Featured Image: Lauren Macuga. Credit: GEPA
Women will race super-G entirely on the legendary Birds of Prey course in Beaver Creek, Colorado, for the second time in history. Traditionally reserved for men’s World Cup speed events, this iconic venue now makes history by hosting women’s speed events. With Lake Louise no longer available as the North American speed opener, Beaver Creek steps in as a reliable alternative, offering early-season speed racing on its famed snow.
Although the start is lower than the men’s, the course remains one of the toughest tests in super-G. Its icy pitches, blind turns, and unforgiving terrain demand precision, strength, and unrelenting focus from the field. This milestone marks a new chapter for the women’s World Cup circuit and raises the bar for the athletes competing.
Adding to the excitement, Lindsey Vonn will forerun the race, a moment eagerly awaited by fans in the stands. The 40-year-old Vonn has come out of retirement and is preparing for her World Cup return. Forerunning in Beaver Creek will be a crucial step in her comeback process, setting the stage for what could be another iconic chapter in her storied career.
Course Overview
The Birds of Prey women’s super-G offers one of the steepest and most technical tests on the World Cup tour. From the start at 10,650 feet (3,326 meters) to the finish at 8,954 feet (2,730 meters), the course features a vertical drop of 1,693 feet (516 meters) and spans a distance of 5,469 feet (1,667 meters). With an average slope of 35% (19.3°) and a maximum slope of 68% (34.0°), it demands exceptional skill and fearless commitment.
Birds of Prey has solidified its reputation as one of the premier venues in the sport, consistently pushing the limits of the world’s best skiers in both downhill and super-G. The women’s debut on this iconic track promises to uphold the course’s legendary status while setting new benchmarks in World Cup racing.
Signature Features and Legendary Jumps
Birds of Prey challenges athletes with a thrilling mix of high-speed stretches, sharp technical turns, and legendary jumps. Each feature demands precise timing, raw power, and unwavering confidence, making this course one of the ultimate tests in ski racing.
The terrain has delivered countless unforgettable moments in World Cup history. From dramatic victories to heartbreaking mistakes, every race on Birds of Prey has added to its iconic status. Now, with the addition of women’s races, the stage is set for a new chapter of thrilling stories.
The course’s natural layout and dynamic design make it a true proving ground for the sport’s best athletes. Every element, from its steep pitches to its blind landings, challenges racers to push their limits while rewarding those who can harness both skill and courage.
The 2023-24 Women’s World Cup Super-G Season
The 2023-24 Women’s World Cup super-G season was one of the most competitive in recent memory. Six different winners represented four nations: Austria (AUT), Italy (ITA), Switzerland (SUI), and the Czech Republic (CZE). These results underscored the global depth of talent and fierce competition in the super-G discipline.
Switzerland (SUI): 3 wins (Lara Gut-Behrami)
Italy (ITA): 3 wins (Sofia Goggia 1, Federica Brignone 2)
Austria (AUT): 2 wins (Cornelia Huetter 1, Stephanie Venier 1)
Czech Republic (CZE): 1 win (Ester Ledecka)
Total Super-G Races: 9
Podium Breakdown by Country
Switzerland (SUI): 9 Podiums
- Lara Gut-Behrami: 6 (3 wins, 3 second-place finishes)
Italy (ITA): 9 Podiums
- Federica Brignone: 5 (2 wins, 2 second-place finishes, 1 third-place finish)
- Sofia Goggia: 3 (1 win, 2 third-place finishes)
- Marta Bassino: 1 (1 third-place finish)
Austria (AUT): 7 Podiums
- Cornelia Huetter: 4 (1 win, 2 second-place finishes, 1 third-place finish)
- Stephanie Venier: 2 (1 win, 1 second-place finish)
- Mirjam Puchner: 1 (1 third-place finish)
Norway (NOR): 3 Podiums
- Kajsa Vickhoff Lie: 3 (3 third-place finishes)
Czech Republic (CZE): 2 Podiums
- Ester Ledecka: 2 (1 win, 1 third-place finish)
France (FRA): 1 Podium
- Romane Miradoli: 1 (1 third-place finish)
Last season highlighted the depth of talent and the strength of super-G programs worldwide. Each race showcased thrilling competition, with athletes from multiple nations pushing the limits of speed and precision. The season set the stage for even more exciting battles to come in this demanding discipline.
