Sofia Goggia was alone in a class at the season-opening women’s World Cup relegation on Friday.
The Italian’s victory time at Lake Louise, Alta., Was nearly a second and a half faster than that of runner-up Breezy Johnson of the United States.
In a sport where competitors are often separated by hundredths of a second, the reigning Olympic downhill champion’s margin of victory was one eon.
The 29-year-old Goggia also extended his winning streak down the hill to five in a row from last season when he claimed the World Cup season title.
“This is the biggest advantage I’ve ever won so I’m very happy about that,” Goggia said.
“In fact, I cannot explain today’s victory. I think he was skiing normally. All I tried to do was go as straight as I could. This morning, I had a lot of thoughts on my mind, but at the starting gate I said ‘OK let’s go. You come down and try to do your best. ‘
“I had the line in mind and I tried to ski that way.”
She traversed the three-kilometer course in a time of one minute, 46.95 seconds. The 24-year-old Johnson finished second, the best of his career, at 1: 48.42.
“I was definitely hoping to be a little closer to Sofia, but she really lowered the hammer and skied amazingly,” said the American.
“She is driving the sport forward. She is really showing what women’s ski racing can be. I think men should start watching her a bit too. “
Breezy Johnson of the USA races down the track on her way to second place in the Women’s World Cup alpine ski race in Lake Louise, Alta, on Friday, December 3, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS / Frank Gunn
A second women’s downhill is scheduled for Saturday, followed by Sunday’s super-G at the Canadian ski resort in Banff National Park.
READ MORE: Sunshine Village Ski Resort in Banff is closed on Wednesdays
Last year’s Men’s and Women’s World Cups were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Austrian Mirjam Puchnor placed third on Friday with 1: 48.49.
Marie-Michele Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., Was top Canadian in 16th for her career best downhill result at Lake Louise.
“In the upper section I felt pretty good, but then I made a big mistake on the fishing net at Fall Away,” Gagnon said. “I wasted a lot of time there.”
Marie-Michele Gagnon of Canada runs the circuit at the Women’s World Cup Alpine Skiing Race in Lake Louise, Alta., On Friday, December 3, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS / Frank Gunn
Reigning world downhill champion Corinne Suter from Switzerland came in fifth. Defending World Cup champion Mikaela Shiffrin of the USA was ranked 26th.
A top 30 finish is coveted because that’s where the prize money is, but it also contributes to a top 30 starting number in future races.
Gagnon, who was the eighth woman to come out of the starting box, has another chance to improve her qualifying downhill on Saturday.
“I can be a little angrier, and have that next extra gear, that next 10 percent extra intensity,” said the Canadian.
Heavy, wet snow and poor visibility reduced last weekend’s Lake Louise Men’s World Cup from three races to a single downhill race.
READ MORE: Highway 93 section will be closed for days between Jasper and Banff due to winter storm concerns
The women completed their required training on Tuesday, but the Wednesday and Thursday sessions were suspended due to rain and the need to prepare the course for Friday’s descent.
The weather was cooperative for race day with sunny skies and a temperature of -10 C at the start.
Goggia claimed her first World Cup downhill medal at Lake Louise in 2016 when she finished second. Friday’s victory was the first at the resort west of Calgary.
Goggia was fastest in Tuesday’s practice with Gagnon in seventh place, just over a second behind.
“She’s definitely one of those people who takes risks all day of the race and I respect her a lot for that, and I think I can learn from that,” Gagnon said. “If I have it in preparation, I know there is an extra team that I need to get going on race day.
“I definitely respect her for today. Great victory “.
Gagnon’s fiancé, Travis Ganong of the US ski team, took third place in Friday’s men’s super-G in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
“It’s funny because we’ve never gotten it right on the same day,” Gagnon said. “I was like ‘I’m going to change that.’
“Okay. We both have two more races (this weekend). Maybe we’ll end that curse.”
Toronto’s Jack Crawford was the best Canadian at 12th at Beaver Creek. Broderick Thompson of Whistler, BC, turned 20 a day after winning bronze in another men’s super-G there.
Thompson has started his second season back after a catastrophic knee injury that kept him out of racing for two years.
“We were very excited for him,” Gagnon said. “It’s great to see him do so well. Nobody expected that and I love that, the story of the underdog. “
Whistler’s Stefanie Fleckenstein was 38th on Friday. Roni Remme from Collingwood, Ontario ranked 43rd and Toronto’s Candace Crawford finished 51st.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
Reference-globalnews.ca