Ryan Cochran-Siegle: GEPA pictures
Who’s Racing When and How to Watch
The Ultimate Test of Speed and Nerve
Downhill alpine racing is raw and unforgiving—a relentless test of speed, power and nerve. Athletes push their limits at 140 km/h, balancing the razor’s edge between brilliance and disaster. Precision takes a backseat to risk as racers launch off jumps, absorb brutal compressions, and carve through icy turns with millisecond decisions. A flawless run can bring glory, but the slightest mistake can mean lost time—or a race-ending crash.
Saalbach’s Ultimate Challenge: The Schneekristall/Zwölfer Course
The 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Men’s Downhill will take place on the Schneekristall/Zwölfer course in Saalbach, Austria. At 2,916 meters long with a 710-meter vertical drop, this track demands everything from the world’s fastest skiers.
The course was designed by Hannes Trinkl, FIS race director and former downhill champion, ensuring a layout that rewards risk and punishes hesitation. Training runs have been clocking in around 1:41.00, meaning skiers will be riding the edge of control for nearly two minutes of full-throttle racing.
Key Sections That Will Define the Race
Schneekristallsprung: A Flight into the Unknown
The Schneekristallsprung is one of the most dramatic features of the course. With a 72% gradient, this section launches racers into the air for up to 55 meters while they reach speeds of 140 km/h.
But it’s more than just a jump; it’s a calculated risk. Skiers must fully commit or risk losing momentum upon landing. Any hesitation upon approach will cost them valuable time and leave them struggling to recover.
Ochsenritt: Power, Precision, and Momentum
The Ochsenritt is a legendary section of the track, a brutal sequence that demands a blend of raw strength, balance and perfect execution. It combines:
- A violent compression that places massive force on the legs,
- A jump that requires absolute precision,
- A wave that tests reaction time,
- And a critical flat section, where carrying speed is essential.
A clean run through Ochsenritt is key to a fast time. Any instability or hesitation will drain momentum and ruin the run.
A clean run through Ochsenritt is key to a fast time. Any instability or hesitation will sap momentum and ruin the run.
The Ultimate Risk: Only the Bold Will Prevail
With blind drops, aggressive turns, and extreme speeds, this race isn’t for the cautious. Every athlete will push their limits, balancing between control and chaos. Some will rise to the challenge, but the sheer brutality of the course will disqualify others.
The stage is set for an unforgettable showdown.
Champions Sidelined Ahead of Downhill Showdown
Marco Odermatt, the reigning downhill World Champion from 2023 in Courchevel, has already proven his dominance in Saalbach, storming to super-G gold. However, the downhill podium from France will look very different this year.
Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who claimed silver in Courchevel, remains sidelined after his brutal crash on the Lauberhorn in Wengen over a year ago. Meanwhile, Canada’s Cameron Alexander, the 2023 downhill bronze medalist, was forced to withdraw from Saalbach after injuring his knee in the second training run. He has been flown home for further evaluation, ending what could have resulted in other strong championships.
With two of last year’s podium finishers out, the race for downhill gold is wide open. Can anyone challenge Odermatt for the top step
History and Conditions: A New Challenge in Saalbach
Last season’s World Cup Finals Downhill in Saalbach was canceled due to warm weather, making this the first men’s downhill here since March 2021. In that race, Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr claimed victory with a time of 1:53.07, significantly slower than the training run times recorded this week. He was joined on the podium by Swiss legend Beat Feuz and Austrian star Matthias Mayer, both of whom have since retired.
This year, only Kriechmayr returns to the start gate. After recovering from an injury in Wengen, he proved his form and speed with a strong fourth-place finish in the super-G. With Feuz and Mayer no longer in the mix, Saalbach expects a new set of contenders to step up in the fight for downhill gold.
