Ski Club Vail alum Lindsey Vonn today became the second American woman to win the World Cup overall title, but the enormity of the accomplishment was hard for her to grasp.
“It’s just weird,” Vonn said from Bormio, Italy, after she finished 11th in today’s slalom to clinch the title. “It doesn’t seem like it’s happening to me. I’ve always been the one who admired everyone and wanted to be like everyone else. Now I’m that person. It’s a really weird feeling.”
It’s been 25 years since Tamara McKinney became the first American woman to win the crystal globe that goes to the World Cup champion, the most coveted title in skiing. Vonn also won the World Cup downhill title, passing her idol Picabo Street for downhill wins in the process.
“I’ve surpassed my idols,” Vonn said. “Now, hopefully, I’m someone that kids can look up to, as I looked up to Picabo. It’s cool, but it’s strange at the same time to be in that position — especially since I’m only 23.”
Bode Miller won the men’s overall — his second in four seasons — and Ted Ligety claimed the men’s giant slalom title with a victory in today’s final GS race. Arguably their accomplishments constitute the greatest American ski season ever.
“I think it’s the greatest day in the history of the alpine team for sure,” said Bill Marolt, chief executive of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association, who was alpine director of the team in 1983 when McKinney and Phil Mahre both won overall titles — the first and only other time Americans have swept them.
Vonn won two silver medals at the world championships last year, but World Cup titles mean more to skiers because they represent excellence throughout the grueling World Cup season. Today’s slalom was Vonn’s 32nd race since October.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Vonn said. “This season I was just trying to win the downhill title. Now here I am ending the season with the downhill title and an overall title. I just never would have dreamed that would have happened this year.
“I still can’t even believe it, and I probably won’t realize the magnitude of it until I get the globe (Saturday) night.”
Vonn, Ligety and Miller have competed nearly every weekend since Thanksgiving in 11 countries.
“To maintain your competitive edge, to maintain your physical conditioning, and just to put up with the grind of travel, these are remarkable athletes,” said Marolt, reached at Winter Park where he was involved in a ski team fundraiser. “I know there are a lot of athletes out there in the world of sport, but I don’t know that any (other) have the challenge these athletes face.”
Vonn, who moved to Vail from Minnesota when she was 13 to join Ski Club Vail and expand her racing repertoire beyond slalom, felt relief and excitement to wrap up the overall. She took an almost insurmountable lead Thursday with a second-place finish in super-G.
“I think yesterday was more relief and today was more excitement,” Vonn said. “Yesterday I was able to relax a little bit and realize it was pretty much done and I didn’t have to stress anymore. Today was more excitement. I sealed the deal and I knew I’m going to get the globe tomorrow night.”
Vonn closed it out in style, posting the fastest second run of the day en route to her best slalom result of the season.
“That was a great way to close it out,” Vonn said.
Vonn won six World Cup races this season — five downhills and a super-combined — and had four more top-three finishes.
Ligety won an Olympic gold medal in combined at the 2006 Turin Olympics but said the significance of the GS title surpassed that “tenfold” because it was so much more difficult to win.
“The Olympics is a huge event and it’s super-important in its own right, but it’s only one race and so much can happen in one race,” said Ligety, who is from Park City, Utah. “To be able to consistently lay down awesome results all year long is much more special.”
After Ligety won today to clinch his GS title, Vonn sprayed champagne on him.
“He was a riot, he was so excited,” Vonn said. “He just had an amazing run today, and I couldn’t have been happier for him.”
Vonn later cut Ligety’s shoulder-length hair into a mullet, settling a bet Ligety made with his coaches.
“It looks pretty unbelievable,” Vonn laughed.
Vonn is a newlywed, having married former U.S. Ski Team racer Thomas Vonn last fall.
“It’s so great, and she deserves everything that’s happening to her,” Thomas Vonn said. “No one is kinder, no one is more humble, no one works harder. She definitely deserves everything that’s happening to her. She’s worked so hard and it’s great to see it happening.”
Lindsey Vonn wanted to thank her family.
“They have done so much for me, and I couldn’t have made it this far without them,” she said. “And to Thomas, for being there for me, supporting me, helping me follow my dream. It’s been a really, really cool journey and I can’t wait to continue on.”
