Vonn ready for men in alpine skiing

24 Oct 2012, 12:29 pm   -   Source: AAP

Women's alpine skiing champion Lindsey Vonn is ready to take on the men but looks set to be thwarted by sport's world governing body.

Lindsey Vonn's statement of intent for the coming alpine skiing season is more than clear: she's ready to race against the men.

The sport's world governing body, the International Ski Federation (FIS), will not likely allow that, but it stands as testament to the American's continuing dominance of the women's disciplines on the circuit.

FIS will decide next month whether Vonn can race against the men in the Canadian resort of Lake Louise, her proviso being that she must be able to race the women's series of races a week later.

"If it's not possible to do the women's World Cup race in Lake Louise, then I definitely won't race with the men either," Vonn said.

The FIS answer is likely to be a resounding 'no', given she would be given an unfair advantage if she has a longer time training and racing on the same slope.

Vonn, 28, last year claimed her fourth overall title in five seasons based on her strengths in the speed disciplines of the super-G and downhill, as well as a breakthrough victory in the giant slalom.

This took her to 53 World Cup wins and 97 podiums, trailing only retired duo Annemarie Moser-Proell of Austria, with 62 victories, and Switzerland's Vreni Schneider (55).

The men's overall title last season went down to the wire, Austria's Marcel Hirscher just outpointing Switzerland's Beat Feuz in the final event.

This season, featuring 37 races and bisected by the February 5-17 World Ski Championships in the Austrian resort of Schladming, starts this weekend in nearby Soelden, and will be notable for the absence of Swiss veteran Didier Cuche.

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