Top 15 Women on the Super-G World Cup Start List
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A Global Battle for Super-G Supremacy
Last season’s super-G competition delivered one of the most intense battles in recent history. Swiss star Lara Gut-Behrami claimed the title, narrowly edging out Italy’s Federica Brignone by just 30 points. Austria’s Cornelia Huetter was also in the hunt, finishing only 60 points behind Gut-Behrami. The razor-thin margins highlighted the high stakes and fierce competition throughout the season, where every result had championship implications.
This season, the diversity of talent in the super-G field is just as evident. Among the top 15 on the World Cup Super-G Start List, athletes represent eight different nations. Austria leads with four skiers, followed by Italy with three, while Switzerland and Norway each contribute two. The Czech Republic, United States, France, and Germany round out the list with one athlete each. This global representation underscores the depth of talent and the international appeal of the discipline, setting the stage for another thrilling season of high-stakes racing.
Forty-nine women from 13 countries are listed to compete in the Dec. 15 Stifel Birds of Prey Women’s super-G, with Austria and Italy each fielding ten athletes each.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team Women on the World Cup Start List
Rising Stars of U.S. Women’s Super-G
Lauren Macuga Leads the U.S. Charge
Lauren Macuga, the 22-year-old rising star of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, is the only American among the top 15 on the World Cup super-G start list. In just her second year on the tour, Macuga showcased her talent with three top-10 finishes, including an impressive 7th and 5th place in the final two regular-season super-G races in Kvitfjell, Norway. She also qualified for the World Cup Finals for the first time in her career, where she capped off her season by scoring points with a 14th-place finish.
Macuga’s outstanding downhill performance on Birds of Prey revealed her ability to handle the course’s unique challenges, as well as her affinity for the snow and terrain. With her momentum, the super-G could offer her another personal best.
A Deep Field of U.S. Talent
Additionally, Stifel U.S. Ski Team members Isabella Wright, Tricia Mangan, Jacqueline Wiles, and Keely Cashman all scored World Cup super-G points during the 2023-24 season. While currently ranked outside the top 30 on the World Cup Start List, these athletes have demonstrated the skill and determination to compete for top-30 finishes. They understand that a single strong performance could spark the momentum required to transform their efforts into a successful season.
Breezy Johnson’s Comeback
Meanwhile, Breezy Johnson returns to World Cup racing after a challenging period. Johnson, a proven talent, is determined to reestablish herself on the World Cup super-G Start List. With her drive and experience, she’s a competitor to watch as she works toward regaining her spot among the world’s best.
Haley Cutler Makes Her Super-G Debut
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 downhill spot by finishing second in the downhill standings in last season’s NorAm series. A former Montana State University skier, Cutler secured her super-G spot through strong performances while racing and training with the team at Copper Mountain. She will make her World Cup super-G debut on the iconic Birds of Prey course. 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 reflects 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 3, Lauren Macuga, Stifel USST, Park City Ski Team, Winter Sports School
- Bib 35, Isabella Wright, Stifel USST, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation, Atomic
- Bib 40, Trish Mangan, Stifel USST, HoliMont Snowsports, Dartmouth College, HEAD
- Bib 41, Jacqueline Wiles, Stifel USST, White Pass Ski Club
- Bib 44, Keely Cashman, Stifel USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, HEAD
- Bib 45, Haley Cutler, Independent, Montana State University, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Atomic
- Bib 46, Breezy Johnson, Stifel USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, 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 broadcasts are scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. ET and 2:00 p.m. PT.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and Start List
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First Run Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
