Cortina - SG prediction

Sofia Goggia will win Super G gold.

    I picked Breezy DH because she was due for a winning run, was way stoked, and her 2022 Cortina backstory demanded triumphant resolution. Twice before I’ve felt certain of major athletic results: Oakland beating Washington in 1984 Super Bowl; Corinne Suter winning DH at Beijing. (Redskins edged Raiders earlier in the season, but Marcus Allen and Mark Haynes didn’t play. I knew Allen would score a touchdown; Haynes would prevent a touchdown. Corinne was at the top of her game, coming off a WAWC win. And she excels in big events. (If only I were a betting man…)

    Now I may be back to flipping coins.

    I really like Sofia Goggia to win the Super G. She leads the WAWC standings by 60 points over Alice Robinson, in a very competitive season with just four completed races. She has a 1^st, 2^nd, 3d, and 6^th; Alice and Lindsey are only others to have two podiums. Lindsey is, alas, gone; Alice is in a weird GS space, though with a 6^th only 0.51 back in last SG looks in tune on the long boards.

    Cortina SuperG is a big race. A gold for Goggia seals her spectacular career as a Legacy. It’s bogus to emphasize the Olympics so, since I disdain them within the WAWC big picture, but if I’m going to engage the Games on their own populist/simplistic/absolutist terms, then I have to say it. An SG silver or bronze for Sofia seals her spectacular career as a Legacy, too. A podium finish at any WAWC race shows excellence. She wants it badly; she’s in fine SG form. I think she’ll come through.

    Though just turned 24, Alice Robinson is well into her career. Freaking out everyone in GS at 19 put her in the spotlight. A couple funky seasons, then EOS GS 2^nd last year and picked for title easily, by many/most folks this year, she’s suddenly way off-song in her signature discipline. But Super-G is suddenly spectacular, with a 1^st and 2^nd first two races. Then a wild spill at Tarvisio, hitting penultimate gate and spinning across finish on her back for 36^th place. She was running podium time; fortunately uninjured. 6^th at Crans Montana not shabby. Alice wants an Olympic medal--SG is the race to gun for it under less pressure.

   I’m picking Robinson a lock for T4. Hedging for podium because I think Emma Aicher and Conny Huetter will ski very well, and I’m saving a spot for Romane Miradoli, who's au point. Romane’s done well at Cortina SG—3d in 2024 and 5^th in 2023. She’s 4^th in the standings, with a 2^nd and 4^th top finishes. Such panache, railing it.

    Kajsa Lie has underperformed in SG, based upon last season. But I think she’ll uncork one at Cortina. She’s done well so far at the Games—7^th in both DH runs, main event and combined leg. Kajsa also has that blonde Nordic flash every Olympics requires at least once on the podium. Ragnhild Mowinckel graced us, now it’s Kajsa’s gig.

   As for “surprises,” look for Keely Cashman and our old friend Ester Ledecka. Keely’s way fast, seeking top-to-bottom consistency for a while/too long. Fine 5^th at Tarvisio a few weeks ago for best WAWC SG finish. Wants in on the USA Alpine success. Erratic in WAWC this season (though with an SG 3d), Ester’s steamed re Snowboard Parallel GS elimination. I think she’ll go for broke.

    Never count out Breezy.