Simard scores maiden World Cup win
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy -- Canadian Genevieve Simard claimed her maiden World Cup skiing victory in a super-G race on Wednesday at Cortina D'Ampezzo.
The 23-year-old beat Germany's Maria Riesch by 0.65 seconds with a time of one minute 13.05 seconds down a Olympia delle Tofane course bathed in sunshine.
Germany's Hilde Gerg, winner of the last super-G in Veysonnaz, was third as the pre-race favorites failed to shine in the Dolomites.
Simard, who won from 17th starting position, showed her promise in that last race in Switzerland on Sunday with a strong sixth place. She was also fourth in super-G at last year's world championships.
"It was a dream come true," Simard said. "I've wanted to win a World Cup race since I was a little kid."
Gerg, who won the last super-G on the circuit in Veysonnaz, Switzerland on Sunday, vaulted ahead of Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister atop the super-G standings. Dorfmeister finished a surprising 25th.
Caroline Lalive of the United States was fourth, 0.85 seconds behind, for her best result since injuring her knee in Innsbruck last season.
Pre-race favorite Renate Goetschl, who competed with an injured thumb after crashing on Sunday, finished seventh, and Goetschl's fellow Austrian Alexandra Meissnitzer, who won a super-G in Megeve, France earlier this season, came in 12th.
Overall World Cup leader Anja Paerson of Sweden had trouble with a gate midway through her run that also affected several other skiers. She finished 20th, 1.68 seconds back.
Norway's Aamodt struggling
Norwegian Alpine skier Kjetil Andre Aamodt, winner of a record 19 Olympic and world championship medals, fears his comeback from injury may have to wait until next season.
"I should be able to take some pain, but with the pain I have now, it's impossible to ski," Aamodt told Norwegian online newpaper VG Nett on Wednesday.
"I knew it would be incredibly painful, but this is worse that I expected," said the 32-year-old after his first gentle run on a small slope in Oslo.
Aamodt, the only active skier to have won World Cup races in each of Alpine skiing's five disciplines, crashed in training for the first World Cup race of the season in Soelden, Austria.
"I just have to aim for next season. This will take time," Aamodt said on Wednesday.
