SOLDEU, Andorra – A bizarre and unfortunate incident has brought an abrupt end to Swiss alpine skier Corinne Suter’s World Cup season. The specialist in speed disciplines sustained an injury prior to the World Cup stop in Soldeu, Andorra, effectively dashing her hopes of qualifying for the season-ending finals. The cause? A collision with a cow.
Suter revealed the unusual circumstances surrounding her injury in a recent Instagram post, stating, “Small update from my side. Shortly before the races in Andorra, I was hit in the head by a cow. No, that’s not a joke. I tried to qualify for the World Cup finals, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. My head needs to recover now, so I’m taking a short break.”
The Swiss Ski Federation confirmed the peculiar injury, explaining that Suter was assisting her parents with farm work when she was struck by the animal in the barn. While the details of the injury haven’t been disclosed, it was enough to rule her out of contention for the finals.
Suter concludes the season with an overall 28th place in the super-G standings. To have qualified for the finals in Norway, she needed to climb into the top 25. Her best result of the season came in the super-G at St. Moritz, where she finished 12th.
Despite the setback, Suter’s season isn’t entirely over. She remains eligible to compete in the Swiss National Championships in April.
This marks another year of misfortune for the former junior world champion in giant slalom. Last January, a serious knee injury prematurely ended her season. The timing of this latest incident is particularly cruel, coming as she was attempting to regain her form after previous injuries.
The Soldeu World Cup, held in the Andorran Pyrenees, featured challenging courses, including the Àliga track in the El Tarter sector, known for its length and demanding terrain. The women’s downhill and super-G races tested the athletes’ physical and technical abilities.
In the downhill race held on February 27th, Switzerland’s Corinne Suter took first place, finishing in a time of 1:31.62. Nina Ortlieb of Austria finished second, just 0.11 seconds behind, and Sofia Goggia of Italy rounded out the podium in third. Notably, the Swiss Ski Federation confirmed that no Slovakian athletes participated in the event.
The following day, February 28th, Emma Aicher of Germany dominated the super-G, winning with a significant margin of 0.88 seconds over New Zealand’s Alice Robinson. Suter secured another podium finish, taking third place (+0.98). Ester Ledecká narrowly missed out on a podium spot, finishing just 0.16 seconds behind Suter.
On March 1st, Italy’s Sofia Goggia claimed victory in the second super-G, solidifying her lead in the discipline standings. She finished 0.24 seconds ahead of Aicher and 0.31 seconds ahead of Kajsa Lie of Norway.
The races in Soldeu were crucial in determining the standings for the World Cup finals. Fans were able to watch the events for free after registering with Tipsport, receiving a bonus of 20€ simply for signing up.
The incident with Suter serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of life, even for elite athletes. While the image of a skier sidelined by a cow might seem comical, the reality is a significant blow to Suter’s season and her aspirations for the World Cup finals.
The alpine skiing World Cup now moves on, with athletes continuing to compete for valuable points and championship titles. Suter will focus on recovery, hoping to return to the slopes for the Swiss National Championships and prepare for the next season.
What’s Next: The Swiss National Championships in April represent a potential opportunity for Suter to conclude her season on a positive note. Details regarding the exact dates and location of the championships will be released by the Swiss Ski Federation.
