Lauren Macuga is back in Park City for the first time since November, enjoying some much-needed time at home and off the slopes.
The 22-year-old speedskier is amid her breakout season, which has three World Cups left.
Earlier this month at the Saalbach, Austria, World Championships, Macuga won a bronze medal in the super-G and posted the fastest downhill time in the new team combined event. She’s thrilled over the results at what was her first championships, believing they cement her belonging atop the sport. Macuga is ranked 14th in the world and won her first World Cup race in St. Anton, Austria, last month in a super-G.
“After St. Anton, it was weird trying to think about that (being atop the sport),” said Macuga. “Now, after being able to perform my again, I know I can do it.
“There’s not pressure for me. It’s just an opportunity.”
Macuga will look to find what she called “race-day focus” each of the last three cups. She’s back in the gym working on her game and will jet back off to Europe Thursday. The next cup is in Kvitfjell, Norway, Feb. 26-March 2.
Macuga is most excited to race Kvitfjell — not a regular stop on the women’s speed tour — and the season-ending cup in Sun Valley, Idaho. She kicked off the breakout season with a fourth place downhill finish on home soil in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
In addition to relaxing and hitting the gym, Macuga has spent some of her break supporting her siblings. Both Alli, a moguls skier, and Daniel, a fellow alpine racer, skied Nor-Am Cup events in town last week. Alli won the dual moguls event at Deer Valley last Thursday, and Daniel posted two top-10 super-G finishes at the Olympic Park last Wednesday.
“The first day I got back, Alli and Daniel were both competing, so I had to get over the jet lag,” added Lauren. “It was so fun to be able to watch. That first day was a little hectic, and from there it’s been just a lot of lazying around.”
Macuga knows how important it will be to hit the ground running after this mini break in her schedule. While the results now are great, next year’s Olympic teams will be determined early in the season, requiring strong momentum. She’s going to give it everything she has now and this summer in the gym to try and secure starts in all three speed events.
Macuga loves the new team aspect of the team combined event. She and technical skiing partner Paula Moltzan combined for fourth place in Saalbach. Macuga will be ready to race the event in Milan next winter with whoever the ski team pairs her with.
“I really like it,” added Macuga on the event. “I think people are going to keep it around.”
“It’s such a unique thing because in the same day you get to see the best downhill and technical skiers. It’s also a nice opportunity for us to be part of a team in this individual sport.”
Macuga said she was more nervous watching Moltzan ski than when she hit the slopes herself.
The Macuga family are dreaming that they can send all four of their skiers to Milan. They know they likely won’t be able to see each other much if they do because of the spread-out venues, but surely their parents Dan and Amy would be there for every event. Macuga had her mom in Saalbach and said her favorite memory from the championships will be sharing tears of joy with her.
“We’ve always talked about the dream being to have all four of us together,” added Macuga on the Olympics.
“Seeing my mom in the finish (in Saalbach) and giving her a hug was a wild moment. … She kept coming in with me to these little media rooms, and every time I was standing there, she’d start crying, and I’d look up at her and then I’d start crying on TV. Then, they’d bring her out and we’d both be crying on TV.”