Pratika blog

Vonn still uncertain about racing worlds super-G

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany – Lindsey Vonn says she is undecided about defending her super-G title in the opening race of the world championships Tuesday.

Vonn still has trouble keeping her concentration over the entire course after suffering a concussion in a crash in practice five days ago, she said Monday.

"I am optimistic about tomorrow but I still haven't made up my mind whether I am racing," the American said.

"I feel pretty good right now but I think the main problem for me is skiing. I am having a difficult time maintaining concentration from the top of the course to the bottom," she said.

After taking a run down the course early Friday, Vonn blasted its condition.

"In my opinion the hill is WAY too icy and downright unsafe!" Vonn wrote on her Facebook page.

Vonn skipped Friday's World Cup slalom but raced in Sunday's giant slalom in Zwiesel, Germany, where she finished tied for 18th place, before traveling to Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

"I couldn't keep focus about three-quarters down the course, that's the main problem I am struggling with at this point," Vonn said.

Vonn practiced the super-G on a course in the nearby Austrian resort of Seefeld and said she felt better with every run.

"I can tell right away if I'm feeling better or not. It's been getting progressively better every day but I basically just lose track of what I'm saying or don't have as much focus as I usually do," Vonn said. "So I'm going to do my normal warmup in the morning, work out and see how I feel and do the inspection and I think I'm just going to wait until the last moment and then make a decision.

"I feel pretty good right now. I feel like there's definitely a good chance that I'll race but, like I said, I still want to make sure it's a safe decision and my health is the most important thing."

Vonn, the Olympic downhill champion, had said last week that she considered the super-G her best chance of a gold medal at the world championships.

The American crashed during a training run in Austria on Wednesday and hit her head.