Stifel Copper Cup SG podium/ GEPA pictures
Copper Mountain Hosts Its First Men’s World Cup Super-G
Marco Odermatt opened the Olympic super-G season with a narrow 0.08 win on Thursday, taking the first men’s World Cup speed race of the year at the Stifel Copper Cup presented by United Airlines. The victory marked his 16th World Cup super-G win and headlined Copper Mountain’s debut as a men’s speed venue.
The new track on West Encore / Rosi’s Race Arena sits at high altitude, starting at 3,519 meters with a 531-meter vertical drop. The set was straightforward, but super-G is never easy. Athletes get one inspection and then must attack at full speed. At these velocities, nothing is passive—every turn demands strength, power, and full commitment. The faster you go, the more punishing every mistake becomes.
How the Race Developed
Ryan Cochran-Siegle (10th) opened the historic day for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and Copper Mountain’s first men’s World Cup speed event. He fought through a significant mistake in Sector 3 but still delivered a competitive run and held the lead through the early starters.
“I thought I was about to ski out, but I caught the tail and stayed in it. I skied better on Bear Flats and felt competitive there, so there’s something to take from it. I know I have more in the tank.”
— Ryan Cochran-Siegle
Austria’s Stefan Babinsky moved into the lead with bib 5 before Vincent Kriechmayr, the first of Austria’s top-ranked starters, took over with bib 7. Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen and Stefan Rogentin couldn’t match that pace, setting the stage for Marco Odermatt. Wearing bib 11, the world No. 1 charged with clean, powerful skiing and took the lead by 0.08.
“It’s the perfect way to start the speed season. I had a clear plan and could ski it from top to bottom. Racing here is different because we train in Copper every year, but we’ve never raced this hill. The altitude makes it tough, but we prepared well these last two weeks.”
— Marco Odermatt
Norway’s Fredrik Møller produced the fastest Sector 5 of the day but struggled in Sector 4 and finished 5th.. Raphael Haaser attacked with speed and authority, yet a slower opening sector left him 3rd, 0.13 behind Odermatt. Italy’s Dominik Paris, never fully comfortable on softer snow, settled into 11th.
“I’m confident on my skis, but the American snow is different and not exactly what I love. Bormio will be special—an Olympic downhill on a slope I know well—and I’m focused on building toward that.”
— Dominik Paris
After Paris finished, the podium picture held firm. Racers with higher bib numbers reshaped the top 30, but no one threatened the top three.
The Story of Kilde’s Return
The performance of the day belonged to Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. In his first World Cup race since his devastating January 2023 crash in Wengen, he skied with courage, control, and obvious joy, finishing 25th, 1.25 seconds off the lead.
“The emotions were overwhelming. Just being on the start was a win for me today, and finishing only 1.2 back feels amazing after everything. I felt strong, under control, and I loved being out there again.”
— Aleksander Aamodt Kilde
His return—more than his placing—defined one of the most meaningful moments of the day.
Top Three Breakdown
- Marco Odermatt (SUI) — 1:07.70
- Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) — +0.08
- Raphael Haaser (AUT) — +0.13
Kriechmayr was pleased with both his run and the chance to race in Copper.
“We know this slope from training, and the light at the start was better for us. I’m happy with my skiing today, and now we’ll go to Boulder, relax, and get ready for Beaver Creek.”
— Vincent Kriechmayr
Odermatt’s consistency carried the day—he ranked in the top four in every sector and closed with the 2nd fastest final split. Kriechmayr lost the race in Sector 1, while Haaser’s strong finish couldn’t overcome his early deficit.
North Americans Inside the Top 30
Four North Americans scored World Cup points:
- Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA) — 10th (+0.83)
- James Crawford (CAN) — 16th (+0.96)
- River Radamus (USA) — 22nd (+1.15)
- Kyle Negomir (USA) — 24th (+1.24)
Crawford, the 2023 world super-G champion, saw clear positives.
“Four-tenths faster and I’m suddenly in the top five. We didn’t get on the race hill like the others, so I wasn’t fully confident, and on this snow you lose a lot when you’re not confident.”
— Jack Crawford
Radamus continued to build momentum heading toward the Olympic season.
“I wish I had more today. Everyone’s thinking about the Olympics, and a couple good results here can set the tone. The level is extremely high.”
— River Radamus
Negomir delivered a strong home-soil performance.
“Racing my first World Cup at Copper is incredible. I grew up skiing here, so getting a race of this caliber at home means a lot. I didn’t execute the way I wanted, but I put one in the finish. The goal for all of us is the Olympics in February, and this is the first step toward earning that spot.”
— Kyle Negomir
Stifel U.S. Ski Team rookie Tanner Perkins made his World Cup debut with bib 69 and finished +2.15. Starting that deep in the field is a significant challenge, but he delivered a clean run and gained invaluable experience in his first World Cup speed race.
“It felt great to finally race my first World Cup. My mind was clear in the start, and I was happy with how I took it to the course. More than anything, I just want to push harder, ski faster, and take more risk every time.”
— Tanner Perkins
Attack From the Back: High-Bib Surprises
Six racers starting outside the top-30 bib group broke into the points, led by Atle Lie McGrath, who delivered the fastest run among the late starters:
- Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) — Bib 34 → 12th (fastest of the late-bib group)
- Alban Elezi Cannaferina (FRA) — Bib 42 → 18th
- Simon Jocher (GER) — Bib 36 → 20th
- Nicolo Molteni (ITA) — Bib 57 → 23rd (highest bib to score)
- Kyle Negomir (USA) — Bib 43 → 24th
- Christof Innerhofer (ITA) — Bib 31 → 29th
A six-athlete surge from the back highlighted the unpredictability of early-season super-G.
Final Takeaways
Copper Mountain’s first men’s World Cup super-G delivered speed, commitment, and drama. Odermatt extended his dominance. Austria filled two podium spots. Kilde completed an emotional return. Four North Americans finished in the points, and a Stifel U.S. Ski Team rookie made his debut. And in an Olympic season—where qualification for Bormio looms—every race sets the tone for what comes next.
Analysis of the Top Three and North Americans Among the Top 30
Stifel Copper Cup Men’s Super-G Top 30 Results
About the Author: Peter Lange
