The Winter Olympics may put Cortina d’Ampezzo in the spotlight, but the real magic of the Dolomites lies beyond the finish corral. From village-to-village skiing and legendary groomers to mountaintop dining and insider logistics, here’s how to experience Italy’s most storied ski region during the Games — and long after the crowds leave.
From powder plumes and wooden start houses to jet flyovers and global broadcasts, Alta Badia’s Gran Risa has evolved into one of alpine skiing’s most iconic World Cup stages.
Giant slalom sits at the heart of alpine ski racing. From Mikaela Shiffrin to Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the world’s best explain why GS demands the ultimate balance of speed, precision, strength, and risk.
The Alta Badia Gran Risa marks its 40th anniversary this weekend, celebrating four decades of legendary World Cup racing on one of the sport’s most technical and iconic slopes.
Breezy Johnson enters this Olympic season with renewed purpose after climbing back from injury, a USADA ban, and the heartbreak of missing the 2022 Games. Her world championship triumph last winter reshaped her belief in what’s possible, and now the downhiller sees a rare chance for a full-circle moment in Cortina—the hill that once ended her Olympic dream. With momentum restored and perspective sharpened, she knows nothing is guaranteed, but everything is still within reach.
Jackie Wiles starts her Olympic season with a clear mind and a powerful history in Cortina. After years of injuries and comebacks, she’s ready for a new peak.
Lauren Macuga opens her Olympic season with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team at the Copper Cup, carrying confidence, speed, and her trademark bucket-hat energy into Saturday’s giant slalom.
Olympic silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle opens his season at Copper Mountain with a calm, day-to-day focus. He breaks down pressure, confidence, and what he expects from Thursday’s super-G.
Alice McKennis Duran, one of Colorado’s most resilient downhillers, has been inducted into the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame, celebrating her remarkable journey from ranch life to World Cup victory and lasting impact on ski racing.
Mattia Casse got a unique glimpse of the slopes where he landed his huge super G victory last winter (and where he notched first World Cup podium, a downhill in 2022). For the fifth straight summer, Casse has competed in the Maratona dles Dolomites, an iconic cycling race in Alta Badia drawing 8,000 participants from 92 countries.
You will notice several fresh faces on the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team this season; six to be exact. Here is the 2025/26 rookie list.
Colorado Mountain College (CMC) is shaping the future of World Cup ski race planning through its hands-on event-planning course. Partnering with Beaver Creek and the Vail Valley Foundation, students gain real-world experience in preparing, organizing, and executing elite ski races like the Birds of Prey World Cup. From field trips to behind-the-scenes roles on race day, this program provides a direct pathway into the ski industry—offering students a chance to turn their passion into a career.
COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. – Copper Mountain has long since been an international hub for early-season alpine training, but this November, it will take center stage as a World Cup race venue. For the first time in over two decades, Copper will host both men's and women's FIS Alpine World Cup races, including giant slalom, super G, and slalom events from Nov. 27-30. With Killington, Vt., unable to host its traditional Thanksgiving weekend races due to lift upgrades, Copper will step in, providing a high-altitude, world-class venue for the sport’s best athletes. While the event is still pending final FIS Council approval, resort officials and the Stifel U.S. Ski Team are already preparing for the inaugural Stifel Copper Cup.
Breezy Johnson is back on the World Cup circuit, aiming to rediscover "the old Breezy" after a 14-month suspension for a USADA whereabouts violation. The Wyoming native, who last stood on the podium at St. Anton, has been working on her technical skiing and is ready to fight her way back to the top.
Top skiers from seven regional universities and colleges danced through the gates Tuesday in the 2025 University of Denver Invitational slalom race at Loveland Ski Area. Sara Rask (DU) and Filip Wahlqvist (CU) reigned victorious.
Approaching her first World Cup race in nearly six years, Lindsey Vonn is back in her happy place. The 40-year-old feels stronger and better prepared to race than ever before.
Mikaela Shiffrin is recovering at home in Colorado after surgery for a punctured oblique muscle sustained during a crash at the Killington giant slalom. Reflecting on the fine margins of ski racing, Shiffrin said, “There’s a difference of just a few centimeters between crashing like that or winning a run.”
Birds of Prey Crowd Photo: Meredith Guinan World Cup Speed Stars Weigh In Marco Odermatt
Racing for the first time on Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey downhill course, the world’s fastest women know they must enlist every tactical skill in the playbook.
Growing up and learning to ski near Oslo with a Norwegian father and Brazilian mother, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen emerged as a significant force within the Norwegian Ski Federation. His passion for personal branding and sponsorships brought him into conflict with the Norwegian Ski Federation, whose restrictions on athlete sponsorships clashed with his vision. This disagreement played a significant role in his decision to step away from competitive skiing.
Competing in her first races in more than five years, Lindsey Vonn crossed the finish line of a pair of FIS downhill races at Copper Mountain, Colo., on Saturday, shaking her head.
Norwegian champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde made a surprise appearance at the Beaver Creek World Cup downhill race on Friday, mingling with teammates and fellow racers but in town primarily to spend time with fiancé Mikaela Shiffrin.
With new coaches, new confidence and more GS training, America’s downhillers are ready to race. It’s been a while since American men have put on a decent show on home snow. This weekend, they hope to change that on the famed Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek, Colorado. “The first time I was on Birds of Prey was 2011,” says Ryan Cochran-Siegle. “We’ve had success intermittently, but it would be nice to put forth a stronger effort this season.”
The U.S. veteran Tommy Ford, is making a point not to force anything as he approaches the site of his most triumphant day on skis at the Beaver Creek World Cup.
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