Corneila Huetter / GEPA pictures
Cornelia Huetter of Austria delivered a masterclass in speed to take the win in today’s Val d’Isère downhill, finding nearly two full seconds between her training runs and her race performance. Fast from the start, Huetter carried her speed effortlessly down the course, staying calm, smooth, and composed through the demanding terrain. Her aerodynamics stood out in the key sections, holding a clean tuck where others were forced more upright and lost time to the wind.
With the victory, Huetter moves to nine World Cup wins, closing in on becoming the 11th Austrian woman to reach double digit World Cup victories across all disciplines. Fittingly, this is the same venue where she earned her first World Cup podium in 2013, and since that breakthrough she has been Austria’s most successful women’s downhill skier with four downhill wins and 18 podium finishes in that span.
Reflecting on her run, Huetter said, “It was not so easy for me also. I skied not that clean. I had it in my head, so I struggled a little bit with my mindset, with my focus and everything. But today I thought only go full speed, go in position, find your outside ski and push it. And that’s what I did. To see the green light is always amazing, and to finish like this, especially here in Val d’Isère where I had my first podium 12 years ago, makes it even more special. The most important thing is finding the speed and having fun.”
Weidle Winkelmann and Vonn Deliver Podium Runs
Second place Kira Weidle Winkelmann (GER) capped off a strong week in Val d’Isère after showing speed and consistency in both training runs. As the first skier out of the start today, she set the early benchmark on the demanding course. Finishing 14th and 8th in the first downhills of the season that just recently took place in St Moritz, Weidle Winkelmann showed clear signs of growing confidence in speed and carried that momentum into Val d’Isère. Throughout the week she skied with power and conviction, fully committing to the challenging course. The result marked her seventh World Cup podium, all in downhill, and her first since finishing third in Cortina d’Ampezzo 2022/23, ending her longest downhill streak without a podium to date and delivering a confidence-building performance for the German racer.
Reflecting on her run, Weidle Winkelmann said, “I didn’t expect a podium with that run. The top part was quite good but the middle section, I thought I was holding too much on the line, so that’s where Conny also gained a lot of time. I had a good feeling in the trainings so I know I could perform well but I also knew that Sofia and Lindsey and everyone are all great skiers.”
Third place Lindsey Vonn (USA) rounded out the podium with a strong and experienced run on a course she knows extremely well. Vonn was smooth and compact from the top, staying calm even when she was slightly late into key sections. She gained time through the technical basketball turn, skiing with patience and precision, but a bobble near the bottom, where she lost her pole grip cost her some time and ultimately the chance to challenge for more. Even so, her composure, line choice, and ability to manage the demanding terrain underlined her experience and race savvy, earning her a well deserved podium finish. This marks the 141st World Cup podium of her career, and with this result, Vonn also extends her lead in the downhill overall standings, further consolidating her position as one of the season’s top contenders.
Reflecting on her run, Vonn said, “I thought it was actually not bad. I was fastest of all at the second speed trap but only 27th fastest at the third trap after my line error. I thought I skied well in the middle, and then on the bottom I was carrying a lot of speed and with the light, I didn’t quite see the terrain, and I lost my balance. It cost me probably half a second or more so I’m disappointed in myself for that mistake. But when you’re going fast, anything can happen and I’m just happy that I hung on to the podium and the red leader’s bib.”
Val d’Isère Poses a Classic Downhill Challenge
Flat, diffuse light challenged the women as they returned to one of alpine skiing’s most iconic downhill courses. The subtle lighting made it harder to read the terrain, demanding precise timing and acute awareness from every racer. The long, demanding course offered a mix of twists, turns, steep dives, and relentless transitions, the kind of track that rewards courage, precision, and feel. Skiers had to balance speed with control, navigating high risk sections while finding every possible line to shave off fractions of a second.
With the women not racing here last season, today’s downhill felt almost new, adding another layer of uncertainty in an Olympic year where every run matters. Even many veterans were thrown off by small mistakes and were unable to find the podium. Conditions were equal for all, but Val d’Isère made sure nothing came easy, testing both technical skill and mental resilience. From the first jump to the final stretch, the course demanded focus, strength, and confidence, setting the stage for a thrilling women’s race.
North Americans Deliver Strong Performances
The North Americans delivered a strong showing in Val d’Isère, led by Lindsey Vonn’s (USA) return to the podium and solid depth throughout the results list. Breezy Johnson (USA) skied into seventh place after another fast and aggressive run. She was slightly late on the exit of the Telephone section (Le Téléphone pleure), which cost her speed heading into the Meadows, but it still marked another top ten downhill result this season as she continues to build momentum.
Jackie Wiles (USA) finished 15th and was visibly frustrated in the finish area, knowing she left time on the course after a few mistakes in key sections. Even so, the result carried added significance as she continues to build form after being sick during the recent St Moritz Super-G race.
The American rookies also impressed on a downhill they had never raced before. Allison Mollin (USA) and Haley Cutler (USA) both delivered confident runs to finish inside the top 30, backing up their strong performances from St Moritz. Mollin placed 22nd while Cutler followed in 27th, each gaining valuable experience and confidence at the World Cup level. Keely Cashman (USA) rounded out the American results in 28th, adding another consistent performance to cap a positive day for the North American women.
Valérie Grenier (CAN) delivered an impressive performance, skiing into 23rd place from bib 34. After a challenging week in St Moritz, where a few big mistakes left her out of the top 30 in the downhill, Grenier showed strong, confident skiing today. Her result is especially notable given her limited speed training, as she focuses primarily on giant slalom, making her performance on this demanding downhill course all the more impressive.
Points List — Bibs 31+ (Top 30 Finishers)
- 30 — Delia Durrer (SUI) — 18th — +1.72
- 31 — Alice Robinson (NZL) — 21st — +1.76
- 41 — Allison Mollin (USA) — 22nd — +1.84
- 34 — Valerie Grenier (CAN) — 23rd — +2.11
- 37 — Haley Cutler (USA) — 27th — +2.28
- 35 — Keely Cashman (USA) — 28th — +2.32
- 44 — Joana Haehlen (SUI) — 30th — +2.56
Podium Results
Top 30 results
Click Images to enlarge
Analysis of the North Americans among the top 30
About the Author: Katie Twible
