Odermatt vs. Kilde a Thrilling Battle Upon Us at the Birds of Prey Super-G

Dec 02, 2023

Featured Image: Marco Odermatt celebrating at the Andorra super-G win! Credit: GEPA pictures/ Herald Steiner

Who is racing the Birds of Prey in Beaver Creek, when, and how to watch the super-G.

Tomorrow will be the men’s first super-G of the season on the Birds of Prey in Beaver Creek and 14 different nations will be represented! The men have experienced multiple cancellations during this early season. Nonetheless, they are still hoping to be able to push out of the start tomorrow, even with weather predicted in the forecast. 

Marco Odermatt  is the leader in World Rankings for super-G heading into this 2023-24 season. Last season, the Swiss top-alpine skier took gold at every super-G World Cup race, except for two where he still earned a spot on the podium. He has won ten super-G WC races in his career, and last year was his most successful in the discipline thus far. 

At the beginning of the season, Odermatt spoke with Ski Racing Media, touching on his past success, “It brings a certain level of confidence. But I know it’s not a guarantee for future success. Everything starts at zero again.” 

He continues into each race with eagerness and higher goals to achieve. Odermatt got pushed into second place on this hill last year by Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. Kilde, was able to take victory on the Birds of Prey in 2022 by 0.20. Tomorrow will be a showdown for these two as they both look to step on the top of the podium. 

2023 World Championships had a different SG podium than the other World Cup races last season. James (Jack) Crawford of Canada took gold! He just barely put Kilde into 2nd by 0.01. And Alexis Pinturault (FRA) pushed Marco Odermatt off the podium, placing Odermatt into 4th. This race showed that the two leaders, Odermatt and Kilde, can be contested.

Current Top Ten Men 2023-24 World Cup super-G Standings

Click on images to enlarge

North American Highlights

After Crawford’s victory at the World Championships he aims to complete more races that finish in 1st-place. In Beaver Creek, he finished 11th last season and 12th the season before. This year, he will be pushing to find the podium. 

River Radamus, a Colorado local, ranked 45th in the World in super-G, had great success on the Birds of Prey last season.  He came across the finish with his best place in super-G thus far, ending in 16th-place. This gave Radamus more confidence for this hill going into tomorrow. 

Canadian Jeffrey Read, is the top-ranked North American, currently 17th in the World for super-G. Read hit his stride last season on the World Cup circuit, with the highlight of a 5th-place finish in Grandvalira Soldeu, Andorra and a 7th-place finish at Cortina d’Amprezzo. This season if he finds the top-10 consistently and podium finishes, he will continue to increase his World Ranking. 

The brothers from Alpine Canada, Brodie Seger, ranked 24th in SG, and Rylie Seger, ranked 29th in SG will be competing against each other in this World Cup super-G. 

From the Stifel US Ski Team, Samuel Dupratt, Sam Morse, Isaiah Nelson and Jack Smith will be aiming to score their first World Cup SG points. 

Unfortunately, Stifel US Ski Team athlete Erik Arvidsson, ranked 43rd in the world, tore his ACL and LCL in training at Copper Mountain right before the Birds of Prey and will be out for the season. Also, Alpine Canada athlete, Broderick Thompson, ranked 36th in the world, sustained head injuries on the second training day ahead of this weekend’s World Cup. He is still receiving care at the Denver Health Center.

Stifel US Ski Team men’s speed team during the autograph signing in Beaver Creek. Credit Jennifer Haunschild 

There are a total of twelve North Americans on the December 3rd, Birds of Prey super-G start list

North Americans 2023 season super-G ranks who are racing Sunday, December 3rd, in Beaver Creek

Birds of Prey history

In early December 1997, the Birds of Prey hosted its inaugural World Cups, setting the stage for a venue that would become iconic in alpine skiing. Specifically designed and built for the 1999 Alpine World Championships, this course was the brainchild of Swiss Downhill World Champion Bernhard Russi. At the World Championships in 1999, the massive crowd of fans witnessed the first super-G, gold medal tie between Norway’s Lasse Kjus and Hermann Maier from Austria. since the first super-G on this hill in 1997, it has continued to be one of the largest alpine events in the United States annually.

Initially, Beaver Creek was considered for the 1976 Winter Olympics downhill event. However, the Olympic bid ended when a state referendum stopped the funding. Nevertheless, in July 1977, the construction of Beaver Creek Resort kicked off, marking the beginning of its journey to becoming a top-notch ski destination. On December 15, 1980, the resort welcomed the skiing public for the first time, equipped with six chairlifts and a slope-side lodge. This inaugural season set the foundation for what has grown into a well-loved year-round destination. With its stunning surroundings and top-notch facilities, Beaver Creek Resort has consistently won the admiration of both winter enthusiasts and summer adventurers alike.

The Bald eagle and the USA flag at Beaver Creek Bird’s of Prey. Photo: GEPA pictures/ Mario Buehner-Weinrauch

Event Schedule and Viewing Guide: Start Times and How to Watch

The men will start the super-G at 10:45 MST and 12:45 EST. The live streaming is set to start at 10:00 AM MST.

Viewing the race

In the US: Outside will have live streaming, NBC Sports and Peacock will have a delayed showings of the race

In Canada: CBC sports will have live streaming

Click here for Outside TV / No Charge
Click here for access to Peacock

Start list and race program for Sunday, December 3rd, Beaver Creek men’s super-G

Click on the start list and program to download

Program for the December 3rd Birds of Prey men’s super-G


About the Author: Ellie Hartman

Ellie Hartman was born and raised in Breckenridge, Colorado, and was on skis soon after she was able to walk. She raced for Team Summit, out of Copper Mountain, from the age of five until she was 18. After her PG program ended, she embarked on an unexpected journey when she was recruited to join the NCAA Division II rowing team at Barry University in Miami, Florida. She took on the role of team captain and led her squad to victory in two NCAA Championships, all while successfully completing her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Business Administration. After, she took 4 years to work, travel and write. Then, Ellie went back to Miami to assistant coach the University of Miami Women's Rowing Team and get a another degree in a Master's of Professional Science for Marine Conservation. She spent time as a Communications Specialist, Research Assistant and Marine Mammal Observer for NOAA SEFSC. After her contract ended, she was excited to find her way back into the ski racing world! Ellie enjoys skiing, ocean animals, great coffee, travel, SCUBA Diving, anything outdoors, delicious beer, and happy people.

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