By U.S. Ski Team

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta – Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn of Vail returned to the top of the Lake Louise podium Sunday with a commanding super G victory over Maria Riesch of Germany. Julia Mancuso of Squaw Valley was third as six Americans finished inside the top 25.

“Today I dropped the hammer a little bit more and believed in myself,” said Vonn, who barely escaped a near-crash on Saturday. “For me the bottom line is never giving up.”

Vonn (1:20.72) crushed the field by nearly a second, just under an hour before teammate and fellow Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety of Park City won the Audi Birds of Prey giant slalom in Beaver Creek. It was the first time since 2006 that two Americans won World Cup races on the same day.

“I was really happy with my run today, I wanted to end the weekend on a positive note and really take advantage of the opportunity,” said Vonn during a live call broadcast over the stadium speakers between giant slalom runs in Beaver Creek. “I skied with aggression and passion and had a great inspection and really nailed the line. I’m extremely happy with the win.”

Sunday’s win marked Vonn’s 14th podium and eighth win in Lake Louise over the course of six years. It was second podium finish in Lake Louise for Mancuso, who stamped an exclamation mark on the incredible skiing she produced throughout the week.

“I just went out of the gate charging. I was psyched to be on the podium,” said Mancuso. “It’s nice to have been skiing really well and consistent in the downhill, so to finish it off with a third place and my best super G result there is refreshing. I’m excited and I think it will just get better through the season.”

Stacey Cook of Mammoth, Laurenne Ross of Klamath Falls, Ore., Alice McKennis of Glenwood Springs, Colo., and Leanne Smith of Conway, N.H., all scored World Cup points, taking positions 20-23.

The next stop on the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup tour is St. Moritz, Switerzland, Dec. 9-12.

Official results, Audi Alpine FIS World Cup, Lake Louise, Dec. 5, Super G

1. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 1:20.72

2. Maria Riesch, Germany, 1:21.55

3. Julia Mancuso, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:21.61

4. Anna Fenninger, Austria, 1:21.83

5. Andrea Fischbacher, Austria, 1:22.34

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20. Stacey Cook, Mammoth, CA, 1:23.78h

21. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR, 1:23.79

22. Alice McKennis, Glenwood Springs, CO, 1:23.83

23. Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 1:23.84

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31. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 1:24.51

34. Julia Ford, Plymouth, NH, 1:24.82