For the first time in more than two years, ski racer Viktoria Rebensburg has rode in a World Cup Super-G on the “Stockerl”. The 28-year-old from Kreuth am Tegernsee missed her 17th birthday. World Cup victory at the season finale in Are/Sweden as second behind downhill Olympic champion Sofia Goggia from Italy by 0.32 seconds. Third place went to Lindsey Vonn (USA/0.53 seconds back).
Tina Weirather (Liechtenstein) secured the small crystal ball for the second time after 2017 in the last race of the season in the second fastest discipline. Sixth place on the course, slightly shortened due to wind, was enough for the Olympic runner-up to win against Lara Gut (Switzerland), who fell after only twelve driving seconds. Olympic champion Ester Ledecka (Czech Republic) also retired.
In February 2016, Rebensburg was the second in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to reach the podium in the Super-G competition. She was only better at her two victories in Schladming in 2012 and Cortina d’ Ampezzo in 2013. In a strong season, which was clouded by the medalless winter games in Pyeongchang, it was their eighth podium finish (three victories).
“I’m very happy that it worked out with the podium finish, yesterday it was very close,”said Rebensburg, who had become fourth on Wednesday:”The ride was a bit strange, it didn’t feel so good. I thought: Okay, it’s going to be difficult today. But it was cool to back off with a green light,”says Goggia,” but Goggia was faster afterwards.
Weirather outdid her father Harti, who “only” won a small ball for Austria, in 1981 in the downhill. In the internal family rankings, however, there are still two persons ahead of her: Uncle Andi came on four balls, including one big in the overall World Cup, Mama Hanni Wenzel (both Liechtenstein) even on seven, including two big ones.