Key Takeaways
- Lindsey Vonn has made a remarkable comeback in alpine skiing, winning a medal in all five women’s downhills so far this season, including a pair of golds.
- Mikaela Shiffrin has also made a strong comeback, winning six of the seven slaloms so far this season, with a silver in the other one.
- Marco Odermatt is dominating the men’s side, with seven wins in 15 starts this season, and is on track for his fifth consecutive overall title.
- Canada’s ski racers have had a disappointing season, with only one medal won, and their top Olympic contenders, Jack Crawford and Cam Alexander, have not looked like podium material.
- The men’s World Cup tour is making its annual stop in Kitzbuhel, Austria, which is home to the most revered and feared downhill in the world.
Introduction to the Olympic Season
The current Olympic season in alpine skiing has been quite exciting, with several notable storylines emerging. One of the biggest stories is the incredible comeback of 41-year-old American star Lindsey Vonn. After being forced to retire in 2019 due to injuries, Vonn has returned to the sport with a new titanium knee and has emerged as a gold-medal favorite for her sixth Olympics. She has won a medal in all five women’s downhills so far this season, including a pair of golds, and has reached the podium in seven of her eight starts overall.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s Comeback
Another impressive comeback has been made by five-time overall champion Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. After a nasty puncture wound derailed her hopes for a ninth slalom Crystal Globe last year, Shiffrin has bounced back to win six of the seven slaloms so far this season, with a silver in the other one. Her strong performance has been a highlight of the season, and she is expected to be a top contender at the Olympics. Additionally, the timely return of reigning women’s overall champ Federica Brignone of Italy has also been a significant development, as she finished sixth in her first race since shattering her leg last April, putting her on track to compete in her home Olympics next month.
Marco Odermatt’s Dominance
On the men’s side, Swiss star Marco Odermatt has been dominating the competition, with seven wins in 15 starts this season. He has given himself a massive lead in the chase for his fifth consecutive overall title and is also on track for his third straight Crystal Globes in the downhill, super-G, and giant slalom. Odermatt’s impressive performance has been a significant storyline of the season, and he is expected to be a top contender at the Olympics.
Canada’s Struggling Ski Racers
However, it has not been a great season for Canada’s ski racers. They have won only one medal, a bronze by Val Grenier in a women’s giant slalom at Quebec’s Mont-Tremblant last month. The two men expected to be Canada’s top Olympic contenders, Jack Crawford and Cam Alexander, have not looked like podium material. Crawford, who won Olympic bronze in the now-defunct individual combined event and finished fourth in the downhill in 2022, has had a disappointing season, with only one top-10 result in nine starts. Alexander, who grabbed a downhill bronze at the 2023 world championships, has also struggled, failing to crack the top six through seven starts this season.
The Kitzbuhel Downhill
The men’s World Cup tour is making its annual stop in Kitzbuhel, Austria, which is home to the most revered and feared downhill in the world. The legendary Streif course’s diabolical array of rough terrain, steep drops, sharp turns, and long jumps challenges the skills and courage of the world’s best downhillers like no other. Whoever wins this race earns the respect and admiration of their peers, not to mention the 50,000 or so fans who come out to watch it. Last year, Jack Crawford became the first Canadian to win the Kitzbuhel downhill since Ken Read, Steve Podborski, and Todd Brooker of the legendary Crazy Canucks did it four straight years from 1980-1983. Crawford and Alexander are clearly built for Kitzbuhel, and their return to this hallowed place may give them a much-needed boost of confidence heading into the Olympics.
Upcoming Races
The action in Kitzbuhel starts with the super-G on Friday at 5:30 a.m. ET, followed by the downhill on Saturday at the same time. Both races can be watched live on the CBC Sports website and the CBC Gem streaming app. The Kitzbuhel downhill is always a highly anticipated event, and this year’s competition is expected to be fierce. With the Olympics just around the corner, the stakes are high, and the world’s top skiers will be looking to make a statement in Kitzbuhel.
