Viktoria Rebensburg edges Mikaela Shiffrin for giant slalom win at Killington

KILLINGTON, Vt. – Mikaela Shiffrin had a roaring crowd in her corner, possibly the biggest to watch a women’s World Cup race.

But it was not enough to overcome Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg in a stirring duel Saturday on Killington’s aptly named Superstar trail.

Rebensburg won her second straight World Cup giant slalom by edging Shiffrin, the overall points leader who was skiing in the state where she attended school.

The German finished two runs on Killington’s Superstar trail in 1 minute, 57.63 seconds, with Shiffrin 0.67 back. Manuela Moelgg of Italy held on for third, 1.49 seconds off the lead.

The race took place before about 18,000 fans – organizers believe it the largest crowd for a women’s World Cup race.

And what a race they saw. The second run turned into a showdown star skiers, with the last four each taking over the top spot.

Moelgg had been third after the first run and went into the lead with a strong run. Then Shiffrin took her turn. She is a product of Burke Mountain Academy in northern Vermont and was greeted with thunderous cheers as she left the gate. The noise followed her all the way down the course. She had a great run and wound up 0.82 seconds ahead of Moelgg.

But the day belonged to Vebensburg, who had a superlative second run despite what she described as a big mistake at the top of the course. She said she was surprised she came out on top, and by the margin of victory.

“Sometimes when you make a mistake, you know you have to charge, to go 100 percent,” Rebensburg said. “Sometimes mistakes can make you faster.”

Still, Shiffrin was pleased with her progress in giant slalom since the opener in Soelden.

“This was a step in the right direction,” she said, adding she felt more confident at Killington. She made a few adjustments to her equipment and her attitude.

“I felt like I made some good turns,” she said.

Stephanie Brunner of Austria was fourth in 1:59.28 and Federica Brignone of Italy was fifth in 1:59.38. Tessa Worley of France – the giant slalom winner at Killington last season in the first World Cup race held at the resort – was sixth.

The sunshine that greeted the racers for the first run gave way to thick clouds as the second run progressed. It was spitting rain by the time the last skiers took to the course. The overcast made it difficult to see, what racers call flat light conditions.

Rebensburg said she was praying it wouldn’t start raining hard before she got out of the gate.

“We train in all kinds of weather, on all kinds of snow,” she said. “We know how to handle it. When you’re in good shape, it really doesn’t matter.”

Rebensburg was surprised by the many fans and said Killington is building a great reputation with the skiers.

“The crowd cheers for everyone,” she said. “And this just a well-organized event. The good conditions make it possible for us to have a really good race, and race at the highest level.”

The World Cup circuit returned to Killington and Vermont this year after a successful weekend of racing in 2016.

“East Coast fans are just incredible,” Shiffrin said. She mentioned a message she’d received from a fan before Saturday’s race. “It said, `We’re not here to watch you win, we’re here to support you.“’

The day of racing began with a moment of silence for David Poisson, the French skier who was killed Nov. 13 while training in Canada.

Racing continues at Killington on Sunday with the women’s slalom. Shiffrin won the slalom at Killington last year.

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta (AP) – World champion Beat Feuz of Switzerland won the season-opening men’s World Cup downhill Saturday.

Feuz finished in 1 minute, 43.76 seconds to edge Austria’s Matthias Mayer of Austria by just under a tenth of a second. Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal was third.

“I’ve fallen twice in Lake Louise, but this is also the second time I’ve been on the podium.” Feuz said. “With the Rocky Mountains and everything, it’s a great place for me.”

In memory of French skier David Poisson, who died Nov. 13 in a training accident at nearby Nakiska ski resort, the racers had heart-shaped stickers with his initials on their helmets and their race bibs bore his name.

“I’m really happy to see that the whole ski family stood together and also that the French team participated today,” Feuz said. “The stickers on the bib and the helmet is a beautiful gesture to remember David.”

Adrien Theaux topped the Frenchmen in seventh.

“That was gutsy, brave, but an important decision not only for the French guys, but for all of us,” Svindal said. “Them being so brave about it makes it easier for other teams. No one would have gained from us cancelling this race and going home.”

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) – American skater Nathan Chen locked up a spot in his second straight Grand Prix Final, winning the men’s competition at Skate America despite a disappointing free skate Saturday.

Countryman Adam Rippon finished second and also qualified despite falling and dislocating his right shoulder on his first jump.

Chen struggled on a few of his five quad jump attempts, including a fall on a quad flip early in the program. The 18-year-old emerging star was second behind Rippon in the free skate with 171.76 points and won with a two-day total of 275.88s.

Chen finished second at last year’s Final. This year’s event is next month in Japan.

Rippon skated almost flawlessly after popping his arm back into place on the ice, punching his Final ticket with a 177.41 and 266.45 total.

Russia’s Sergei Voronov was third at 257.49 and also earned a Final spot. Ross Miner, the other U.S. skater, finished sixth.

Israel’s Daniel Samohin withdrew after dislocating his left shoulder on a fall. Samohin’s arm dangled at his side as he skated off, and at least one young girl in the stands cried as he left.