World champion Lindsey Vonn reaffirmed her status as the queen of the Canadian Rockies after recording her sixth FIS World Cup down hill victory at Lake Louise, Alberta in as many years.
The 25-year-old American defied treacherous skiing conditions following a heavy snowfall to clock a time of one minute, 26.13 seconds to win the season-opening race and take her tally of World Cup down hill victories up to 13.
'I knew I had to go out there and attack and I did' - Lindsey Vonn
She came home 0.52 seconds clear of local favourite Emily Brydon while her great friend and rival Maria Riesch of Germany finished third to complete the podium.
Vonn, who arrived at the finish line with blood streaming from her mouth after slamming her knee into her jaw early in the run, said: "I've always had a lot of confidence on this hill, it definitely suits my strengths and I think every year I just keep the momentum going.
“I have confidence from the year before, I know what I have to do and I just go out there and execute. I knew I had to go out there and attack and I did."
Despite already equalling Katja Seizinger’s record of six wins at Lake Louise this weekend, the twice overall world champion knows she still has plenty of work to do with another downhill race to come ahead of Sunday’s Super-G.
Vonn, who is refusing to take anything for granted, added: "It's always hard to win back-to-back races no matter what the discipline is. There are so many variables but tomorrow I will go out there and try and do the same thing."
FIS World Cup Down Hill – Lake Louise
Result:
1 L Vonn (US) 1min 26.13secs
2 E Brydon (Can) 1:26.65
3 M Riesch (Ger) 1:26.93
4 B Janyk (Can) 1:27.22
5 M Holaus (Aut) 1:27.44
6= A Paerson (Swe) 1:27.54
6= D Gisin (Sui) 1:27.54
8 F Aufdenblatten (Sui) 1:27.57
9 A Revillet (Fra) 1:27.64
10 J Mancuso (US) 1:27.78
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