American speed queen Lindsey Vonn becomes the first woman to ski the legendary Kitzbühel Streif course, accomplishing the feat at night.
American ski racer Lindsey Vonn has long been a high achiever in her illustrious ski racing career. Vonn won everything there is to win in the sport before retirement in 2019 but one last dream goal eluded her in her illustrious career, skiing the fearsome Streif in Kitzbühel, Austria.
Before racing got underway in the legendary Kitzbühel men’s race, American legend Lindsey Vonn came out of retirement for one night only to become the first female to ever ski The Strief and also the first person to ski the course at night under floodlights.
Vonn, who had not raced a downhill course in four years, said: "I've always had respect for the men that raced down the Streif, but I have even more respect now, because it's one thing to go down it and another thing to ski to win. Now I can fully understand what that means.”
The Streif is considered the greatest challenge on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup and is a race Vonn could never compete in due to only men's downhill races being held in Kitzbühel.
"Only when you ski the Streif are you a real downhiller. The Streif is the pinnacle of all downhills, the most difficult course in the world. Nobody believed I could do it. After all my injuries, to now get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to kick out of the starting gate here and fulfil my dream is incredible," said the 38-year-old.
Vonn had not raced a downhill course in four years, but she prepared intensely to push herself to the limits once again despite the severe knee injuries suffered in a career that brought Olympic gold, 82 World Cup victories and saw her crowned a multiple World Champion.
Vonn borrowed the skis from US star Ryan Cochran-Siegle and had them prepared by her former serviceman Heinz Hämmerle. Hitting speeds of more than 100km/h at night added further drama to an already intense occasion.
"I felt like I was jumping over the edge of the world. I don't think I've ever been so nervous before a start in my life. I'm a thrill seeker. I'm an adrenaline junkie, and I love pushing myself to the absolute limit, being on the verge of being scared. I live for a challenge like this," said Vonn.
Coached by her compatriot Daron Rahlves, himself a Kitzbühel winner in 2003, Rahlves said "To see Lindsey finally have a chance to ski on this track in this kind of situation is incredible. I had no doubt she could ski it, but I was questioning if she was going to really ski it with a lot of determination - I was really impressed that she did. This is true downhill, if you make one mistake, you can have some bad outcomes. But the way she just came out to own it was really impressive."
