Gut-Behrami Leads the Women Going into the Last Super-G Before World Cup Finals
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Ellie Hartman
Who is racing, when, and how to watch the Sunday, March 3rd Kvitfjell Women’s World Cup super-G
The first day of super-G in Kvitfjell, Norway, was a nail-biting showdown between the two super-G World Cup leaders, Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) and Cornelia Hütter (AUS). Coming into the event, Gut-Behrami was in the lead by only 5 points in the World Cup standings over Hütter, so the two of them came into today ready to go all out on the track.
Gut-Behrami came down first amongst the two and threw down a clean run, where she showed the field how to let the skis run, especially in the final gliding section of the course. However, Hütter came down after her and was holding the fastest time throughout the course but lost the victory in the final interval. She finished only +0.12 off Gut-Behrami.
The outcome of the super-G race further secured Gut-Behrami’s lead as the women head into the last super-G race before the World Cup Finals. Nevertheless, Gut-Behrami expanded her lead by only 25 points ahead of Hütter, so the showdown will light up more significantly tomorrow.
Italian Federica Brignone is third in the World Cup standings, heading into the final super-G. She finished in a commendable 6th-place position today, which placed her 94 points behind Gut-Behrami’s lead. She still has a chance and will, undoubtedly, be looking for more speed tomorrow.
Everyone will still hope for another day of favorable racing conditions tomorrow. Following the cancellation of the downhill training runs, today’s planned downhill race was substituted with a super-G event.
The schedule switch was unfortunate for many athletes, as it stripped some of their last attempt to qualify for the downhill World Cup Finals.
On a positive note, it gave the women a chance to make up for a canceled super-G event and two more chances at an opportunity to go to the World Cup Finals in the discipline.
The course crews and race officials worked tirelessly to get the race off today, battling unfavorable weather and subpar snow conditions. Stifel US Ski Team athlete Lauren Macuga stated, “Talking with the other girls, we all think that the course is holding up way better than we all would have thought. Two days ago, we didn’t think we were going to race this weekend, and then today was actually pretty nice. It is impressive what they have done.”
Top Ten Ranked Super-G Women for the 2024 Season
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Forty-eight skiers from 13 countries are on the start list for Sunday, March 3rd, Kvitfjell super-G.
Nations Cup Standings
In the battle for national glory, the Austrian women currently hold the lead in the Nations Cup super-G standings, boasting 2,360 points. However, the Swiss overtook Italy after today’s super-G, concluding the day as the 2nd nation, with 2,285 points, while Italy has 1,637.
15 countries have scored 2024 World Cup super-G points.
North Americans
Lauren Macuga has had a milestone season and earned her career-best today on the Kvitfjell track, finishing in 7th place. Her previous top finish this season was a 10th-place result in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee and she has remained consistent throughout the six super-G races this season.
The young athlete is sitting in a strong position in the World Cup standings, as she moved into 17th today. She will head into tomorrow with high confidence and the eagerness to continue to prove herself on the circuit.
Isabella Wright was the other Stifel US Ski Team athlete to make the top 30 on the first day of the Kvitfjell super-G. Concluding the day with an 18th-place result, she now understands where she can execute the course better.
“If you have any sort of mistake, you can kill a lot of your speed on this hill, so you have to be very strategic with that,” Wright explained.
Wright earned 22.90 points today and is 27 points off the 25th-ranked World Cup super-G racer. Thereby, there is still hope for Wright’s chance at competing in the World Cup Finals.
Unfortunately, the rest of the Stifel US Ski Team speed team did not finish in the top 30 on the first day of the Kvitfjell super-G event. Fog rolled in towards the bottom of the course for the last 30 racers, which made it challenging for Tricia Mangan (bib-40), Jacqueline Wiles (bib-41), and Keely Cashman (bib-42) to find the speed needed.
However, the three have another chance tomorrow on the hill and will be looking to leave nothing behind in the 2024 super-G World Cup season.
After sustaining injuries, Mikaela Shiffrin and Valérie Grenier have been greatly missed on the circuit, particularly by the North American teams. The upcoming event is eagerly awaited as Shiffrin’s return is highly anticipated.
North American Women Who Have Earned 2024 World Cup Super-G Points
North Americans Entered for the Sunday, March 3rd, Kvitfjell World Cup Super-G.
- Bib 22, Isabella Wright, Stifel USST, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation, Atomic, Level Gloves
About Kvitfjell
Kvitfjell, located in the municipality of Ringebu, Norway, is a leader in the skiing world. Developed for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, this resort boasts cutting-edge amenities, including snowmaking technology covering 80% of its alpine pistes. With 23 slopes appropriate for all skill levels, Kvitfjell offers a fantastic skiing experience. Situated near the tranquil river Gudbrandsdalslågen, the resort also features a terrain park and 120km of cross-country trails.
Renowned for its role in the 1994 Winter Olympics, Kvitfjell holds a special place in skiing history. It hosted the men’s and women’s alpine speed events. It witnessed unforgettable moments, like USA’s Tommy Moe’s nail-biting victory in the downhill, where he triumphed over Norway’s Kjetil André Aamodt by a mere 0.04 seconds. Meanwhile, Germany’s Katja Seizinger claimed gold in the women’s downhill, with Picabo Street of the U.S. securing a notable second place. These thrilling competitions solidified Kvitfjell’s reputation as a premier destination for alpine ski racing on the world stage.
When and How to Watch
The women’s super-G starts at 5:00 am Eastern Time, 2:00 am Pacific Time, and 11:00 CET.
In the USA, the women’s World Cups in Kvitfjell, Norway, will be available for live viewing and as a replay on Ski & Snowboard Live.
In Canada, sports enthusiasts can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports
Start List and daily program for the Sunday, March 3rd, Kvitfjell Women’s World Cup Super-G
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The daily program for the Sunday, March 3rd, Kvitfjell Women’s World Cup Super-G
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