Hutter and Nina Ortlieb took two second places and a third in the three-race overall scene at Lake Louise. It should be added. “It would be nice if we could get a top-five result again,” said Ortlieb, who, like many others on Corviglia, last skied downhill with no experience at the 2017 World Championships.

Sofia Gogia is the favorite on the 2.5 km long course with her famous “Rominger” jump. Italy’s speed queen has won two descents of the season so far, was second in the first practice session and was clearly first in the final practice session on Thursday. In 2019 she won a Super-G at the posh Swiss ski resort. The longest streak of podiums is currently held by Mikaela Shiffrin, who has finished third three times since winning the Super-G in 2018.

Light and Shadow for Puchner in St. Moritz

Mirjam Puchner, the eventual winner of the Downhill World Cup in St. Moritz. The Salzburg native, who finished fifth in the second training session, celebrated the first of his two World Cup wins in 2016 – and fourth and fifth in Canada. “I believe many people, including Austria, have the potential to bow to Sofia. We don’t need to hide there,” the Salzburg native said.

In contrast, bad memories are always associated with Puchner in Engadin. A year after her victory, she fractured her lower leg while training for the World Cup downhill, which required four surgeries. “It’s important for me to create a good feeling there, because I need it there. I’m always very nervous here at the beginning,” Puchner said. This is “certainly due to a fall on the descent”, which “repeatedly appears, especially during the first turn after returning”. However, the 30-year-old was confident that she could hide it during the race. He was never better than 19th in the four Super-GSs he ran after his fall at St. Moritz.

Siebenhofer sees himself ready

Hutter, who finished eighth behind Ortlieb and ahead of Ramona Siebenhofer in the second training session, sees herself prepared for the poor visibility expected on Friday: “Unleash your ease, trust and really get through it all. I hope That’s how we picked up the pace from Canadian skiing nice and smart. You have to turn your head. That means fighting and opening up the racing line.” After Vincent Krichmayer’s win in Groden, the ÖSV women are now looking to follow suit. Ortlieb: “We have what it takes to win.”

Kristina Egger and Tamara Tipler, who finished twelfth in the second training session, secured internal qualifying in the wider Austrian pace team. Nicole Schmidthofer boxed it out of the team by a margin of 0.07 seconds. The “full attack” declared by Tipler has paid off for them, at least in the red-white-red area. Schmidthofer took it sporty: “Tamara wasn’t allowed to drive in Lake Louise. You just have to give it your all to be there.” The Styrian can hold out hope for Saturday, but at least one of the other Austrians will have to miss out on the top 20.