Courchevel’s race crew teams with the FIS to prepare the L’Eclipse GS track

Who is racing, when are the racing, and how to watch the men’s world championship GS

Tonight’s Courchevel forecast calls for mostly clear skies. With an overnight freeze, expect Friday’s race surface to be excellent. Sources with the FIS report that they have used water injection bars to prepare the slope and it is icy. Additionally, all the loose snow has been removed from the race line.

The first run course has been set by an Austrian coach Martin Kroisleitner and Switzerland’s Helmuth Krug will set the second.

Notably, in a World Championships, as is the standard in the World Cup, they will flip the first run top 30 to create the second run start order. Uniquely after the top thirty have finished, they will also race the 31st-60th first-run finishers.

By earning four victories, Odermatt has dominated this season’s GS racing. Still, including Odermatt, eight men have stood on a 2022-23 GS podium. Notably, two other men, Norway’s Lucas Braathen and Switzerland’s Loic Meillard, have also won a 2022-23 GS. Braathen is still recovering from an appendectomy and is hoping to return for the slalom. Additionally, athletes from only four countries have earned a GS podium this season, Switzerland with eight, Norway with five, Slovenia with three, and Austria with two.

At his best, Marco Odermatt is nearly unbeatable. He has already earned Silver in the super-G and gold in the downhill. There is no doubt he is skiing well. Even so, this is a World Championships and surprise results are to be expected.

Current season rank of the four North American men who are entered in the World Championship GS

Four North Americans will race the February 17th Courchevel men’s World Championship GS

North American teams have four skiers in the Courchevel World Championship GS. Stifel US Alpine Team has entered two members and one independent and Alpine Canada Aplin has entered one. River Radamus has already won gold in the Mixed Team Parallel GS. He was also fourth in the alpine combined. He has the talent to contend for a medal. However, it should be remembered that a top 15 result earns full World Cup Start List points. All four North Americans are capable of benefiting from the opportunity.

The North Americans entered

• Bib 13, River Radamus, USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Taos Ski Valley, Rossignol, Look, SWIX, ASP
• Bib 17, Erik Read, ACA, Banff Alpine Racers, University of Denver, Atomic, UVEX
• Bib 20, Tommy Ford, USST, Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, HEAD
• Bib 27, Brian McLaughlin, Global Racing, Dartmouth College, GMVS, Marker/Dalbello/Völkl, SWIX, ASP, TOKO

The men’s first run starts at 4:00 am Eastern Time and 1:00 am on the West Coast. Additionally, the second run will begin at 7:30 am Eastern Time and 4:30 am on the West Coast. Remember, a live simulcast and full replay are available, with Steve Porino and Steve Schlanger announcing on Ski and Snowboard Live. Additionally, Peacock will offer a live simulcast.

In Canada, CBC sports offers Alpine World Championship racing content.

The first run start list and program for Friday, February 17th Courchevel men’s World Championship GS

Program for the February 17th Courchevel World Championship GS