Breezy Johnson: GEPA pictures
Pushing the Limits in Saalbach
On Saturday, February 8, the world’s best downhill racers will charge down the Ulli Maier Downhill in Saalbach, fighting for World Championship glory. Ski racing is a battle against gravity, ice and fear. It demands strength, speed and extreme focus. Every woman in the start gate knows what’s ahead—a blistering descent where hesitation could mean a slew of mistakes and ultimate defeat.
The Ulli Maier Downhill is a test of raw power and control. The first drop, a steep 74% gradient, hurls racers into immediate acceleration. Legs absorb the shock of the force, edges bite into the ice, and bodies fight to stay positioned as they approach the first critical turn. The timing must be precise, or they’ll lose speed and control in the remaining chaos of the slope.
The track doesn’t let up. The Ulli Maier Sprung and Panoramasprung launch racers into the air at over 120 km/h. They must land strongly, regain their line, and charge into the next section without blinking. The ice is unforgiving, the speed unrelenting. This is racing at its limit.
The women on this course are doing something extraordinary: pushing their limits, chasing the fine line between control and disaster. They will take on a course that rewards aggression, punishes hesitation, and demands absolute commitment.
A Brutal Test of Skill and Speed
The Ulli Maier Downhill in Saalbach is built for fearless racers. It drops 760 meters from start to finish, demanding full commitment when the gate opens. The top section is an instant wake-up call—a 74% gradient that forces racers into full-speed attack mode within seconds. A sharp left turn follows, where precise timing is the only way to hold the fastest line.
The race is won or lost in the middle section. The Ulli Maier Sprung and Panoramasprung send athletes flying at over 120 km/h, testing their ability to land strong and charge forward without losing momentum. The track is relentless—long gliding sections require absolute efficiency, while high-speed turns force racers to fight for every inch of control.
The lower section doesn’t ease up. Fatigue sets in, but there’s no time to slow down. Racers must find the strength to push through the final turns, keeping their skis flat, their bodies low, and their confidence unshaken. Only those who attack from top to bottom will stand a chance.
This is downhill racing at its purest—raw speed, high stakes and no second chances.
Defending Champion Absent, Only One Medalist Returns
At the 2023 World Championships in Courchevel-Méribel, Switzerland’s Jasmine Flury shocked the field to win gold, with Austria’s Nina Ortlieb taking silver and Corinne Suter of Switzerland earning bronze. However, the 2025 Saalbach World Championships will feature only one returning medalist. Flury has not raced since February 2024 and is recovering from a knee injury, while Ortlieb did not make the Austrian team for this year’s event. That leaves Suter as the only past podium finisher in the field, looking to fight for a World Championship medal once again.
History Favors the Bold
The last time the world’s best downhill racers competed in Saalbach was March 23, 2024, at the FIS World Cup Finals. That race decided the season’s downhill champion dramatically. Austria’s Cornelia Huetter claimed victory, earning 100 points to overtake Swiss star Lara Gut-Behrami for the 2023-24 downhill title.
Slovenia’s Ilka Štuhec finished second, and Italy’s Nicol Delago took third, delivering standout performances on the Ulli Maier Downhill. All three will return to Saalbach on February 8, ready to battle for another prestigious title—the FIS Alpine Ski World Championship Downhill Gold.
This time, the stakes are even higher. A World Championship downhill title cements a racer’s legacy, and with Huetter, Štuhec, and Delago all in the mix, the fight for the podium will be fierce.
The 2024-25 Downhill Season: Tight Competition at the Top
The 2024-25 downhill season has delivered thrilling battles, with multiple contenders proving their dominance.
- Birds of Prey, Beaver Creek, USA: Huetter (AUT) took the win, holding off Sofia Goggia (ITA) and Gut-Behrami (SUI) in a tight race.
- St. Anton, Austria: Federica Brignone (ITA) made history, becoming the oldest woman to win a World Cup downhill. She edged out Malorie Blanc (SUI) and Ester Ledecká (CZE) for the victory.
- Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy: Goggia reaffirmed her speed-event mastery with a commanding win. Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR) finished second, while Brignone secured another podium in third.
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany: Brignone claimed her second downhill win of the season, beating Goggia and Corinne Suter (SUI).
With Huetter, Goggia, Brignone, and rising talents like Blanc and Lie in the mix, the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach are set for an electrifying showdown. The battle for gold on February 8 will demand flawless execution and fearless racing.
