Austrian Elisabeth Goergl leads the way heading into the second run of the women’s giant slalom after successfully negotiating the treacherous conditions at Whistler.

With thick fog and slushy snow falling on the course, visibility was minimal and 17 athletes were unable to negotiate their way to the bottom of the course.

Goergl drew bib 16 and got down the course in a time of 1:15.12 and waited in safety to watch the drama unfold before her.

United States glamour girl Lindsey Vonn was next up and took a nasty fall after hitting a bump at the wrong angle, sending her off the course, ending up in the protective fencing.

Vonn injured her arm with her place in the women’s slalom now in doubt.

“I hurt my hand and I will get an x-ray,” Vonn said. “My body is ok. I am just frustrated. I am disappointed with myself.

“I’ll see how the x-ray goes.”

In poor visibility, teammate and rival, Julie Mancuso, was next up and with officials not having noticed the delay further down the course, let Mancuso go, before quickly flagging her to stop her run.

Mancuso was forced to make a re-run but could not match the pace of the Austrian, to finish her first run in 18th position, some 1.3 seconds behind.

Taina Barioz of France lies in second position, while Austrians’ Kathrin Zettel and Evan-Maria Brem occupy the next two positions, all less than .26 seconds behind Goergl.

The second run will commence this afternoon at 13.15 (Vancouver time).

David Polglase
AOC-Vancouver