Shiffrin leaves the start in St-Moritz: PHOTO Credit GEPA

St Moritz will debut the 2022-23 speed event return of Overall World Cup leader Mikaela Shiffrin.

Unfortunately for ski racing fans, adding the Sestriere races to the women’s calendar between Lake Louise and St Moritz created a programming challenge for the World’s number one. Shiffrin prefers a significant volume of training when preparing for tech races, so her focus after Killington remained on preparing for the Sestriere event. 

However, in St Moritz, the fans will get what they love. Shiffrin racing in any ski event anywhere is exciting. There is a buzz and considerable excitement surrounding her competing in St Moritz. 

There can be no doubt that Sofia Goggia is the favorite. But as we saw in Gröden, the best in ski racing can be beaten.

Isabella Wright has been skiing consistently well and is the highest-ranked North American in the 2022-23 downhill standings. Wright is confident in her skiing and ready to rise to the next level.

Additionally, Breezy Johnson is a bomb waiting to explode. She has been good, but at any time, you can expect her to return to greatness. When will she find her whole mojo; could it be in St-Moritz?

Canada’s Michele Gagnon is coming off a recent eighth place in the Lake Louise super-G, and with her skiing at that level, she is ready for a good downhill.

Eight women, Six from the US and two from Canada, will compete in the December 16th downhill. 

Notably, it is good to see Lauren Macuga return to the start list after not starting in Lake Louise. Also, the independents USA’s Tricia Mangan and Canada’s Stefanie Fleckenstein are returning to the World Cup after a week of good results in the Copper Mountain NorAm speed events. 

North Americans start in the December 16th St-Moritz downhill

• Bib 16, Marie-Michele Gagnon, ACA, Mont Original Ski Club, HEAD
• Bib 8, Breezy Johnson, USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, Atomic
• Bib 22, Mikaela Shiffrin, USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Atomic, Oakley
• Bib 23, Bella Wright, USST, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation, Atomic
• Bib 43, Keely Cashman, USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 49, Stefanie Fleckenstein, Independent, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, University of Colorado, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 50, Trish Mangan, independent, HoliMont Snowsports, Dartmouth College, HEAD, SWIX, ASP
• Bib 52, Lauren Macuga, USST, Park City Ski Team, Winter Sports School, Rossignol, LOOK, SWIX

The race will begin at 4:30 am Eastern Time and 1:30 am on the West Coast. Remember live and full replay is available with English-speaking announcers on Ski and Snowboard Live.

Start list and program for Friday’s December 15th downhill in St-Moritz

December 16th St-Moritz downhill