Kildow 4th, Mancuso 5th in San Sicario DH

January 27, 2007
SAN SICARIO, ITALY – (USST News Bureau Release) – Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO) was fourth and Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) fifth Saturday in a World Cup downhill won by Austrian Renate Goetschl, who reclaimed the World Cup points lead. Two other U.S. women broke into the top 30.

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On the 2006 Olympic speed run where she was fourth last February, Goetschl made it 44 wins in her career, six this season – and two in 24 hours – with a time of 1:51.65 to lead an Austrian podium sweep. Kildow, who was second Friday behind Goetschl in a super G, the track where she had an Olympic training crash that hospitalized her overnight last February, finished fourth in 1:53.15 with Mancuso timed in 1:53.36.

Kildow: Goetschl’s not bulletproof
Goetschl leads the downhill and super G points list. Mancuso remains third overall – second in DH, fourth in super G while Kildow, still fifth overall, is third in both DH and super G; the women run another SG Sunday, their last race before the World Championships open next Saturday in Are, Sweden.

Making it four American women in the points, Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) was 28th while Libby Ludlow (Bellevue, WA), coming out of the No. 49 start slot, was 30th.

Kildow said Goetschl obviously was in fine form – but she’s not bulletproof. “She’s definitely skiing well, but she’s not unbeatable. I think Jules and I can take her,” Kildow said.

“I thought I skied really well. I could’ve done better but I got a little late in some sections. For the most part, though, I skied well and I feel good about my skiing. This raced a lot differently than in the training run; it was totally different snow.”

Coach: “Outstanding” run for Ludlow, from 49th
Mancuso said the change in snow conditions “made it faster and a lot better. The sun was a lot better, too. It was a clear and nice day…and fun.”

“This was an awesome day,” said Head Coach Patrick Riml. “It’s a pretty good result for Lindsey and Jules. In these last speed races, and over the last month, we’ve started to expect them to be on the podium every race…but this was a good one for both of them. I’m psyched about this one. And a good race for Libby and Stacey, too. Libby didn’t have a perfect run, but, starting 49th, she kept things pointed downhill and did an outstanding job; she was charging.”

Riml said Goetschl “is skiing so confidently, it’s fun to watch her. She’s on another planet…but our girls are right in there, too.”

He isn’t concerned with Kildow and Mancuso’s current standings. It’s only midseason and there are many races remaining. “They’ve been skiing consistent, been pretty fast, and this is the outcome – go out every day, give it your best…and then add up the points at the end of the season.

“There’s no sense adding up the points now because these aren’t the final standings,” Riml said.

After Sunday’s super G, these six U.S. women will head to Are, Sweden, for the World Championships, which begin Saturday.

For complete results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?cal_suchsector=AL&event_id=21936.