Sofia Goggia: GEPA pictures
Women’s First Downhill on the Legendary Birds of Prey
For the first time in history, women will race entirely on the legendary Birds of Prey course in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Traditionally reserved for the men’s World Cup speed events, this iconic venue is making history by hosting the women’s downhill. With Lake Louise no longer available as the North American opener, Beaver Creek has stepped in as a reliable alternative, offering early-season speed racing on its famed snow.
Top racers on the men’s speed tour, including Marco Odermatt, frequently praise Birds of Prey as their favorite downhill. The course is renowned for its ability to test every aspect of a skier’s skill set, featuring world-class snow conditions, technical turns, challenging gliding sections, and breathtaking jumps.
This milestone marks a new chapter for the women’s World Cup circuit. While organizers have likely made minor adjustments to the snow surface and course set to suit the women’s field, the track’s storied challenges remain. Fans and athletes alike are eager to see how these changes impact the race.
Adding to the excitement, Lindsey Vonn will forerun the event as the next step in her return to the World Cup circuit. After coming out of retirement, Vonn plans to use the Wild Card spot she earned through her incredible career achievements, making her comeback highly anticipated.
Birds of Prey Downhill: A Thrilling Test of Skill and Speed
The Birds of Prey women’s downhill offers a thrilling and technical challenge on the World Cup circuit. Stretching from a start elevation of 11,270 feet (3,435 meters) to a finish at 8,954 feet (2,730 meters), the course boasts a vertical drop of 2,313 feet (705 meters) over a distance of 7,559 feet (2,304 meters). With an average slope of 35% (19.3°) and a maximum slope of 68% (34.0°), it combines speed and precision in equal measure. The debut of the women’s downhill on this iconic track is set to showcase the athletes’ skill and determination on one of the sport’s most demanding stages.
Signature Features and Legendary Jumps
Birds of Prey challenges athletes with a mix of high-speed stretches, sharp technical turns, and iconic jumps, such as Golden Eagle, Harrier, and Red Tail. Each feature requires precise timing, raw power, and unwavering confidence.
This terrain has delivered countless unforgettable moments in ski racing history. With the addition of women’s races, the course is poised to create even more thrilling stories. The natural layout and dynamic design of Birds of Prey make it a true proving ground for the sport’s best athletes
2023-24 A Season of Diverse Winners: Downhill Results at a Glance
The 2023-24 Women’s World Cup downhill season was among the most competitive in recent years. Seven different winners represented athletes from Austria (AUT), Italy (ITA), Switzerland (SUI) and the United States (USA). These winners underscored the global depth of talent in women’s downhill skiing.
Here’s how the numbers broke down:
Wins by Country:
- Austria (AUT): 3 wins (Cornelia Huetter 2, Stephanie Venier 1)
- Italy (ITA): 2 wins (Sofia Goggia 1, Marta Bassino 1)
- Switzerland (SUI): 2 wins (Lara Gut-Behrami 1, Jasmine Flury 1)
- United States (USA): 1 win (Mikaela Shiffrin 1)
Podiums by Country
Austria (AUT): 8 Podiums
- Cornelia Huetter: 4 (2 wins, 2 third-place finishes)
- Stephanie Venier: 2 (including 1 win)
- Christina Ager: 1
- Mirjam Puchner: 1
Italy (ITA): 10 Podiums
- Sofia Goggia: 5 (including 1 win)
- Federica Brignone: 2
- Marta Bassino: 1 (1 win)
- Nicol Delago: 2
Switzerland (SUI): 7 Podiums
- Lara Gut-Behrami: 4 (including 1 win)
- Jasmine Flury: 2 (1 win)
- Joana Hählen: 1
United States (USA): 2 Podiums
- Mikaela Shiffrin: 1 (1 win)
- Jacqueline Wiles: 1
Norway (NOR): 1 Podium
- Ragnhild Mowinckel: 1 (1 win)
Canada (CAN): 1 Podium
- Valerie Grenier: 1
Slovenia (SLO): 2 Podiums
- Ilka Stuhec: 2
Last season highlighted the depth of talent and the strength of downhill programs worldwide. Each race showcased thrilling competition and set the stage for even more exciting battles to come.
