Emily Brydon (Fernie, BC) made it into the top 10 at today’s World Cup downhill in Haus im Ennstal, AUT as American Lindsey Vonn won her third straight downhill race of the season.
Brydon, who sits fourth in the ladies World Cup downhill standings after three of eighth scheduled races, finished today’s DH in one minute 40.39 seconds.
Brydon said the result was a positive, especially considering it follows two training runs in which her top result was 40th position.
“This is kind of what I have done this season. In the training runs I have been getting a feel for the course and on race day I step it up another gear. And that’s kind of what happened today. For sure there is more time to find out there and I hope to do it tomorrow,” said Brydon, one of the few skiers to have experience racing World Cups in Haus im Ennstal, which hadn’t hosted a World Cup DH since 2004.
“It’s not that difficult of a course so having some familiarity is not as big of an advantage as if it was more challenging,” Brydon said.
American Lindsey Vonn won the third consecutive downhill to start the 2009/ 2010 season, after winning both Bombarider Lake Louise Winterstart DH’s in early December. Vonn finished in a time of 1:38.84 today, with Anna Paerson of Sweden was second in 1:39.19 and Germany’s Maria Riesch third, just 0.04s back of Paerson.
Today’s rare Friday World Cup race replaced a DH that was cancelled earlier this season in Val d’Isère, FRA.
With the win, Vonn became the first North American to win the downhill in Haus im Ennstal since Canada’s Gerry Sorensen accomplished the feat Feb. 8. 1981, winning the first of five World Cup downhill’s in her career.
Britt Janyk (Whistler, BC) placed 31st today while Shona Rubens (Canmore, AB), came from bib 60 all the way to 39th place, finishing in 1:41.51.
“It’s a little tough starting in the back. From the time we inspect to the time we actually race is about three and a half hours. But that’s ski racing,” said Rubens.
“There’s was a lot of good to take out of today and focus on tomorrow. There’s a really tricky section at the bottom that I skied better than I had in training so it’s definitely something to build on,” she added.
Georgia Simmerling (West Vancouver, BC) ended up in 51st place.
The regularly scheduled women’s downhill race goes tomorrow before a super-G on Sunday.
