Vincent Kriechmayr from Austria showcased exceptional skills in navigating tough conditions to clinch victory in a World Cup super-G event at Beaver Creek, Colorado. The competition was cut short after 31 racers due to strong winds. Kriechmayr completed the challenging Birds of Prey course in 1 minute, 6.77 seconds, narrowly edging out Fredrik Moeller from Norway by 0.56 seconds. His compatriot, Raphael Haaser, secured the third spot. Toronto’s James Crawford was the leading Canadian, finishing seventh, 1.30 seconds behind.
Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland encountered a frightening crash as the 14th racer but managed to get back on his feet. Subsequently, the race faced interruptions first due to snowfall after Von Allmen’s incident and then because of high winds with Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil waiting to start. Ultimately, the event was canceled altogether.
Kriechmayr commented on the challenging race conditions, expressing concerns about fairness post Von Allmen’s crash. No racer after the initial delay managed to break into the top 10. Notably, Swiss standout Marco Odermatt, who triumphed in the season-opening super-G in nearby Copper Mountain, struggled and finished fifth, 1.23 seconds behind Kriechmayr.
Odermatt’s streak of top 10 finishes in World Cup super-G races continued, reaching 26 races. Kriechmayr secured his 19th World Cup victory, marking his 24th podium finish in the super-G discipline, placing him alongside Stephan Eberharter in second place among Austrian male skiers. Hermann Maier holds the record with 38 super-G World Cup podium finishes.
River Radamus was the top American in 12th place, followed by Ryan Cochran-Siegle in 13th, a day after his second-place finish in the downhill event. The races at Beaver Creek will wrap up with a giant slalom event. Live coverage can be watched on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.