‘I still don’t know what happened’: Macuga grabs superb debut win to deny Venier, Brignone & Vonn
Jan 12, 2025·Alpine Skiing)
The 22-year-old Lauren Macuga (USA/Rossignol) produced the run of her young life in St. Anton on Sunday to jump ahead of a range of all-time Alpine skiing greats and grab her first ever Audi FIS World Cup win.
More than an hour after crossing the finish line in the women’s Super G Macuga was still wandering around the famous Austrian resort, bathed in smiles and shaking her head in disbelief.
But the scoreboard said it all: with a time of 1:17.51 Macuga – who had never even finished on a World Cup podium before – dominated the field, finishing a significant 0.68 seconds ahead of local hero, Stephanie Venier (AUT/Head).
Fresh from her historic downhill victory on Saturday, Federica Brignone (ITA/Rossignol) was third, 0.92 seconds back. And, 18 years her senior, Macuga’s new teammate Lindsey Vonn (USA/Head) narrowly missed out on grabbing her 138th World Cup podium place, as her remarkable comeback continued at pace. Vonn ending fourth, just ahead of defending Super G Crystal Globe champion Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI/Head).
But even Vonn, the greatest speed skier of all time, had to give way to Macuga on a challenging day down the iconic Karl Schranz track.
With the top seeds and early starters struggling with the flat light, Macuga (17th out the gate) and Venier (15th out) got fortunate with the sun making a brief appearance. But it was the Park City resident who made the most of it.
Macuga recorded her first top-10 just under a year ago and has been building steadily since, with a best Super G result of fifth in Kvitfjell in March 2024 and a fourth place in Downhill in Beaver Creek in December.
A day after ending ninth in the Downhill, the USA youngster was swift out the gate and clean throughout, flying through St. Anton’s famous Ice Fall pitch as she hit speeds of more than 116kmph.
“I still don't know what happened,” Macuga said with a laugh. “It felt like I was pushing it but I kept getting pushed late, getting low in the line but I think that actually helped me to be clean and really go into it.
“It was difficult, it was bumpy the whole way down but I lucked out with the light. The sun came out a little bit for me and I just took advantage of that and sent it.
“I didn’t think it would be a winning run. I knew it was going to be good but I guess it was.”
Macuga was skiing with a question mark tapped to her helmet, having been unable to secure a sponsor. That should not be a problem now, with the 2022 World Junior Ski Championship Downhill bronze medallist having achieved something not even Vonn has done.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe it, it’s so exciting, that’s so cool,” Macuga said when told she is the first USA skier to win a Super G in St. Anton. “I don’t even think the nerves have settled in. I am just waiting for it to hit me. I know it’s going to. It’s just so exciting. This is a dream; I have been dreaming this for ever.”
Macuga’s stunning efforts denied Venier the honour of being the first home nation winner of the Super G in St. Anton. But, a first podium finish for an Austrian in the resort since 2013 was still greeted with wild celebrations.
“The lower part I just needed a bit more direction, I was too direct but all-in-all I am really happy,” said Venier, for whom second was a first podium of the season. “That was a hard fight for me. I saw the finish and I said to myself, ‘let’s push the skis down’ and I think I did a good job.”
For a while it had looked like Brignone was going to follow up becoming the oldest ever women’s World Cup Downhill winner by also becoming the oldest Super G winner. But the 34-year-old Italian, seventh out the gate and skiing with limited visibility, was not quite clean enough to hold off the later starters.
A situation Brignone was well aware of as she crossed the line with a shake of the head.
“But at the end it was really not easy, the visibility was really awful. You could see nothing under your feet. It was really difficult to attack and do your lines. I tried my best but I knew that if the sun was coming out (it would be) a totally different race. But it is like this, this is sport.
“I am happy because even if I did a mistake I didn’t block myself, I tried. An amazing weekend, I love St. Anton.”
Vonn is another legend of the sport loving life right now. Less than 24 hours after powering to sixth in her first World Cup Downhill for six years, the 40-year-old dazzled once more in St. Anton.
The 31st starter on the course, Vonn was another battling the flat light but fans would hardly have known with the USA superstar producing the best third section of the field and flying into fourth, 0.32 seconds off the podium.
Such performances are leaving fans and pundits aghast with admiration, but for the skier herself, it is only the beginning.
“I think it was a really good step forwards. You know in St. Moritz (14th in her first race back) I was kind of getting into the rhythm and yesterday kind of gave me a lot of confidence,” a smiling Vonn said.
“I think I was a little bit more active today but the conditions were not easy. I think I made some pretty big mistakes, so to be fourth is something I am really proud of.
“I am also really proud of my teammate Lauren (Macuga). It’s really nice to be a part of such a fun team. They are all so motivated and all have a lot of talent and it’s great to see another American on top of the podium.”
With the women’s speed racers next in action in Vonn’s home-from-home, Cortina D’Ampezzo with a Downhill on 18 January and a Super G a day later, expectations are getting ever higher.
“I think I am in a good place. I really wanted to keep building every day with my results. I think it’s perfect timing coming into Cortina,” Vonn added. “I feel really confident. My equipment is getting better every day, my confidence is there. Now I just have to get that last 10-15% that I know I can get to.”
Before that the women’s technical specialists will go in the always popular night slalom in Flachau on Tuesday 14 January. What a time to be a skiing fan.
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