conditions. photo
© Marco Trovati/AP
Three Austrians and the German Emma Aicher cheer. The top skiers are at odds with ski ace Shiffrin. Nothing is normal in the Kvitfjell Super-G.
Ski superstar Mikaela Shiffrin again missed Ingemar Stenmark’s legendary record of 86 World Cup titles at the Austrian festival, while German Emma Aicher celebrated her best career result. In a completely crazy Super-G marked by unpredictable weather, the American had to settle for seventh place in Kvitfjell.
In the meantime, heavy snowfall had slowed down the track in the Norwegian mountains and caused borderline visibility. Especially in the flatter section of the track, there was hardly anything for athletes like Shiffrin. After the top drivers it cleared up again. “Criminal conditions”, the Italian Sofia Goggia complained about the “unfair” conditions.
Triple success for Austria
With their high starting numbers, the Austrians made the best use of the change in weather and celebrated a triple win. Nina Ortlieb got the second victory of her career. Second was Stephanie Venier ahead of Franziska Gritsch.
Germany’s future hope Emma Aicher also emerged as the winner of the weather lottery and celebrated her best World Cup result with fifth place. Euphorically, the otherwise reserved teenager threw her arms in the air at the finish line.
Kira Weidle had previously cheered exuberantly. The girl from Starnberg, who got stuck at a gate the day before and started with a swollen forearm, was in fourth place for a while. In the end she ended up in ninth place. Katrin Hirtl-Stanggassinger also collected World Cup points as 29th.
Shiffrin had early secured the Big Crystal Globe for victory in the overall World Cup on Saturday and is still at 85 World Cup victories. On Friday, the alpine high-flyer gets the next chance to draw level with the Swedish icon Stenmark in the giant slalom of Are.