2024-25 Men’s World Cup Downhill Podiums
The Swiss team continues to dominate, winning four of five races and securing every second-place finish this season. Canada remains the only nation to break their victory streak, while Slovenia, the U.S., and Canada have each earned podium finishes. Notably, only four countries have reached the podium so far, with Austria still shut out from the downhill podium.
| Race Venue | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek, Birds of Prey | Justin Murisier (SUI) | Marco Odermatt (SUI) | Miha Hrobat (SLO) |
| Val Gardena / Gröden, Saslong | Marco Odermatt (SUI) | Franjo Von Allmen (SUI) | Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA) |
| Bormio, Stelvio | Alexis Monney (SUI) | Franjo Von Allmen (SUI) | Cameron Alexander (CAN) |
| Wengen, Lauberhorn (SUI) | Marco Odermatt (SUI) | Franjo Von Allmen (SUI) | Miha Hrobat (SLO) |
| Kitzbühel, Hahnenkamm (AUT) | James Crawford (CAN) | Alexis Monney (SUI) | Cameron Alexander (CAN) |
Updated Analysis of the Top 15
The latest World Cup downhill standings reflect Swiss dominance, with five Swiss skiers in the top 15, including Odermatt and Franjo Von Allmen holding the top two spots.
Slovenia’s Miha Hrobat remains a standout, currently ranked third, making him the only non-Swiss skier in the top five.
Canada has two athletes in the rankings—James Crawford (7th) and Cameron Alexander (6th)—but Alexander will miss the World Championships due to injury, weakening their chances for a podium finish.
The United States also has two skiers in the top 15, Ryan Cochran-Siegle (9th) and Bryce Bennett (10th), keeping them in the mix.
Austria’s struggles continue, with Vincent Kriechmayr (15th) and Daniel Hemetsberger (11th) ranked, but no Austrian man has reached a World Cup podium this season.
France has one representative, Nils Allègre (8th), leading the French effort, while Italy has two—Mattia Casse (12th) and Dominik Paris (13th).
With Switzerland controlling the standings and Austria still searching for a breakthrough, the upcoming World Championship Downhill in Saalbach will be a defining moment for the season.
Current 2024-25 Men’s World Cup Top 15 Downhill Ranking
Key Insights
Switzerland has dominated the downhill season, winning four of five races and securing every second-place finish, with five skiers in the top 15, including Odermatt and Von Allmen leading the standings. Only four nations (SUI, CAN, SLO, and USA) have reached the podium, while Austria remains shut out. James Crawford (CAN) is the only non-Swiss winner, but Canada’s Cameron Alexander (6th) will miss Worlds due to injury. Slovenia’s Miha Hrobat (3rd) is the only non-Swiss skier in the top five. The U.S. (Cochran-Siegle 9th, Bennett 10th) remains competitive, while Austria (Hemetsberger 11th, Kriechmayr 15th) struggles. With Switzerland in control, the World Championship Downhill in Saalbach will be a critical test for challengers.
Fifty-Six racers from 21 countries will compete in the Saalbach 2025 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships.
North American 2025 Contenders
U.S. Entries for the Saalbach World Championship Downhill
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team sends four racers into the World Championship Downhill in Saalbach, each with different levels of experience and past performances.
Ryan Cochran-Siegle: Looking for a Breakthrough
Cochran-Siegle enters his third World Championship Downhill, having previously raced in Åre (2019) and Courchevel (2023). His best finish came in Åre, where he placed 12th. This season, his only top-10 result came in Val Gardena / Gröden, where he finished third, showing he can contend on the right day. His training runs in Saalbach have been strong, and he likes the course and the surface.
Bryce Bennett: Searching for a Career-Best Result
Bennett is competing in his fourth World Championship Downhill, having previously raced in St. Moritz (2017), Åre (2019), and Cortina d’Ampezzo (2021). His best finish was 9th in Åre. This season, he has shown consistency, recording two sixth-place finishes—one in Beaver Creek and another in Wengen.
Sam Morse: First World Championship Appearance
Morse will make his World Championship debut in Saalbach. His best result this season was 15th in Wengen, though he has struggled to find his top speed. If he can regain form, he has the potential to break into the top 15.
