Stifel US Alpine Team member Travis Ganong: Photo credit GEPA

Who is racing, when are they racing, and how to watch Friday’s Aspen downhill.

Tomorrow will be an exciting day for the fans of the men’s alpine World Cup. America’s Downhill was last used for the 2017 World Cup finals. That day, two Italians finished first and second, Dominik Paris and Peter Fill. Paris will be among the racers competing over the next three days.

The two Aspen two men’s downhills and super-G are the last speed races prior to the Soldeu Andora World Cup Finals.

Past US success on the Aspen downhill

Legendary US ski racing announcer Stephen Perino reminded SRM that the US men had experienced some cursed success on Aspen’s Ruthie’s Run/America’s Downhill. According to a story in The Aspen Times on March 13, 2017, US Ski Team Athlete AJ Kitt is known for winning the last men’s regular season World Cup downhill race in Aspen. “In that 1995 race, poor weather conditions allowed only half the racers to start, and Kitt later was stripped of his win by the FIS council. He was 20th out of the start gate that day in March, completing the course in 1 minute, 45.46 seconds.”

The article quotes Kitt, “I’m well-known for it, and that’s something I’m really proud of. I don’t care if I got the World Cup points out of it or not. I got the trophy. I’m wearing it right now,” Kitt said, showing off the belt buckle he received for winning that race. “The top 30 guys kicked out of the start that day, and I ended up being the fastest one. That’s good enough for me.”

It is hoped that the home country races will bring a spark to the Stifel US Alpine men. Following successful downhills in Kitzbühel, the US men’s speed team has struggled to find their stride.

Currently one Canadian and three US athletes are inside the top 25 and would be invited to the World Cup finals. However, one great or two good results could earn any of them a trip to Andora.

Current North American men’s World Cup downhill standings

Twelve North American men will start in tomorrow’s downhill. Five Canadian and seven US skiers will attack Ruthie’s Run/America’s Downhill.

North Americans entered in the Friday, March 3rd Aspen downhill

• Bib 5, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, USST, Mt Mansfield Ski Club, Cochran’s Ski Club, HEAD, SWIX, ASP
• Bib 8, James Crawford, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, HEAD
• Bib 14, Travis Ganong, USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, Atomic
• Bib 17, Cameron Alexander, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 21, Jared Goldberg, USST, Snowbird Sports Educational Foundation, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 29, Bryce Bennett, USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, Fischer, ASP
• Bib 38, Sam Morse, Sugarloaf Ski Club, Carrabassett Valley Academy, Fischer, Swix, ASP, TOKO
• Bib 39, Broderick Thompson, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, HEAD, Oakley
• Bib 43, Erik Arvidsson, USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, Middlebury College, HEAD
• Bib 44, Jeffrey Read, ACA, Banff Alpine Racers, Atomic, UVEX
• Bib 55, Kyle Negomir, USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Atomic
• Bib 58, Kyle Alexander, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Rossignol, Look

The race will begin at 1:30 pm Eastern Time and 10:30 am on the West Coast. 

In the USA, Aspen’s Friday, February 3rd, downhill is available live and as a replay on Outside Watch or the Outside TV app.

In Canada, CBC sports offers Alpine World World Cup racing content.

Friday, March 3rd start list and daily program for the Aspen downhill

The daily program for the Friday, March 3rd Aspen downhill