Goggia fastest in first training run before weekend of women’s races at Lake Louise

LAKE LOUISE, Alta. – Italy’s Sofia Goggia had the fastest time in the first training session as the world’s top female alpine skiers prepared for a pair of downhill races this week at Lake Louise.

Goggia sped down the hill in one minute 51.96 seconds, followed by Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec (1:52.26) and Joana Haehlen of Switzerland (1:52.54).

Marie-Michele Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., had an impressive first training run, finishing seventh in 1:53.13.

American star Mikaela Shiffrin was 17th in 1:53.86.

The skiers will get two more training runs before the first of two downhill races goes Friday. That will be followed by a downhill Saturday and a super-G race Sunday, provided the weather co-operates.

An accumulation of snow wreaked havoc on last week’s men’s World Cup stop at Lake Louise and caused the cancellation of one of two downhill races and Sunday’s event-ending super-G.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 30, 2021.