Sofia Goggia, Cornelia Huetter and Lara Gut-Behrami on first Birds of Prey Women’s DH podium: GEPA pictures
Beaver Creek, CO — History was made today as the women competed for the first time on the iconic Birds of Prey downhill course. Switzerland’s Lara Gauche had the honor of being the first woman to race this demanding track. After her run, Gauche praised the course, calling it a perfect test of the athletes’ skills and talents.
The podium for the first-ever women’s Birds of Prey downhill came as little surprise. Austria’s Cornelia Huetter, the 2024 World Cup downhill champion, claimed her third career downhill victory, continuing her dominance from last season. Italy’s Sofia Goggia, who had dominated the final two training runs, finished second, just 0.16 seconds behind. Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, last season’s overall World Cup winner, rounded out the podium, 0.34 seconds back.
Goggia Sets the Bar High
Italy’s speed queen, Sofia Goggia, wearing bib seven, left the start gate with high expectations following her commanding performance in training. Switzerland’s Priska Ming-Nufer sat in the leader’s chair as Goggia delivered a stunning run, finishing 1.18 seconds ahead of the Swiss skier. This marked a triumphant return for Goggia, who was competing in her first race since a GS training injury last January.
“I’ve had so many comebacks in my career, and I think my mental strength is what sets me apart,” Goggia said after finishing second. “Once a bone is healed, I don’t let it hold me back—it’s like nothing happened. Today, I skied at about 80% of my potential, and while I’m a bit disappointed about the 16 hundredths, I’m also really happy and grateful to start the season on the podium. This is a good place to build from, and I know there’s a lot more to come.”
The result further solidified Goggia’s reputation as a fierce competitor, with her performance setting the tone for what promises to be another strong season.
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Gut-Behrami Pushes the Pace
Goggia’s lead was quickly challenged by Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, who started immediately after her. The 2024 World Cup overall winner skied a controlled and precise run but fell just short, crossing the finish line 0.18 seconds behind Goggia.
Huetter Steals the Spotlight
Austria’s Cornelia Huetter, wearing bib 11, demonstrated why she is the reigning World Cup downhill champion. Although her training runs hadn’t drawn much attention, Huetter executed a flawless and powerful run to edge Goggia by 0.16 seconds, taking over the lead and securing her third career downhill victory. Her performance reinforced her readiness to defend her title.
“Race day is race day,” said Huetter after her stunning performance. “Sometimes, in training, it’s hard for me to give 100%—I need the whip, the beep from the start. But today, everything clicked. The tricky turns, the solid speed—I took it all with me, and that was the secret. After so many tough years, it feels amazing to be in this position, skiing like this, and doing what I love. My knees are good, my mind is focused, and today, it all counted.”
Huetter also reflected on the significance of the women racing on the Birds of Prey course. “This is a big step forward for women’s downhill,” she said. “We showed the world we can race this track and ski it solidly, proving we’re ready for these challenges.”
The home crowd celebrated her victory, marking a monumental day for women’s World Cup racing.
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Wiles Makes History for the U.S.
Jacqueline Wiles, wearing bib 20, was the first Stifel U.S. Ski Team member to compete. Last season, Wiles made a strong comeback from injury, securing her third career podium in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Optimism was high after the U.S. women showed speed in training, but Wiles finished 2.28 seconds behind Huetter.
Despite the result, Wiles made history as the first North American woman to race the Beaver Creek Stifel Birds of Prey downhill. While she may have been disappointed with her time, her milestone run marked a proud moment for the American team and cemented her place in Birds of Prey history. Wiles ended the day 29th and earned her first two World Cup points of the season.
Ledecka Just Misses the Podium
Bib 24, Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic, the PyeongChang Olympic super-G silver medalist, commanded attention during her run. Known for her dual-sport prowess in skiing and snowboarding, Ledecka remained in podium contention throughout her descent. She ultimately crossed the finish line 0.60 seconds behind the leader, temporarily landing in fourth place. By the end of the day, she finished in sixth.
Macuga Shines for the U.S.
The second Stifel U.S. Ski Team member to compete, rising star Lauren Macuga, delivered a standout performance. Already established as a world-class super-G skier, Macuga proved she is equally skilled in downhill. Attacking the course with the confidence of a seasoned racer, she logged three top-10 splits after the first interval, showcasing her potential to win this season. In the final sector, Macuga lit up the crowd with the fastest split time, reeling back precious tenths of a second.
“I’ve worked hard on my mental game, and it paid off today,” Macuga said. “I told myself, ‘Just focus on skiing your best,’ and it worked. Even after being second in training, I pushed down the nerves and delivered.”
The 22-year-old bumped Ledecka down to fifth place, finishing in fourth, just 0.52 seconds behind the Austrian winner and only 0.18 seconds shy of her first career downhill podium. “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” she added. “To have my best result at the first race of the season, in front of a home crowd, is incredible. It’s not a podium, but it’s close, and I’m so excited.”
Johnson Returns to Form
Breezy Johnson of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, made her long-awaited return to the World Cup stage, where she belongs, after missing last season due to a suspension for whereabouts violations. Importantly, Johnson has never tested positive for banned substances.
In her first race back, Johnson showed she’s ready to compete at the highest level again, skiing with determination to finish 13th despite a few mistakes. The home crowd greeted her warmly at the finish line, celebrating her return.
“There were sections that felt really good today, but unfortunately, one part of the course bit me,” Johnson said. “I feel confident heading into upcoming races on courses I know. This is a solid start, even though I would’ve loved to do better today.”
Reflecting on the team’s performance, she added, “Yesterday showed our incredible potential. With girls firing in super-G and downhill, it’s going to be exciting to see what happens in the coming weeks.”
Haaser Challenges the Leaders
Bib 37, Austria’s Ricarda Haaser, came into the day ready to compete and quickly made her presence known. She captured the attention of the leaders in the finish as she posted the fastest time in Pete’s Arena and held her lead through the next sector.
Although Haaser lost time in the lower portion of the course, she crossed the finish line in fifth place, just 0.04 seconds behind fourth-place American Lauren Macuga. Her strong performance highlighted Austria’s depth in downhill talent.
She also won the Stifel Bibo Award for the biggest jump up the leaderboard from her start position, earning $5,000 from Stifel.
A Promising Debut for Haley Cutler
Four other U.S. women competed but did not finish in the top 30. However, World Cup rookie Haley Cutler completed her first race and earned valuable experience. As they say, you only ski your first World Cup once.
With just one did not finish (DNF) on this iconic course, it’s clear the organizers did an excellent job setting the Birds of Prey up for the first women’s downhill race. As the women have proven they are more than up to the challenge, it’s likely the course will be made even tougher next season.
Top 30 race results and analysis of the fastest three and the North Americans in the top 30
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Analysis of Top 3 Finishers and Stifel U.S. Ski Team Members in the Top 30
About the Author: Peter Lange
