BEAVER CREEK, Colo. – When a kid in the finish area asked Erik Arvidsson for his race bib on Friday, handing it over looked like old hat for the American athlete.

As it turns out, it was the first time the 25-year-old California native had ever been asked for his bib. Friday’s Birds of Prey super G race at Beaver Creek was also Arvidsson’s inaugural World Cup race on American snow, and he relished every second of it.

“I looked down at the crowd from the start and it was an amazing experience,” he said.

Arvidsson has always loved speed, becoming world junior downhill champion in 2016 after landing a handful of NorAm podiums in super G and alpine combined. He left the U.S. Team to attend Middlebury College in 2017, turning his focus toward the tech disciplines. His success continued. He hammered his way onto numerous podiums in University and NorAm giant slalom and slalom races before rejoining the U.S. Ski Team last season, finishing his senior year at Middlebury online while embarking on his first World Cup races, juggling them with Europa Cup speed races.

Arvidsson made short work shifting gears from tech back to speed. He charged to his first Europa Cup downhill victory last January in France. A couple of months later, in his sixth World Cup start – the downhill last March in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria – Arvidsson earned his first World Cup points in spectacular fashion, finishing eighth.

As exciting as that was, Arvidsson had been anxiously awaiting his chance to race at Beaver Creek.

“Last year was my first World Cup year and not getting to race in America was tough,” he said. “We’re so used to being on the road all winter, staying together in the bubble and feeling like we’re out of the loop or the underdogs or something. So to be here at home on American snow in front of an awesome crowd is special.”

A discretionary pick for a spot in Friday’s SG, Arvidsson started 55th and ended up 35th.

“I’ve never raced super G on this hill before. I knew on this snow, you can give away a lot of time when you scrub speed in places. I knew I really had to go at it and didn’t want to finish in the 50s. I wanted to finish in the top 30, so I knew I had to push,” he said. “It’s always hard starting so late. You have to sit around for a long time all day. Your boots get warm and whatnot. But it’s just so special when you push out of that gate. I did my best. Wish it could have been a little bit quicker, but still super happy with how I skied.”

Arvidsson has a crew of friends, family and girlfriend in tow at Beaver Creek and will be starting in both downhill races this weekend. His key goal this season is to earn a spot to compete in Beijing.

“I really want to move into the top 30 on the World Cup start list and then I want to make the Olympics. I really want to go to the Olympics. I want to represent the U.S.”