LAKE LOUISE, Alberta -- Austrian power and American depth
were on display on the final chilly day of women's World Cup skiing
at Lake Louise.
Austrians swept the top three spots and U.S. skiers had five of
the 14 best performances Sunday in the first women's super-G of the
season.
Alexandra Meissnitzer earned her 14th career World Cup victory
in 1 minute, 21.73 seconds. Andrea Fischbacher was one-tenth of a
second back at 1:21.83. Michaela Dorfmeister, in her final race on
a hill where she enjoyed great success, was third at 1:22.56.
The Austrian trio is a mix of veteran experience and rising
talent. Meissnitzer and Dorfmeister are 32.
"We are now probably the older ones," Meissnitzer said, "but
we are still able to ski fast."
Meissnitzer won at Lake Louise in 1999, but the next year, when
she returned, she sustained a serious knee injury, the first of a
series of problems that plagued her for the next three years.
"Maybe that's why this victory is pretty emotional for me,"
Meissnitzer said. "There was a whole where I didn't know if I
could continue skiing. Winning here again is something special."
She called Lake Louise "one of the most beautiful places" on
the World Cup circuit.
Dorfmeister, who is retiring after this season, finished in the
top three in all three races at Lake Louise. In her career, she had
seven top-three finishes at Lake Louise, including a victory in the
super-G last year.
Fischbacher, the world junior super-G champion in 2004, is 20
and in her second World Cup season. Her previous best finish was
eighth in the super-G at Cortina last season.
"I am very proud and very happy to be on the podium next to big
champions like Michaela and Alexandra," a nervous Fischbacher said
through an interpreter. "It was an exciting moment, and I am
looking forward to trying to imitate them and equal them maybe in
the future."
Fischbacher is just one of many talented young skiers who are
challenging the veterans on the women's circuit.
Italy's Elena Fanchini, winner of Friday's downhill, is 20.
Lindsey Kildow of the United States, the downhill champion on
Saturday, is 21.
Kildow was the top U.S. finisher at sixth, in 1:23.09. Teammate
Kirsten Clark, still working her way back from a staph infection in
her knee, was seventh at 1:23.12.
Libby Ludlow, who underwent major knee surgery after last
season, was a career-best 10th, Caroline Lalive was 13th and Julia
Mancuso tied for 14th.
Kildow admitted to an uncharacteristic case of nerves after
Renate Goetschl crashed in front of her.
"I knew that Goetschl had crashed and it was a little bumpy in
some sections," Kildow said. "I don't know, I was kind of
nervous, more than I usually am. I shouldn't let it bother me, but
sometimes that happens."
She said she simply wasn't herself on the course.
"I just wasn't really attacking like I've been in training,"
Kildow said, "so I'm definitely going to work on this and be
looking forward to Aspen."
The skiers head to Aspen, Colo., next week for the only U.S.
stop on the women's World Cup circuit. The schedule has a super-G
on Friday, giant slalom on Saturday and slalom on Sunday.
Clark -- at 28 an old-timer on the U.S. team -- was thrilled with
her 31st top 10 finish. In late August, she underwent routine
arthroscopic surgery on her knee. The procedure included draining
cyst, and she developed a staph infection that severely delayed her
training.
"Each day has gotten better and better just as far as race mode
goes," Clark said. "I know what I need to do on race day. It was
a matter of just trusting myself and putting it out there and
taking the risks that I needed to."
No U.S. skier was happier than Ludlow, who had battled pain
throughout last season before undergoing a lesser version of
"microfracture" surgery. Her previous best finish was 11th at
Are, Sweden, in 2004.
"I don't think people really understand the pressure I had last
spring in the kind of situation I was going through with my knee,"
the 23-year-old said. "The progress I've made in the last eight
months is like incredible. To be skiing in these kind of conditions
without any knee pain is just the coolest thing ever."
An arctic front kept temperatures in single digits throughout
the competition. It was eight degrees at the finish line on Sunday.