Featured Image: Podium at Garmisch-Partenkirchen Downhill. Credit: GEPA
Today the women took to the Kandahar track in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, for the fourth downhill World Cup race of the 2025 season.
The first day of training had a shortened course due to rain, but on the second day, the women experienced a full-length downhill with solid conditions. For the race day, the weather warmed up slightly, yet the track remained in good shape.
Although the track was in good condition, the athletes still fought through a mix of light and bumps from top to bottom. On this hill, the focus is on delivering a powerful bottom section to make a mark on the leaderboard.
The competition among the Italian speed queens intensified, with Federica Brignone ultimately taking the lead from Sofia Goggia by just 0.01. Both executed superb runs, but Brignone remained in the lead in the World Cup downhill standings after her first-place result.
Brignone stated, “What a tight race! I was not expecting to arrive and see first, so I looked twice,” she continued, “I tried my best but did not expect to be on top.”
This was her 32nd World Cup win of her career, but only her second in downhill. Her first downhill victory was claimed this season in St. Anton.
“I wanted to give my best version of myself, and that is what I tried to do today,” she continued, “This makes me so proud, and I wanted to show it again. This is just amazing.”
The Podium
Sofia Goggia, who only trailed her teammate, Brignone, in the downhill World Cup standings by nine points, finished the day in second place (+0.01).
Goggia has never won in the downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but this marks her fourth podium on the track.
Swiss athlete Corinne Suter rounded out the podium, +0.19 behind Brignone. She threw down a composed run, nailing the line. This is her 17th downhill podium and her second on this hill.
Suter experienced a challenging beginning to her 2025 downhill racing season, finishing in 21st place at Beaver Creek and 15th at St. Anton. Nevertheless, she improved her performance in Cortina, securing a 5th place finish, and today advanced to a top 3 result.
Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn of the Stifel US Ski Team has achieved five downhill victories on the Kandahar course, with one second-place finish to her name. She was excited to get back on this hill and see if she could excel once again. Unfortunately, the veteran got bucked out of the course and missed a gate, concluding in a DNF.
Before the race she stated, “It is a really fun downhill track, it is dark and bumpy. It takes some guts to send it down the bottom part. I am excited for the race again and I will try to do my best.”
North Americans
Stifel US Ski Team athlete Jacqueline Wiles was the first racer to push out of the start gate, which she needed to use to her advantage. The 32-year-old maintained an aerodynamic position through the top section and continued to ski aggressively down the course. Wiles set the pace at 1:36.39 and finished the day off in a respectable 11th place.
The top-finishing North American was Breezy Johnson, concluding the day in 4th place. Her second 4th place finish on the Kandahar track.
Johnson has been finding her way back in the speed events after she missed a year of racing last year due to a suspension. This was her best performance this season and unveils her potential of getting back onto the podium.
Johnson stated, “I feel good. I had a plan and I executed my plan,” she continued, “I think you got to hope for big results. You got to execute the main things and then the small things will come.”
Johnson is already revving up for the super-G. She stated, “I’m really excited and I love the super-G here. My plan is to get a really good start and then hammer on that top flat section.”
Lauren Macuga trailed her teammate by +0.13 to earn a 6th place finish. This was her 3rd top-10 result of her downhill World Cup career.
A frustrating day for their teammates Isabella Wright and Tricia Mangan as they unfortunately crashed. However, they both managed to get up and ski down.
Keely Cashman, Haley Cutler and Allison Mollin did not make it into the top 30, but gained valuable experience from this race.
Alpine Canada Alpin did not have any athletes join the competition.
Ester Ledecká
The Czech alpine ski racer and snowboarder Ester Ledecká did not start today due to an old injury flaring up. She is aiming to remain healthy so that she can race at her top for the World Championships.
This situation was unfortunate for a few reasons. Prior to today’s race, she was positioned 4th in the downhill standings, and this particular hill is one where Ledecká has previously secured a podium finish, achieving 3rd place in 2020.
Top 30 Race Results
Top Three Analysis
North American Analysis
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
