Superstars set to clash in super-G

American star Lindsey Vonn and Swiss counterpart Lara Gut kick off an intriguing world alpine championships in St. Moritz when they go head-to-head in the women’s opening super-G on Tuesday.

Vonn and Gut go into the race on the back of a couple of crashes on the World Cup circuit, but both have vowed nothing will be left in reserve come the secondary speed event of the world championships, which run through Feb 19.

“My body is pretty sore from hitting the nets two too many times,” said Vonn.

“The super-G is right away, so hopefully with my training I’ll get my confidence back.”

Gut was last season’s overall World Cup winner, and Vonn admitted the Swiss is “a great competitor and has had a great season so far”.

While Vonn recovers from a broken arm and injured hand, Gut is working to get her leg back in shape after a fall in the Cortina super-G on Jan 29.

“I’m 100 percent fit,” maintained the Swiss racer, who stormed to prominence as a teenager at the 2009 worlds in Val d’Isere, France.

“I’m fine; there’s nothing injured or broken. Still, it would have been better to have gone skiing for a week rather than spending it with the physio.

“The big challenge is to rehab my leg and get back as soon as possible. I’ m here to ski.

“It’s here that I made my first podium, so I’m obviously really happy that I’m back here.”

Vonn said injuries are part and parcel of ski racing, noting the absence of male competitors Aksel Lund Svindal, Ted Ligety, Steve Nyman and Valentin Giraud Moine.

“I don’t know what you can do to change it. It’s a risk of our sport, but I hope the injuries become less,” she said.

“It’s kind of like car racing; we’re always going to find a way to go fast no matter what rules you change.

“Our ultimate goal is to win races, so skiers will always be pushing the limit to find that success.

“I don’t know what the solution is, but it’s definitely hard as an athlete to watch so many athletes getting injured, including myself.”