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Lindsey Vonn would have rather competed at the Birds of Prey World Cup — the first women’s downhill on the legendary Beaver Creek course.
But forerunning Saturday’s event ended up being pretty special, too.
“I think this is the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen for a forerunner in my life,” Vonn said. “I got a cheer just like as if I was racing. So, the community has been really supportive and everyone here has been so amazing and it made today feel really special.”
Vonn garnered the necessary FIS points to make a World Cup start by racing at Copper Mountain last weekend, but the most up-to-date FIS points list wasn’t released in time for her to compete in Beaver Creek on Saturday or Sunday. She plans to make her World Cup comeback in St. Moritz on Dec. 21-22.
“It’s not my fault, I did everything I could, but it’s how the cookie crumbled,” the 40-year-old said. “I will race next weekend.”
Vonn spent Saturday sending up race reports to her U.S. Ski Team comrades. They must have paid off: 22-year-old Lauren Macuga posted a career-best fourth-place finish.
“I’ve been around for long enough to know that when we help each other we all do better,” Vonn said. “They don’t need me to be successful, but if I can help them in any way, I always will.”
Saturday’s podium — Cornelia Hütter, 32, Sofia Goggia, 32, and Lara Gut-Behrami, 33 — almost harkened back to the Vonn era explicitly.
“It’s all the same players, just a different day,” Vonn remarked. “And I know what it takes to win with these competitors. Hopefully I’m able to get my equipment really dialed in 100% so I can execute the way I know I can.”
Her competitors are pleased to see her return, too.
“I’m really happy to have her back,” Goggia said after finishing second on Saturday.
During her forerunning duties, Vonn said she was going “about 85%.” She didn’t pay attention to the time, but knows there were places she could have tucked.
“I wanted to make sure I made all the gates,” she said before adding that she’s still tinkering with equipment. “I changed some things from yesterday and today, so I never like to go 100% when I change equipment. That’s a little sketchy, especially in this kind of a downhill.”
At St. Moritz, Vonn will go full gas.
“I never give everything I have until it’s race day. I just don’t feel it’s necessary to take those risks, especially now. And when I feel comfortable, then I know what I’m capable of,” she continued. “I’m really close.”
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