The thing is Michaela didn't need any more. I believe if she needed more gas she had it. Sometimes playing it safe can lead to errors.
Many fans on here do not grasp the subtleties of the sport. You're right on the money with that comment.
MS skied well enough and risked just enough to assure her of getting the win and 100 WC SL points. I know, from a very solid source, that she had no idea that she was putting that much time on Petra. If she did, she might have risked less, as the surface and the set were "brutal". Described to me as the most uncomfortable that she has EVER been in a WC SL. Some talk that Holdener's coach, setting his first every WC SL, was trying to advantage W. That stuff rarely works. I'll be polite and leave it at that.
Petra was in the same mode. No chance that she was going to beat MS, unless MS skied out. So, the smart tactic was to not go hammer down, on the edge, and to give MS the 100 points, and walk away with 80.
I have NO way to explain Wendy Holdener's disaster. It happens.
The prize for these women are the season long globes, based on the accumulated WC points, overall, and in each disciplined. Petra might challenge MS, but I would say has NO chance of she scores a 0 in any SL by skiing out. Same with MS. Don't expect to see any DNF. And both women have an extra gear that they will use when it's worth the minimal risk.
As far as the surface, it has to be hard, and it has to be consistent to ensure the right competition at the WC level. Hard like injected. Not like what we would consider firm. That surface was "aided" by the humidity, the dropping temps, the wind coming in with the weather. And, a dark New England hill with very flat light. Ugly.
The fact that MS could handle it speaks both to her skiing, her precision and movements as it does to just how weak this women's field is these days. Being a realist, not harsh. It is NOT that strong, and certainly not when you move past about 10 on the WCSL.
Early start to a LONG season. It's only December 2nd.
GS field, BTW, is a bit different. Could see a lot going on there.
Just my $.02........