Featured Image: Rejoicing on the podium of the Val-d’Isère downhill. Joana Haehlen (SUI), Jasmine Flury (SUI) and Cornelia Huetter (AUT). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Mathias Mandl

The weather was splendid for today’s downhill race in Val-d’Isère, and the Swiss women showcased their dominance on the renowned OK World Cup track. Jasmine Flury’s triumphant run marked a thrilling milestone in her career as her first downhill World Cup win. Last season, Flury emerged victorious in the downhill event at the World Championships in Méribel. Before today, her notable achievements in the World Cup included a victory in the 2017 St. Moritz super-G race and a second-place finish in the 2022 Garmisch-Partenkirchen downhill competition. 

Flury struggled to find the speed needed in the first downhill of the season in St. Moritz. She finished the day in 18th place (+1.17). However, today, she stuck to a fast line and was able to triumph over the Italian duo with a 1:43.47 finishing time.

Flury stated, “It is amazing. With the new skis and just the second downhill race, I am extremely happy and happy for the team.” She continued, “I tried to just focus on my skiing, and with this victory, I am very happy.”

Teammate Joana Haehlen kicked out of the gate wearing bib-2 and attacked the dynamic and challenging course, crossing the finish over a second ahead of Ragnhild Mowinckel, who was first out of the gate. Haehlen’s skiing was a bit chaotic throughout the course, but she proved she could maintain her speed through the challenging sections. She also did an excellent job of carrying speed after the jumps, although her airtime tried to force her into the backseat. 

Haehlen stated, “I was so in race mode and really went for it.”

The Italian duo, Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone, joined Mikaela Shiffrin on the podium in the St. Moritz downhill. Unfortunately, on the Val-d’Isère track, they both lost speed in critical sections of the course. Goggia was the back-to-back winner in Val-d’Isère in 2020 and 2021 but came through the finish +0.44 off Flury’s time. 

Reports explained that Goggia had not been feeling well before race day. However, she displayed unwavering control in her skiing and was not holding anything back. In the upper section of the OK track, she took a different approach than most of the top-15, keeping her line a little wider and higher. However, this did not prove to be faster for the 2023 downhill globe winner.

The podium was completed by Austrian Cornelia Huetter when she came through the finish line just +0.02 behind Joana Haehlen. Last weekend in St. Moritz, Huetter was pushed off the podium by Brignone +0.11. She showed grit and determination today to find the podium. Today was Huetter’s 13th downhill podium finish. 

Huetter explained, “I think it was a really tough and really hard downhill race today,” she continued, “It was way faster than yesterday, and the gates are coming really fast.”

Unfortunately, many were disappointed not to see Mikaela Shiffrin compete. She won the season’s first downhill in St. Moritz but did not race in the event today. After some rest for Shiffrin, she aims to reign supreme on the super-G tomorrow.

North Americans

Four North Americans finished in the top 30, earning World Cup downhill points: Jacqueline Wiles (25th), Stefanie Flekenstein (27th), Isabella Wright (29th) and Keely Cashman (30th). 

Stifel US Ski Team athlete Jacqueline Wiles pushed out of the start for her 105th World Cup. It was her first downhill race of the season, as she did not start at St. Moritz. She gained speed throughout the course and landed herself in the top 25. 

Stifel US Ski Team Isabella Wright was the first North American out of the gate wearing bib-16. She displayed confidence by attacking the panels with a tight line through the challenging top section; however, she struggled to carry the speed through the traverse. She came through the finish +2.17 seconds back from Flury, placing her in 29th position. 

Sadly, after a solid run from Independent Canadian SYNC racer Flekenstein, she caught her ski and crashed into the finish arena. The crash was severe, and the medical team moved quickly to attend to her. She did finish in 27th place, earning herself World Cup points. 

Lauren Macuga kicked out of her 7th World Cup downhill. She showed grit and determination but got a little inside before the traverse and lost speed going into that section. She finished in 38th position. 

Unfortunately, Tricia Mangan did not finish in the downhill today. After a super-G podium this week in the St. Mortiz Europa Cups, she was feeling confident. However, she did not finish due to a bobble in the course’s mid-section.

Top 30 results and analysis of the fastest three and top 30 North Americans