Top 15 Women on the Downhill World Cup Start List
click images to enlarge
Forty-five athletes from 10 nations will compete in the debut women’s Birds of Prey downhill. Austria leads the start list with nine racers, followed by Switzerland with eight and the United States with seven.
Injuries, Comebacks, and a Downhill Title Decided at the Wire
Two of last season’s downhill winners, Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) and Sofia Goggia (ITA), faced significant challenges in 2023-24 due to injuries. Shiffrin, who initially planned to limit her downhill starts, suffered an injury in Cortina d’Ampezzo and only returned for two slalom races late in the season. Meanwhile, Goggia, known as the queen of speed, hurt herself while training Giant Slalom and missed the season’s final stretch.
Looking ahead, Shiffrin will not compete in Beaver Creek, but Goggia is back and chasing her fifth downhill season title. Last year, Cornelia Huetter (AUT) claimed the title after clinching victory at the World Cup Finals in Austria, edging out Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI). Gut-Behrami’s failure to score in the final race sealed Huetter’s triumph, adding drama to an already thrilling season.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team Women on the World Cup Start List
Rising Stars of U.S. Women’s Downhill
The Stifel U.S. Women’s speed team may not have a skier ranked in the top 15 on the World Cup Start List, but their progress last season proves they are ready to compete at the highest level in Downhill (DH).
Jacqueline Wiles led the team with an incredible comeback, earning her third career downhill podium in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Issabella Wright showed flashes of brilliance, while Lauren Macuga had a breakout season at just 22 years old. Keely Cashman returned strong, scoring in three of four downhills she raced. Tricia Mangan, who fought her way back onto the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, delivered points in back-to-back seasons, demonstrating grit and determination.
Breezy Johnson Returns in Beaver Creek
The Birds of Prey downhill marks the return of Stifel U.S. Ski Team standout Breezy Johnson to World Cup competition. Johnson, who served a suspension due to missed doping control tests, is back and skiing well, as evidenced by her strong training runs. It’s important to note that Johnson never failed a doping test but exceeded the limit for missed whereabouts tests. Fans will be thrilled to see the successful American racer back on the start list, ready to compete on this iconic course, which has never before hosted a women’s race.
World Cup Rookie
Adding to the excitement, rookie World Cup athlete Haley Cutler joins the U.S. roster this season. The 27-year-old independent racer from Sun Valley, Idaho, earned her World Cup spot by finishing second in the downhill standings in last season’s NorAm series. A former Montana State University skier, Cutler will make her World Cup debut on the iconic Birds of Prey course—a slope few women have raced on. Unlike most World Cup venues, where veterans benefit from years of experience, this course levels the playing field, as almost no one has familiarity with its unique challenges.
This talented group highlights the growing depth of U.S. women’s speed skiing and promises an exciting season ahead.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team Athletes Racing Downhill
- Bib 20, Jacqueline Wiles, Stifel USST, White Pass Ski Club
- Bib 27, Lauren Macuga, Stifel USST, Park City Ski Team, Winter Sports School
- Bib 28, Isabella Wright, Stifel USST, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation, Atomic
- Bib 32, Breezy Johnson, Stifel USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, Atomic
- Bib 36, Trish Mangan, Stifel USST, HoliMont Snowsports, Dartmouth College, HEAD
- Bib 39, Keely Cashman, Stifel USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, HEAD
- Bib 45, Haley Cutler, Independent, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Atomic
How and When to Watch
The race starts at 1:00 p.m. Eastern and 10:00 a.m. Pacific time,
U.S. audiences can catch the Beaver Creek Birds of Prey Downhill live or on replay.
Watch live on Outside TV and on-demand at Outside+.
On Sunday, December 15, Peacock and NBC will broadcast delayed coverage of both the women’s downhill and super-G. The delayed broadcast is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. ET and 1:00 p.m. PT.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and Start List
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Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
