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The world’s best alpine ski racers now know where they will compete for Olympic gold in 2030.
Following its Coordination Commission meeting in Lyon on Wednesday, Sept. 16, the International Olympic Committee confirmed the alpine skiing venue plan for the French Alps 2030 Olympic Winter Games.
Courchevel will host the men’s and women’s downhill and super-G races on L’Éclipse. Val d’Isère will stage the technical disciplines, with the men racing on the Olympic Stadium at La Face de Bellevarde and the women competing on La Joseray.
The plan brings both genders together at each resort but divides the competition by discipline. Courchevel will showcase speed, while Val d’Isère will feature slalom and giant slalom.
The arrangement differs from the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, where the men competed in Bormio and the women raced in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Who will face La Face in 2030?
La Face de Bellevarde will entertain the world’s fastest male giant slalom and slalom racers when the Olympics return to France in less than 3½ years.
The imposing slope occupies an important place in French ski racing history. It hosted the men’s downhill, super-G and giant slalom during the 1992 Albertville Olympics and has since provided the stage for many major World Cup races.
Most recently, Loïc Meillard won the December 2025 World Cup giant slalom. His victory led a Swiss sweep ahead of Luca Aerni and 2022 Olympic champion Marco Odermatt. Norway’s Timon Haugan won the slalom the following day.
However, the women will not race on La Face in 2030. They will compete on the separate La Joseray slope.
The two Val d’Isère courses have independent race lines, allowing organizers to prepare each surface for its specific competition. Both will finish at the foot of the resort in front of spectators, who should have a view of nearly 90% of the courses.
That compact setup gives Val d’Isère a rare Olympic advantage. It places two separate race venues within the heart of the village while creating a shared atmosphere for athletes and spectators.
Why is L’Éclipse ready for another major championship?
Courchevel’s L’Éclipse will host the men’s and women’s downhill and super-G races in 2030. The current plan also places the team combined competitions in Courchevel, keeping both portions of each competition at one resort.
The men raced on L’Éclipse during the 2023 World Championships. Several of those champions could return as leading contenders in 2030.
Odermatt won the downhill. Canada’s James “Jack” Crawford claimed super-G gold.
The women competed on the Roc de Fer in Méribel during those championships. In 2030, they will join the men on L’Éclipse for the Olympic speed disciplines.
Using the same slope does not necessarily mean identical courses. The men’s and women’s races can use different start elevations, course sets and configurations while sharing the lower section and finish area.
What have recent Courchevel races shown?
L’Éclipse most recently hosted a men’s World Cup downhill in March 2026.
Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr won ahead of Italian Kitzbühel champion Giovanni Franzoni and Odermatt. Heavy snowfall forced organizers to postpone and eventually cancel the scheduled super-G.
The women previously raced downhill and super-G on L’Éclipse during the 2022 World Cup Finals. Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel won the downhill before Stifel U.S. Ski Team star Mikaela Shiffrin captured the super-G.
Those races demonstrated that L’Éclipse can accommodate elite men’s and women’s speed competition. The 2023 World Championships then provided another full test of the venue’s infrastructure, race operations and spectator areas.
Which familiar courses were not selected?
Courchevel and Val d’Isère had other proven race slopes available.
The Stade Émile-Allais in Courchevel has hosted women’s World Cup giant slalom, slalom and parallel races since 2010. The women will return there for a World Cup night slalom on Dec. 22, 2026.
Val d’Isère also has the historic Oreiller-Killy course. Known as the O.K., it has hosted women’s World Cup speed races in recent seasons and staged men’s downhill racing for decades.
However, the 2030 plan places all Olympic speed racing on L’Éclipse. Val d’Isère will concentrate on the technical disciplines with the men on La Face and the women on La Joseray.
Which women will arrive as defending Olympic champions?
Federica Brignone became the only woman to win two individual alpine gold medals at the 2026 Olympics. The Italian won the super-G and giant slalom on home snow.
Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin delivered gold medals for the United States, while Ariane Rädler and Katharina Huber won the inaugural women’s Olympic team combined for Austria.
- Downhill: 🥇 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA; born Jan. 19, 1996; Atomic) — Stifel U.S. Ski Team; Rowmark Ski Academy
- Super-G: 🥇 🇮🇹 Federica Brignone (ITA; born July 14, 1990)
- Team combined: 🥇 🇦🇹 Ariane Rädler (AUT; born Jan. 20, 1995; Head) and 🇦🇹 Katharina Huber (AUT; born Oct. 3, 1995; Völkl)
- Giant slalom: 🥇 🇮🇹 Federica Brignone (ITA; born July 14, 1990)
- Slalom: 🥇 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA; born March 13, 1995; Atomic, Oakley) — Stifel U.S. Ski Team; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail / Burke Mountain Academy
Which men will defend Olympic titles in France?
Franjo von Allmen dominated the men’s alpine program in Bormio. The Swiss speed skier won the downhill and super-G before joining Tanguy Nef to capture the team combined.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen delivered Brazil’s first Olympic Winter Games medal by winning the giant slalom. Loïc Meillard completed Switzerland’s remarkable Olympics with the slalom title.
- Downhill: 🥇 🇨🇭 Franjo von Allmen (SUI; born July 24, 2001; Head)
- Super-G: 🥇 🇨🇭 Franjo von Allmen (SUI; born July 24, 2001; Head)
- Team combined: 🥇 🇨🇭 Franjo von Allmen (SUI; born July 24, 2001; Head) and 🇨🇭 Tanguy Nef (SUI; born Nov. 19, 1996; Atomic)
- Giant slalom: 🥇 🇧🇷 Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA; born April 19, 2000; Atomic, Oakley)
- Slalom: 🥇 🇨🇭 Loïc Meillard (SUI; born Oct. 29, 1996)
Four seasons can transform the competitive landscape. Some reigning champions will return, others may retire and a new generation will emerge before 2030.
Still, the venue decision gives athletes and fans their first clear picture of the next Olympic alpine stage. L’Éclipse will test the speed racers, La Face will challenge the men in giant slalom and slalom, and La Joseray will welcome the world’s best women’s technical skiers.
Two classic French resorts and three demanding slopes will now prepare to decide the next generation of Olympic champions.
About the Author: Matt Garcka
