St. MORITZ, Switzerland - Lindsey Vonn's return to the World Cup skiing circuit at the age of 40 faced a setback as the second race of her comeback was canceled due to strong winds and poor visibility. Vonn, a former champion, finished 14th in the super-G race on the Corviglia course in St. Moritz on Saturday, marking her first competitive appearance in nearly six years.
Despite a slow start in the race, Vonn showed competitiveness with the top-five finishers for the remainder of the course. Her personal coach mentioned that it took her about 20 seconds to find her rhythm before performing well. Vonn had to use a wild card for former champions to start at No. 31, placing her at a disadvantage compared to the top-ranked skiers who start earlier on smoother courses.
Looking ahead, Vonn aims to improve her ranking and accumulate points in upcoming races to secure a better starting position among the competitive skiers. Her next opportunity to compete will be at the speed weekend in St. Anton, Austria, on January 11-12, featuring a downhill and a super-G event.
Following St. Anton, Vonn plans to participate in races in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with hopes of qualifying for the world championships in Saalbach, Austria, scheduled for February. Despite the cancellation of the second race in St. Moritz, Vonn remains determined to make a strong comeback and is set to return to Europe for training in early January before resuming her busy schedule of speed races.
As Vonn heads back to Miami for the holidays, her coach expressed optimism about her progress and adaptability to the challenges of competitive skiing after a long hiatus. The dynamic nature of the sport keeps Vonn and her team on their toes, adjusting strategies and goals as they navigate the demanding World Cup circuit.
For more updates on Lindsey Vonn's skiing journey and other skiing news, visit AP Skiing.
