Sofia Goggia takes dramatic Super-G victory; Two Lombard women finish 1-2

BREAKING: Goggia Wins St. Moritz Super-G

By Sean Higgins - SkiRacing.com - December 14, 2019

Italian sensation Sofia Goggia captured her first World Cup super-G victory in over a year on Saturday, winning in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Early morning winds and fog cast some doubt on the day’s schedule but conditions managed to clear for a beautiful day of racing in the Swiss Alps.

Goggia lost a pole mid-run but managed to sneak ahead of her teammate, Federica Brignone, by only 0.01 seconds for the win, posting a winning time of 1:12.96 seconds. The United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin slid onto the podium in third, 0.13 seconds back.

Following Shiffrin for the Americans in the points was Alice Merryweather in 20th and Alice McKennis in 29th.

Austria’s Michaela Heider crashed out hard during her run and had to be helped off course. An update on her condition will be added once it becomes available.

For complete race coverage, click here.


Top 10

1. Sofia Goggia (ITA) – 1:12.96
2. Federica Brignone (ITA) – +0.01
3. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – +0.13
4. Nicole Schmidhofer (AUT) – +0.30
5. Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) – +0.72
6. Nina Ortlieb (AUT) – +0.87
6. Corrine Suter (SUI) – +0.87
6. Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR) – +0.87
9. Tessa Worley (FRA) – +0.93
10. Viktoria Rebensburg (GER) – +0.96

For complete results, click here.


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Sofia Goggia wins women’s superG in St. Moritz 2) Federica Brignone Alpine Skiing Italy Sport Ski

Alpine Ski Racing Coach's Corner


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Apparently the video highlights are protected by copyright, as least for a period of time.

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Nadia Fanchini - Pyeongchang likely last chance to win an Olympic medal for Camunian Alpine skiier

Lovere is considered a part of the Val Camonica. Nadia competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino and 2014 in Sochi, Russia; but nagging injuries have hampered her biggest chances. She has always been spoken of in terms of "potential." After undergoing surgery early last summer, she has rebounded strong this winter; including a bronze medal in the downhill at the World Championships last month in Austria. Fanchini was bested by fellow Italian teammates Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone; all three Lombards ('Goggia leads Italian sweep at World Cup downhill'). Now 31, it appears that Nadia is poised to make a strong effort in what is probably her last chance at Olympic glory.

Nadia Fanchini (Wikipedia)

Nadia Fanchini (NBC Olympics)

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Other Lombard Alpine skiiers

Sofia Goggia - Budding 25 year old superstar from Bergamo

Federica Brignone - Primed and ready 27 year old from Milan

Irene Curtoni - 32 year old veteran French-born skiier of Valtellinese descent

Bergamasque Sofia Goggia

 
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Sandro Viletta wins gold in Alpine skiing

 
Sandro Viletta 28 won the Alpine Skiing Men's Super Combined Slalom on Friday. He seemingly is of Lombard-Swiss ancestry as he is apparently from the native ethnic-Valtelline region of Graubünden. He's actually from a Romansh village. Christof Innerhofer 29 of Italy (South Tyrol) won the bronze.

Nadia Fanchini from the Val Camonica came in tenth in the Alpine Skiing Ladies' Super-G. While there is no Olympic medal for "10th best in the world," she has proven that she is indeed among the best after numerous lingering injuries. Federica Brignone from Milan has also been competing at these Olympics. Julia Mancuso, who was already the most successful American in Alpine skiing, at least added a bronze medal.


USA-Russia Hockey

This U.S. team appears to be better than they have been in a good while. Basically it's the "NHL Americans" vs. the "NHL Russians." It's very different than USA-Russia in 1980. In any case, they're very evenly matched and may even meet in the final this coming week.

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Fanchini sisters from Val Camonica now competing in the Winter Olympics

Above: Nadia Fanchini celebrates her silver medal in downhill at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2013.

All three of the Fanchini sisters--Nadia, Elena, and Sabrina--are competing now at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. All have been plagued with injuries in the past, but have shown flashes of brilliance. They seem to be healthy now, so this is their chance. Nadia is the best known of the three, and was #9 in the world in Alpine skiing in 2009, as well as winning the silver medal in the downhill a year ago at the world championships.

I find it difficult following the games as there are so many events covered every day and broadcast on four channels about twenty hours a day. On DirectTV's MSNBC, there's an interactive guide which helps. Basically, the evenings are when the major competitions are broadcast.

It's easy to see that things must go "just right" to achieve a medal. American skier Bode Miller, who had done so well in the past week, was just off and couldn't get on track. He has one more chance. So far, snowboarder Jamie Anderson from South Lake Tahoe has given the best performance by an American that I have seen so far. She made it look so easy. Julia Mancuso from Nevada County, California near Tahoe, competes tonight. She is the most decorated American Olympic Alpine skier of all-time and is still only 29.

