Corinne Suter defends her title of downhill world champion on Saturday at the Méribel Worlds. But the Schwytzoise does not approach this meeting in the form of her life.
Normally, there would be no reason to worry. The lack of good results approaching this big meeting would not have mattered too much to Suter.
The Schwytzoise has not done better than 10th in the World Cup since mid-December. At the start of the season in Lake Louise, everything went like clockwork. After finishing 2nd and 3rd in the downhill, she had won the super-G. Then, in St-Moritz, she once more finished 3rd in the 1st downhill.
The situation would therefore be identical to that of the Worlds of Are 4 years ago and of Cortina 2 years ago. In Sweden, she had won silver in the downhill and bronze in the super-G without ever having finished on the podium in the World Cup. She had been to the Dolomites without getting a podium in the previous 5 weeks.
More fatigue, slower recovery
But today the feelings are different. The serious fall suffered by the Schwyzoise 3 weeks ago during the 1st descent from Cortina had repercussions. “It’s something new for me, she explains. I have never experienced this before. Above all, I feel the fatigue more and I recover less quickly.”
After the incident, Swiss-Ski said examinations revealed no serious injuries. But in reality, the skier from central Switzerland suffered a concussion.
Suter is therefore treading carefully,”because head injuries are a delicate subject. Nobody can say what is the best recipe to deal with it. I have to feel it and discover it for myself. There are concussions that you notice immediately and others whose effects you don’t feel until a month or two later. That’s why I approached him calmly.“
Mentally, the world champion has digested her fall. During the super-G on Wednesday, however, she might not do better than 20th. Suter took advantage of the 3 downhill workouts this week to find his way back to normality.
To accompany the Schwytzoise, Swiss-Ski has selected Lara Gut-Behrami, Jasmine Flury, Joana Hählen and Priska Nufer.
Read also: Nufer takes the 5th Swiss ticket for the descent
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Sofia Goggia the favorite
But the big favorite is called Sofia Goggia. The Bergamasque has never managed to win world gold despite being the best downhiller on the planet. Two years ago, she was injured and might not participate in the World Championships in Cortina. Last year, she had done everything to be present at the downhill in Beijing and had obtained Olympic silver. This year and despite a fall in St-Moritz, the Italian must go for the gold. But as with Kilde, his opponents will also ski to the limit.
Courchevel Ladies Downhill (11.02)
1. Sofia Goggia ITA 1’28″31
2. Mirjam Puchner AUT+0″46
3. Kajsa Vickhoff Lie NOR 0″50
4. Ragnhild Mowinckel NOR 0″58
5. Lara Gut-Behrami SUI 0″66
6. Jasmine Flury SUI 0″74
7. Priska Nufer SUI 0″81
8. Joana Hählen’s SUI 0″93
8. Laura Gauche FRA
10. Nina Ortlieb AUT 0″98
10. Ramona Siebenhofer AUT
12. Michelle Gisin SUI 1″16
22. Corinne Suter SUI 1″90″
The Worlds program
Sunday February 12: Gentlemen’s descent in Courchevel (11 a.m.).
Tuesday February 14: Team-Event in Méribel (12:15 p.m.).
Wednesday February 15: Men’s and women’s parallels in Méribel (12 p.m.).
Thursday February 16: Giant ladies in Méribel (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
Friday, February 17: Giant men in Courchevel (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
Saturday February 18: Ladies slalom in Méribel (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
Sunday February 19: Men’s slalom in Courchevel (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.).
The selection of Swiss-Ski
Dames (10): Aline Danioth, Andrea Ellenberger, Jasmine Flury, Michelle Gisin, Lara Gut-Behrami, Joana Hählen, Wendy Holdener, Priska Nufer, Camille Rast, Corinne Suter.