Jared Goldberg: Veteran Experience, Seeking Speed
Goldberg is racing in his fifth World Championship Downhill, having competed in Vail / Beaver Creek (2015), St. Moritz (2017), Cortina d’Ampezzo (2021), and Courchevel (2023). His best finish in a World Championship downhill is 20th, which he has recorded three times. His best World Cup result this season was 16th in Wengen, but, like Morse, he has struggled to reach his full potential this year.
The U.S. squad has a mix of experience and fresh talent, with Cochran-Siegle and Bennett carrying the team’s best chances for a strong result. With Cochran-Siegle showing speed in training, and Bennett proving his consistency, both will aim to break into the top 10 or better on race day.
Canadians in the Saalbach World Championship Downhill
The Canadian Downhill squad enters the Saalbach World Championships with a mix of experience and late adjustments due to injuries.
Cameron Alexander: A Huge Loss for Canada
Alexander, a 2023 World Championship Downhill bronze medalist, came off a podium finish in Kitzbühel before suffering a knee injury in the second training run. His absence is a significant blow to Canada’s medal hopes.
James “Jack” Crawford: Canada’s Best Hope
Crawford is competing in his third World Championship Downhill, having raced in Cortina d’Ampezzo (2021) and Courchevel (2023). His best result was 5th in Courchevel. This season, he made history as the only non-Swiss skier to win a downhill, taking victory at the Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm race. He remains Canada’s strongest contender for a podium finish.
Brodie Seger: Looking for Redemption
Seger raced in one previous World Championship Downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo (2021) but did not finish. This season, he has scored in every downhill he has raced, with his best result as 10th in Beaver Creek. He missed Bormio due to family matters but remains a solid top-15 contender.
Jeffrey Read: Hoping to Rebound
Read has raced in three World Championship downhills—Åre (2019), Cortina d’Ampezzo (2021), and Courchevel (2023). His best finish came in Cortina, where he placed 26th. He has struggled in downhill this season, failing to break into the top 30, but his 10th-place finish in the Saalbach Ssuper-G indicates he likes the course and snow conditions.
Riley Seger: A Late Replacement
Riley Seger will step in for the injured Alexander, making his World Championship Downhill debut in Saalbach 2025. He previously raced in the super-G, finishing 20th. However, he has not recorded a top-30 World Cup Downhill result since Val Gardena / Gröden 2023.
With Alexander out, Crawford carries Canada’s best hopes for a podium, while Brodie Seger looks to build on a consistent season. Jeffrey Read and Riley Seger enter as wild cards, hoping to capitalize on their familiarity with the course to deliver a breakthrough performance.
North American Men World Cup Downhill Standings
Looking Ahead: The Ultimate Test Awaits
With the super-G now in the books, all eyes turn to the men’s downhill at the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. The Schneekristall/Zwölfer course promises pure speed, risk, and adrenaline, pushing athletes to their absolute limits. Marco Odermatt, already crowned super-G champion, aims to add another gold, but the field is wide open with Kilde and Alexander sidelined. Can Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr reclaim home glory? Will Canada’s James Crawford repeat his Kitzbühel magic? Or will an unexpected contender rise to the occasion?
The stage is set. The world’s fastest skiers are ready. Stay tuned for all the action from Saalbach 2025.
North American Men Racing the Downhill
- Bib 5, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Stifel USST, Mt Mansfield Ski Academy, Cochran’s Ski Club, HEAD
- Bib 7, James Crawford, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, HEAD
- Bib 10, Bryce Bennett, Stifel USST, Team Palisades Tahoe
- Bib 21, Jared Goldberg, Stifel USST, Snowbird Sports Educational Foundation
- Bib 29, Brodie Seger, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Atomic
- Bib 27, Sam Morse, Stifel USST, Carrabassett Valley Academy, TOKO
- Bib 31, Jeffrey Read, ACA, Banff Alpine Racers, Atomic
- Bib 47, Riley Seger, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Montana State University
How and When to Watch
The race starts at 5:30 a.m. Eastern and 2:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
U.S. audiences can watch the race live or as a replay on Ski and Snowboard Live.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and Start List
Click the images to enlarge or download.
Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
