For complete coverage of 2010 Olympic Skiing, including events, competitors, schedules, and news go to the 2010 Olympic Skiing Guide.
2010 Winter Olympics Alpine Ski Racing Preview - Women's Super Combined
Just like in any premier head-to-head sports competitions where the best of the best compete, there are favorites and "also competing." Examining past performances can provide a lot of insight into future competition results. However, on any given day a "dark horse," pumped up and coming out of the blue - can win.
Be assured that on the Olympic Women's Super Combined course the favorites will be doing their absolute best. However, when the best make the tiniest mistake or let up just a little, there are a lot of racers striving for that fastest time measured in hundredths of a second. Taking a look at who came out on top and who almost won in recent competitions is a good place to start to get a feel how the Olympic racers may stack up.
Not only was last season a tune-up for the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver, BC, but it was also a World Championship race year in Val d'Isere, France. All the following statistics are culled from the International Ski Federation (FIS) data base and generated by me.
Here are the 2009 season Women's Super Combined medal and top ten finishes:
Nation - Gold, Silver, Bronze - 4-10 Finishes - Total Top Ten
USA - 1, 1, 0-0- 2
Sweden - 1,0,1- 1- 3
Germany - 1,0,0- 1 -2
Austria - 0, 2, 1 -7 -10
Switzerland - 0,0,1- 4- 5
Italy - 0,0,0-3 -3
Canada - 0,0,0- 2- 2
Slovenia - 0,0,0- 1- 1
Czechia - 0,0,0- 1- 1
France - 0,0,0- 1- 1
While Lindsey Vonn puts the U.S. on top ranking with a gold and silver, looking at the future, Austria had no gold medals, but did have 10 total top ten finishes. You have to pay attention to placing 2,4,5, and 6 in one race, and three top tens each in two other - and remember the Super Combined was only contested at three venues.
The 2009 World Championship Ladies Super Combined
I prefer to look at the World Championship races separate from the overall 2009 history. To the racers, the Worlds' are a supercharged adrenalin producing showdown that very often brings out super results from lesser known athletes. It can also cause the best to over achieve and have disastrous results.
2009 World Championship Ladies Super Combined Top Ten:
1 ZETTEL Kathrin AUT 2:20.13
2 GUT Lara SUI 2:20.69
3 GOERGL Elisabeth AUT 2:21.01
4 RIESCH Maria GER 2:21.67
5 MARCHAND-ARVIER FRA 2:22.62
6 SCHNARF Johanna ITA 2:22.68
7 FENNINGER Anna AUT 2:22.69
8 SUTER Fabienne SUI 2:22.90
9 AUBERT Sandrine FRA 2:22.98
10 FERK Marusa SLO 2:23.11
Voila! On the big day at the World Championships the Austrian women shone - 1, 3, and 7. Home team France put two in the top ten, as did Switzerland.
Stacey Cook finished a respectful 16th for the U.S.A., while an apparent silver-medal finish in this Super Combined evaporated as officials ruled that Lindsey Vonn missed a slalom gate in the second run - you can bet she'll be stoked to fix that!
