If you wanted a reminder of just how unforgiving Super-G can be, Tarvisio delivered it on Sunday, December 18. On a demanding Italian track with a foggy top-section that asked for every speed skill in the book—glide, edge control, nerve, and timing—Germany’s Emma Aicher put together another statement run, taking the win and continuing what has quickly become one of the most impressive breakout seasons on the women’s World Cup.
The 22-year-old held off Lindsey Vonn by 0.27 seconds, with Czech two-sport superstar Ester Ledecká rounding out the podium nearly a second behind the young German. But while Aicher’s fourth career win confirmed her meteoric rise, the race will also be remembered for a terrifying late crash by Alice Robinson that dramatically reshaped the season’s Super-G standings. Thankfully, the Kiwi skier appeared unhurt but the crash had Aicher and Italian speed star Sofia Goggia craning their necks in the finish area to make sure the Wonder from Downunder was okay. ”Dramatic end of the race today… very very grateful that everything seems to be ok at this stage aside from some bruises,” the 24-year-old wrote later on her social media accounts.
Starting Sunday’s Super-G was Laura Pirovano who set the pace 1:15.30. She was unseated by Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann in bib 3, who undercut her time by just 0.04 seconds. The German held the lead until Aicher in bib 5 attacked the course. From the start, Aicher shot into the lead and skied with confidence and flawless technique to victory, beating her teammate by a mind-boggling 1.22 seconds. Despite nearly missing the penultimate gate after the final jump, she crossed the line knowing she had laid something down. “I’m pretty happy with how I skied from top to bottom,” Aicher said. “It was a nice course—fun to ski—but hard to be fast.”
The only one to come close to beating Aicher was Lindsey Vonn, who once again proved that her comeback was not a media stunt. The 41-year-old led Aicher through the early splits but couldn’t quite close it out on the bottom, settling for second place, marking her seventh podium in eight races this season. “I was disappointed in the way I skied the bottom,” Vonn admitted. “I don’t think I took the fastest line.” Still, it was another massive points day. Vonn now sits second in the Super-G standings with 190 points, just ten behind leader Sofia Goggia, and fourth overall in the World Cup standings.
The only person that one could have expected to shake up the standing was Alice Robinson in bib 14, who entered the race leading the Super-G standings. However, she could not quite match Aicher and Vonn’s pace on the mid-section, falling slightly behind. While a podium was possible for the New Zealand ski racer, instead the race ended with a dramatic crash, when Robinson lost her balance after the jump at high speed and suffered a violent fall that looked genuinely scary from the finish area. She slid across the line on her back, eventually recording a 36th-place finish—but crucially earning no Super-G points. Thankfully, she assured everyone in the finish that she was okay, although the RedBull athlete looked to be in tears.
Ester Ledecka in bib 15 jumped on the podium with a fast and furious run that saw the Czech ski racer finish 0.94 seconds behind Aicher. It showed once again that the Olympic gold medalist can certainly be a podium contender again in the upcoming 2026 Winter Games. Ledecka, who also snowboards, will compete in the Super-G at Cortina d’Ampezzo but will be unable to compete in Downhill due to a scheduling conflict.
The crash dropped Robinson from first to third in the season Super-G rankings, now sitting on 180 points behind Goggia (200) and Vonn (190). In the overall season standings, Mikaela Shiffrin continues to lead the World Cup, followed by Camille Rast and Emma Aicher, with Vonn holding fourth.
Beyond Vonn’s podium, it was a solid team performance for Team USA. Keely Cashman rebounded in a big way, finishing fifth after a disappointing 43rd in Saturday’s downhill, Jacqui Wiles finished in 19th, Allison Mollin in 20th, Breezy Johnson in 25th, and Haley Cutler in 27th place. Just outside the points were Mary Bocock (33rd), Tricia Mangan (37th), and Isabella Wright (45th).
The Taravisio Super-G marks the end of the Olympic qualifying period. Team announcements will be made tomorrow, January 20, with Team USA being limited to four skiers per discipline and 11 women in total for alpine skiing.
Aicher’s victory at Tarvisio marks her fourth World Cup victory of her young career. A year ago, Aicher had never even stood on a World Cup podium. Now she has seven podiums across three disciplines, firmly establishing herself as the best young all-around skier on the tour. Meanwhile, Vonn’s podium marks her 145th career podium in a career that is now in its 21st season—almost as many seasons as Aicher is old. It is the second time this season Aicher has pipped the seasoned American skier, after beating her in one of two downhill races in St. Moritz in December.
