All of the doubts about the Austrian program were erased in the women's Olympic super-G Saturday as Andrea Fischbacher laid down the run of the day to take the win by almost half a second.
Tina Maze of Slovenia placed second, bumping American Lindsey Vonn down to the bronze medal spot.
Like Wednesday's women's downhill, the super-G on Franz's Run was a roller coaster with off-camber sections, shady areas where visibility was limited and jumps that challenged and surprised competitors.
Whistler's Britt Janyk had a particularly tough time with one landing but somehow managed to recover from what looked like it was going to be a nasty crash. Just before the jump Janyk looked to be within reach of the podium. But her recovery put her off line and she struggled to get back up to speed. She ended the day in 17th place.
"As soon as I recovered and realized I was on my feet I wanted to get back into it and keep racing hard, and I just felt a little shaky on my skis after that," said Janyk. "I just wanted to get to the finish and to the crowd and yeah... I guess I put on a good show for everybody!"
Thirty-eight racers finished; 15 did not.
While the Canadians were considered contenders in the speed events, the team came out of the downhill, super-G and super combined with no medals. However, Janyk did finish sixth in the downhill and considers the Games a positive experience overall.
"In the downhill I was close and finishing sixth was a great result for me, " Janyk said. "And today I went out of the gate with the same gameplan and I think I raced hard. Unfortunately that mistake threw me off, but I'm definitely happy with my Olympics."
The Winter Games are just another stop on the ski circuit and Janyk says she is looking forward to getting back to the World Cup tour.
"Is this motivating? Absolutely," she said. "I am actually really looking forward to getting back on the World Cup circuit and taking what I've done here in Whistler and getting back to that mental state of just racing hard and going after it."
Georgia Simmerling, a graduate of the Grouse Mountain Tyees and a member of the development team, finished the race in 27th position. That was all she set out to do after crashing hard a week before the Games.
"It's not my best performance but I made it down the track today and had some really clean turns," she said. "I think my Olympic experience ended on a positive note, so I'm really excited.
"(The injury) was more mental but I tried to get over it at the start. I don't think I've totally conquered it, but I made it down in one piece today and I'm pretty psyched about that."
The other two Canadians in the race, Fernie's Emily Brydon and Shona Rubens of Canmore, did not finish.
Brydon came out charging from the ninth start position and ended up in a pile of gear on the side of the run.
She is retiring at the end of the season but is not yet ready to call it a day.
"For sure there was more pressure and you want to perform - not only for yourself but for everyone here and all the fans tuning in," she said. "There is obviously disappointment and frustration, but the real supporters and fans are the ones who follow you for more than just one race and that's who I'm racing for."
Brydon's goal is to end her season on a high note. And like Janyk she can't wait to get back to the World Cup.
"This Olympic... thing - it's different. It's like going back to the World Cup is stepping down a level and it's different, you prepare differently, there's a different energy. Because the Olympics didn't go as planned I think I can go back to the World Cup and maybe redeem myself... I want to end this season positively and I want to end it loving the sport, and I want to end it with some good results."
The much-discussed theory of home-course advantage didn't quite pan out. That's something American Julia Mancuso said doesn't really exist because all of the women on the tour know how to ski and because the conditions are constantly changing.
Brydon echoed that sentiment. "Our home advantage was in the fog and soft snow. I have never trained on ice on that, " she said of Franz's run. "The moment it became those conditions it was the same for everyone. The course was so challenging that it was equal for everyone, and that's what racing is all about."
Fischbacher's run was deceptively good, with the announcer at Creekside several times making the comment that she had made a mistake and slowed down only to see her split times improve.
From Fischbacher's perspective the course was on the straight side for a super-G, which left less room for error.
"The middle section was tough so you had to keep charging and there's a lot of terrain," she said. "You can really go fast on this course, and I skied the way I wanted to with very small mistakes. It was a good course.
"Of course the (Austrian) men had trouble and we have not done well as a team, so it was very important to try to get onto the podium today. We have good skiers in the technical events as well, so we will have to see."
