Alpine skiing: Vonn slides out of world's Super G on first day

[February 07, 2017]  ST MORITZ, Switzerland (Reuters) - Lindsey Vonn's first run at the World Championships lasted just a few seconds on Tuesday when the American slid out of the Super-G in St Moritz.

Starting 11th, Vonn was as good as her word, having said at the weekend she was going to go all out - win or bust. Despite a perfect start, it was the latter as she slid out mid-course, but managed to avoid a crash.

Defending Super G champion, Anna Veith, suffered a worse fate, crashing out of the race.

Vonn, though, picked herself up and skied to the finish zone where the 32-year-old was cheered loudly.

"I lost my pole early on and tried to get it back," she said. "I was distracted for a second and thought I lost a lot of time. I went too straight and had no chance of making the next gate."

"It was a tactical error but it tried to give everything. I am not disappointed. I tried as hard I could. I don't know why I am losing the pole. I will duck-tape it to my hand," Vonn said.

The four-times overall World Cup champion and 2010 Olympic downhill gold medalist says her best chance for a victory is in Sunday's downhill.

Lindsey Vonn of the USA reacts. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

She has 77 World Cup wins under her belt, nine victories off the record number held by Swedish great, Ingemar Stenmark.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Louise Ireland)

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