Sofia Goggia St. Anton: GEPA pictures
Women’s St. Anton Downhill: Who’s Racing, How to Watch and What to Expect
Historic St. Anton Course Returns to the Spotlight
The Karl Schranz downhill course in St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria, will host the first Women’s World Cup Downhill 2025 on January 11. Named after one of Austria’s skiing legends, this challenging track features steep gradients, technical turns, and a significant vertical drop of over 600 meters. The course finishes in the heart of St. Anton, a town renowned for its ski racing history and widely regarded as the cradle of Alpine skiing. With its reputation as a proving ground for the world’s elite racers, the Karl Schranz course promises high-stakes competition and thrilling action.
St. Anton has long been synonymous with skiing innovation. From the pioneering ‘Arlberg technique’ developed by Hannes Schneider to the achievements of local heroes like Karl Schranz, this region has shaped the evolution of the sport. Its historic backdrop and demanding course sets the stage for an electrifying event.
Lindsey Vonn Returns to Downhill
Lindsey Vonn, one of the sport’s most iconic figures, makes her highly anticipated return to World Cup downhill competition in St. Anton. At 40 years old, Vonn returns after a partial knee replacement, which has allowed her to ski pain-free for the first time in years. Her last elite-level downhill was at the 2019 World Ski Championships in Åre, Sweden, where she earned a bronze medal. While World Championships do not count toward World Cup titles, Vonn’s unmatched legacy in downhill skiing remains a benchmark of excellence.
Vonn has already demonstrated her potential this season with a strong 14th-place finish in the St. Moritz super-G. The Karl Schranz course holds special significance for Vonn, as she claimed victory in December 2007 and won the downhill portion of a combined race that year. Her return to this legendary venue adds an extra layer of excitement.
Last St. Anton Downhill Podium
The last Women’s World Cup downhill on the Karl Schranz course in St. Anton occurred on January 9, 2021. Italy’s Sofia Goggia dominated the race, winning by an impressive 0.96-second margin. Austria’s Tamara Tippler delighted the home crowd with a strong second-place finish, while Breezy Johnson of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team claimed third, earning one of her seven career downhill podiums. However, Tippler has withdrawn from this year’s race and will not compete in the St. Anton downhill.
Early Season Storylines
With only one downhill race completed this season, the field remains wide open. Austria’s Cornelia Huetter enters as the defending downhill globe winner and current red bib holder after her victory at Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey downhill. Her performance in Beaver Creek demonstrated her ability to deliver under pressure. Racing in front of a home crowd in St. Anton will undoubtedly add to the excitement as Austrian fans reliably deliver a raucous welcome.
Italy’s Sofia Goggia, the queen of speed, and Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, another consistent podium finisher, also arrive in St. Anton hungry for victory. Lauren Macuga, 22, fresh off a career-best fourth place in Beaver Creek, leads the charge for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team featuring eight athletes in this race.
Top 15 Women on the Downhill World Cup Start List
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International Makeup of the Top 15 on the WCSL
The Women’s World Cup Start List (WCSL) for downhill showcases a diverse and competitive field, with athletes from five nations dominating the top 15 rankings. Austria and Italy each have five representatives, underscoring their deep downhill traditions and strong programs. Switzerland follows with three athletes, while Slovenia and Norway each claim one spot among the elite racers.
This international mix highlights the global appeal of women’s downhill skiing. Fans can expect fierce competition from Austria’s Huetter, who holds the red bib as the current leader, to Goggia and Gut-Behrami. These nations consistently produce world-class talent, setting the stage for thrilling races throughout the season.
Fifty-one athletes from 12 countries will compete in the St. Anton World Cup downhill on Saturday, Jan. 11. Switzerland leads the entries with 10 women set to race.
North American Women on the World Cup Start List
Spotlight on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team will feature eight athletes in St. Anton, including Vonn, each bringing unique strengths to the competition. Macuga leads the charge after an impressive fourth-place finish at Beaver Creek—a career-best performance. Johnson, 28, a proven podium contender with seven World Cup downhill podiums in her career, continues her comeback journey, looking to build on her 13th-place finish in Beaver Creek.
Jacqueline Wiles, 32, ranked 17th on the World Cup Start List (WCSL), also brings podium success to the team. Keely Cashman, 25, Isabella Wright, 27, and Tricia Mangan, 27, will each aim to secure their first downhill points of the season. Wright and Mangan are known for their tenacity, while Cashman’s career-best 16th place highlights her potential.
Haley Cutler, 27, an independent racer, rounds out the U.S. contingent. Cutler earned her spot through strong performances on the NorAm Cup circuit and will make her European World Cup downhill debut on this iconic course. Together, these athletes highlight the depth of U.S. women’s downhill skiing.
Spotlight on Canada’s Valérie Grenier
Canada will be represented by Valérie Grenier in the St. Anton downhill. Grenier, known for her versatility across multiple disciplines, continues to showcase her speed and technical skill on the World Cup circuit. While she excels in giant slalom, Grenier has proven her ability to compete in downhill, with a previous World Cup podium to her name. As the sole Canadian entry, she carries the hopes of her nation into this challenging race.
What to Expect
The Karl Schranz downhill offers an exhilarating combination of steep pitches, technical turns, and demanding gliding sections. Racers will need precision, confidence, and raw power to conquer this track. With its storied history and challenging layout, St. Anton is a regular highlight on the Women’s World Cup circuit.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team Athletes Racing Downhill
- Bib 3, Jacqueline Wiles, Stifel USST, White Pass Ski Club
- Bib 21, Lauren Macuga, Stifel USST, Park City Ski Team, Winter Sports School
- Bib 26, Valérie Grenier, ACA, Club de Ski Mont Tremblant
- Bib 28, Isabella Wright, Stifel USST, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation, Atomic
- Bib 32, Lindsey Vonn, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. HEAD, Oakley
- Bib 33, Breezy Johnson, Stifel USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, Atomic
- Bib 38, Trish Mangan, Stifel USST, HoliMont Snowsports, Dartmouth College, HEAD
- Bib 42, Keely Cashman, Stifel USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, HEAD
- Bib 49, Haley Cutler, Independent, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Atomic
How and When to Watch
The race kicks off at 5:15 a.m. Eastern and 2:15 a.m. Pacific Time.
U.S. audiences can catch the downhill live or on replay on Peacock.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and Start List
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Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