I think the snowboarding, which is relatively new in the Olympics, has really been a big draw for the Winter Games.. and the Americans are really good at it. Shaun White has been the biggest star in recent years, and now Jaime Anderson will be right up there too. Snowboarding is like the Winter version of surfing. Even the laid back attitudes are similar.

 
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Fanchini, together with the three sisters finally ... "End of the World!"

Gianmario Bonzi - SnowAlps.com - September 19, 2013

The Brescia Montecampione support each other in Ushuaia. Nadia manages its knees, but still trains in three specialties; Elena studied to improve the position in egg, Sabrina finds the feelings right after the injury.

Just to get a taste, waiting for the most important tasks, one is already back on the top step of the podium, while in the non-competitive South American Cup But, it is said in the'' environment of sport, winning is always good no matter at what level. It helps morale. And the moral of the sisters Fanchini of Montecampione (Brescia), is certainly high, at this moment: Sabrina, born in 1988, Nadia, 86, and Elena'', 85'' you are finally together, all three, in the long South American trip that precedes by one month or so'' the beginning of the World Cup alpine skiing from 2013 to 2014.

Although aggregated at different teams, with Sabrina & Nadia and Team slalom-giant (but'' the last trains at speed) and Elena in the falling-super-G. Nadia and Elena have won the World Cup and also won world championship medals, the hope is that we can succeed even tinier. Sabrina, by the way, is back on skis for a few months, after the'' last left knee injury suffered almost a year ago in North America. And now back also feels good sensations on skis: "All'' beginning it was hard to ski, but slowly I'm finding confidence, I am very satisfied with my growth here in Ushuaia because every day I improve. I worked on all , and two disciplines, and giant slalom, with an eye more for wide doors. "

Elena must be able to exploit its enormous potential, which is only seen at times in the last four seasons: "Everything is going well in Argentina - he says - we discesiste abbamo placed two blocks of training, one of six days and the'' more than five days, divided as follows: three downhill, super-G 4, 2, and one giant slalom. I'm concentrating primarily to improve the position and egg on'' attitude right to take to deal with each descent.' And very nice to be here in Ushuaia all three together,'' is a bit like being at home, we help if we have any problem and then of course we have fun, as forever."

Nadia Finally, it handles well for the moment, maybe stopping one lap earlier companions to be easy too his knees operated four times. "We did a really good job, all concentrated initially on giant. Thereafter, from September 6, since I came the other companions of teams, I trained in super-G and downhill. I feel good, pain in the knees is under control, of course - he says with a touch of negativity that never fails, but actually hides great determination - I know I'll never be at the top, it is impossible. But now I live with this situation. And of course I will do everything back on top in the race. Not if I can, but I will try with all my strength. " Good luck to all three!

Twitter: @ gianmilan76 E-Mail: gianmariobonzi@neveitalia.it''

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Nadia Fanchini: Top Alpine skier is from the Camunian Valley

It's interesting that Nadia is the same age as Lindsay Vonn and Julia Mancuso, whom we have covered on the other blog. She missed the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver due to injuries however. She did compete in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino. She holds a victory in the Super-G event at the 2008 World Cup. So far, her best achievement was winning a bronze medal in the downhill event during the 2009 World Championships. These are pretty good signs, which show that she's fast approaching her prime. If she can avoid nagging injuries, she could be a major factor in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.

From the Nadia Fanchini Wikipedia page:

"Nadia Fanchini (born 25 June 1986 in Lovere)[1] is an Italian alpine skier. She was born and lives in Val Camonica. She is the sister of Elena Fanchini, also an alpine skier.

"She came 3rd in downhill in the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Lake Louise 2006 and Sestriere 2008.[2] She represented Italy at the 2006 Winter Olympics and won a bronze medal in the Downhill at the 2009 Alpine Skiing World Championship in Val d'Isère."

Fanchini gets world cup win (video)

[Universal Sports on YouTube doesn't allow imbedding]

"2008, Lake Louise, Canada, FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup, Womens Super G, Nadia Fanchini of Italy, continues her stunning weekend. Yesterday she got 2nd in the downhill and today her first win, moving her up to 7th in the cup. (Universal Sports, UniversalSports.com)"

It's pretty cool to see her in that World Cup video, on this side of the Atlantic. In fact, in the Pacific Northwest. Lake Louise is located in the province of Alberta, on the British Columbia border. At the risk of sounding a little silly, she's pretty cute, as a google image search would show.

Nadia Fanchini profile (The Ski Channel Television Network):

Nadia Fanchini
Country: Italy
Date of Birth: June 25, 1986
Hometown: Val Camonica (Lovere)
Height: 5'5"
Sport: Skiiing Alpine
Birthplace: Val Camonica
Weight: 143 lbs.
Website: http://sorellefanchini.it/

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