Vonn crashes as Shiffrin scores first downhill podium in Lake Louise

She had been expected to add to her Lake Louise legend, but Lindsey Vonn crashed in the women’s World Cup downhill opener as Mikaela Shiffrin scored her first podium in the speed event Friday.

The 33-year-old Vonn has won 18 World Cup races at the Alberta resort, often nicknamed “Lake Lindsey” because of her prowess, but she caught an edge in the Claire’s Corner section while leading and careered into safety netting.

There was a lengthy delay as officials attended to her before Vonn was able to ski slowly down to the finish.

Afterwards she tweeted: “Well that hurt… had a nice lead the whole way down but caught my inside ski. That’s ski racing though! I’ll be sore tomorrow but will rest up tonight and barring anything major I will be racing. Can’t keep me down.”

Austrian Cornelia Huetter won the race in one minute 48.53 seconds with Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein second and slalom specialist Shiffrin third, three tenths of a second behind.

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Lindsey Vonn careered into safety netting before skiing away uninjured in Lake Louise.

Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill champion, is trying to make history this season as she chases Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time record of 86 World Cup wins. She already holds the women’s record with 77.

The American has won 14 downhills and four super-G races at Lake Louise and will race again in Saturday’s second downhill. She will also compete in a super-G Sunday.

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Lake Louise is one of Canadian skiing's crown jewels -- and it's also a favorite of U.S. ski great Lindsey Vonn.

Vonn, America's most decorated skier, has won 14 of her 39 World Cup downhill titles at Lake Louise, prompting some to nickname the Alberta resort "Lake Lindsey."

Lake Louise is not just the preserve of lycra-clad racers -- its 4,200 skiable acres feature 145 marked runs for all abilities in the stunning surroundings of Banff National Park.

Lake Louise is split into three areas -- Front Side, with the bulk of the skiing on the slopes of Whitehorn Mountain, the smaller Larch area, and Back Bowls, mainly steep backcountry terrain favored by advanced and expert skiers.

Lake Louise is two hours west of Calgary and 35 miles from Banff in the spectacular Bow Valley on the border with British Columbia.

The base area, 15 minutes above Lake Louise village, features two lodges with a range of food and beverage options. The Grizzly Express gondola and Glacier Express chairlift whisk skiers and boarders up the mountain.

The resort's design is unique in that there are runs for all abilities off the top of each of the 10 lifts.

The iconic luxury Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel sits on the shore of the eponymous lake, which is snow covered in winter and a piercing emerald green in the summer.

An annual ice hockey tournament takes place on the frozen lake outside the Chateau Lake Louise.

The famous old hotel lies across the valley from the ski area.

Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill champion, is bidding to compete against the men in a World Cup downhill race at Lake Louise in November 2018.

Lake Louise, Canada: Resort guide

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‘Best comeback’

Vonn was mirroring to some extent the return to full fitness this week of former boyfriend Tiger Woods after starting last season late following a broken arm and nerve damage in her hand, which hampered her remaining races.

In her first race this season, a giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, Vonn didn’t qualify for the second run.

For Huetter it was her first downhill victory in her first race back since injuring a knee in a training crash last December.

“It’s unbelievable,” Huetter said. “It’s the best comeback I’ve ever dreamed about.”

The 22-year-old Shiffrin won Olympic slalom gold in Sochi in 2014 and clinched the last three World Championships in the technical discipline. Of her 32 World Cup wins, 26 have come in slalom.

“I’m still not sure what my expectations are in downhill and today was an amazing day,” said Shiffrin, the World Cup overall champion.

“I’ve definitely made a lot of progress in my downhill. Super-G comes a little bit more naturally because there’s a little bit more turning. Downhill, I’m always surprised at how much time there is to make the turns. That’s something I’ve worked on a lot, being a little more patient.”

Maiden win

The men’s circuit was in Beaver Creek, Colorado, where Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr clinched his first ever World Cup win with victory in a super-G on the Birds of Prey course.

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Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud, who won the season-opening super-G in Lake Louise last week, was second with Hannes Reichelt third.

Aksel Lund Svindal, the 2010 Olympic super-G champion, tied for sixth with Olympic downhill champion Matthias Mayer as he eases back into competition following knee surgery last year.

The men will race a downhill Saturday and giant slalom Sunday.