The Top 15 Makeup
The women’s downhill standings after Garmisch-Partenkirchen highlight a deep and competitive international field, with seven nations represented. Italy stands out, holding the top two positions, reinforcing their dominance in the discipline.
Italy (4)
With its top two racers in the standings, Italy has set the standard this season. Their depth and consistency make them top contenders for World Championship gold in Saalbach.
Austria (3)
Austria brings a strong squad, led by Cornelia Huetter in third place. While they don’t hold the top spots, their depth on home soil makes them a major threat.
Switzerland (3)
Switzerland has placed three racers in the top 15, showing a balanced mix of experience and emerging talent.
United States (2)
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team has two racers in the top 15, with Lauren Macuga in the top six, making her one to watch in her breakout season.
Norway (1), Czech Republic (1), Slovenia (1)
Each of these nations has one skier in the top 15, proving they can challenge for podium spots. Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, Ester Ledecká, and Ilka Štuhec all bring experience and speed, making them serious contenders.
With Italy leading the rankings, Austria’s depth, and seven nations in the mix, the 2025 World Championships downhill in Saalbach is shaping up to be a fierce battle. World Cup points reflect the season’s best, but on February 8, it all comes down to one perfect run.
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Thirty-three athletes from 16 countries will compete in the Saalbach FIS Ski World Championship Downhill on Saturday, Feb. 8th.
North American Contenders
Stifel U.S. Ski Team
- Lauren Macuga
The 22-year-old is enjoying a breakout year in her third World Cup season. Already the leader of the U.S. women’s speed team, she won bronze in the World Championship Super-G in Saalbach, proving she can perform under pressure on the world’s biggest stage. Macuga has finished inside the top 10 three times this season, with her best result as fourth in Beaver Creek. In the final race before the World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, she was the second-fastest American, finishing sixth. This will be her first World Championships downhill. - Breezy Johnson
An experienced veteran, Johnson is returning to form. She showed exceptional speed in training and was the top American in the last downhill before Saalbach, finishing fourth in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. She has competed in three previous World Championship downhills (2017, 2021, 2023), with her best result in Cortina d’Ampezzo 2021, where she finished ninth. Although she has never won a World Cup downhill, she has seven podium finishes in her career. Johnson grew up skiing on a mountain that teaches racers to face their fears—a mindset that will be essential for success in Saalbach. - Jacqueline Wiles
Wiles has steadily improved throughout the season, with her best performance in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where she finished seventh. A proven podium contender, she has three career World Cup Downhill top three finishes, the most recent in Cortina last season. This will be her third World Championships Downhill, having previously competed in 2017 and 2021. Her best finish came in St. Moritz 2017, where she placed 12th. - Lindsey Vonn
The 40-year-old legend is scheduled to race in the World Championship Downhill, returning to the event for the first time since 2019, when she won bronze in Åre, Sweden. Vonn has competed in seven World Championships, winning gold in Val d’Isère in 2009 and earning four additional podium finishes. She has never placed outside the top five in a World Championships Downhill. Since coming out of retirement, her best result has been sixth in St. Anton, though she did not finish the World Championship Super-G in Saalbach.
North American Women World Cup Downhill standings
Team Canada
- Cassidy Gray
Gray has competed in one World Cup Downhill in her career, finishing 46th in Cortina d’Ampezzo this season. This will be her first World Championships appearance.
What to Watch For
With Italy’s Brignone and Goggia leading the downhill season standings, Austria racing on home soil, and seven nations in the mix, the 2025 World Championship Downhill in Saalbach is expected to be a fierce battle. Macuga’s breakout season, Huetter’s past win on this course, and Vonn’s return to World Championship Downhill racing add intrigue to an already unpredictable event. Unlike the World Cup season, this race is a one-run showdown, where aggression, precision, and bravery will determine who takes gold on Saturday, February 8.
North American Athletes Racing Downhill
- Bib 1, Breezy Johnson, Stifel USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, Atomic
- Bib 16, Jacqueline Wiles, Stifel USST, White Pass Ski Club
- Bib 18, Lauren Macuga, Stifel USST, Park City Ski Team, Winter Sports School
- Bib 22, Lindsey Vonn, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, HEAD, Oakley
- Bib 33, Cassidy Gray, ACA, Team Panorama, Atomic
How and When to Watch
The race starts at 5:30 a.m. Eastern and 2:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
U.S. audiences can watch the race live or as a replay on Ski and Snowboard Live.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and Start List
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Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
