Lindsey Vonn‘s pursuit of the World Cup women’s wins record was delayed by at least one day due to an overnight storm and heavy winds destroying the finish area and damaging other parts of the downhill course in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria, on Saturday.
The downhill race was canceled. Organizers hope to race the scheduled super-G on Sunday (5 a.m. ET).
“It’s pretty brutal,” International Ski Federation women’s race director Atle Skaardal said, according to The Associated Press. “The storm came in at 5.30 a.m. and destroyed everything within two hours. The local organizers are very motivated to fight for Sunday’s race. We have to build up everything again and must see what’s possible.”
Vonn, who is one shy of the record of 62 victories, is better in downhill than super-G. If she does not match Austrian legend Annemarie Moser-Proell on Sunday, she can try again next weekend in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and the following weekend in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Ted Ligety’s title hopes dented with poor result Saturday
Finally I figured out this downhill course and we have a wind storm...ugh. Race is canceled. #badtime
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) January 10, 2015
That's a new one.. Downhill race cancelled 'cause the finish area blew away.. Not so fast, finish area! We have another race tomorrow 🏁
— Larisa Yurkiw (@larisaYurkiw) January 10, 2015
Some of the damage caused by the violent winds in @kleinkirchheim. Heap of work to get everything back in place. pic.twitter.com/cQTL9GVOa7
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) January 10, 2015
Der Sturm hat den Zielraum in BKK zerstört. @srfsport #srfski pic.twitter.com/TmbkLXykas
— Jann Billeter (@JannBilleter) January 10, 2015
Hopefully @cortinadolomiti can pick up the canceled DH from today. Would really love another race there. One of my favorites!
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) January 10, 2015