Yurkiw gets on a World Cup podium at “classic” Val d’Isere
Olympic alpine skier Larisa Yurkiw earned her second career FIS World Cup podium after a third place finish in Val d’Isere, France on Saturday.
In the women’s downhill, Yurkiw glided down the course in one minute, 44.92 seconds, edging Cornelia Huetter of Austria by 0.02s. Lara Gut of Switzerland won the race in 1:44.51 to beat the field, including her next closest competitor, national teammate Fabienne Suter (1:44.67).
Larisa Yurkiw during the downhill in Val d’Isere, France on December 19, 2015. Yurkiw finished third for her second career FIS World Cup podium.
Yurkiw, who competed for Canada at Sochi 2014, said she “made a few mistakes” on the course but was content with the outcome.
“I’m especially happy to make a podium in such a classic stage of the circuit. The ski conditions were exceptional.”
The Canadian was the fastest in downhill training in Val d’Isere at midweek, forecasting a potential podium ascent, which first happened to her on the World Cup circuit last season when Yurkiw placed second in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in January.
Larisa Yurkiw celebrates on the World Cup podium in Val d’Isere, France after a downhill third place finish on December 19, 2015.
For Gut, it was her second victory of the weekend, winning the combined event over American Lindsey Vonn by 0.01s on Friday.
Alpine Canada’s men’s team is in Val Gardena, Italy, where Erik Guay was the top Canadian in the downhill, finishing in fifth place.
