Courchevel SG Podium 2023 : GEPA picture
Who’s Racing When and How to Watch
Saalbach Super-G Preview: A Legendary Race on a Demanding Course
The world’s best speed skiers are set to battle for gold in the men’s Super-G at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria, on February 7. The race will take place on the Schneekristall/Zwolfer course, Zwölferkogel Mountain, known for its challenging terrain and rich racing history. With a 710-meter vertical drop, technical turns, and high-speed jumps, this super-G will test racers’ ability to push their limits while maintaining control.
A Return to Saalbach
Saalbach Hinterglemm, located in Austria’s renowned Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, is hosting its second Alpine World Ski Championships, having last welcomed the event in 1991. Known for its steep pitches and modern infrastructure, Saalbach provides an ideal stage for the world’s best. All races at the 2025 World Championships will be contested on Zwölferkogel, with a single finish area unifying the event.
The Course: Speed and Aggression
The men’s super-G course starts at 1,780 meters and descends to 1,070 meters, forcing racers to attack a mix of high-speed straights and demanding technical sections. With speeds reaching 140 km/h, athletes must find the fastest line while balancing risk and control to stay in the race.
Where the Race Will Be Won or Lost
Schneekristallsprung: A Leap Into the Unknown
One of the course’s defining features is the Schneekristallsprung, a jump that launches racers up to 55 meters through the air. With a 72 percent gradient leading into the takeoff, skiers must fully commit to their line while controlling their trajectory. Any miscalculation could cost valuable time—or worse, lead to a costly mistake. This section is not just about skill; it demands absolute bravery, making it one of the most thrilling moments for racers and spectators.
Ochsenritt: A Brutal Test of Strength and Control
After navigating the Schneekristallsprung, skiers enter the Ochsenritt, a section known for its compression, jump, rolling wave and flat stretch. The key here is adaptability—athletes must land cleanly from the jump, adjust immediately to the rolling terrain, and carry as much speed as possible into the flat section. Those who stay aggressive and generate momentum will gain time, while any hesitation will cost them a shot at the podium.
The Defending Champion Stands Alone
James Crawford returns as the reigning super-G world champion from Courchevel 2023. The Canadian speed star carries momentum after winning the Kitzbühel downhill in his last race.
His former podium rivals are out. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, the 2023 silver medalist, is still recovering from a Wengen crash over a year ago. Alexis Pinturault, who took bronze in Courchevel, suffered a season-ending injury in the Kitzbühel Super-G.
That leaves Crawford as the only returning medalist. Can he defend his title, or will a new champion rise?
This Season’s Super-G Podium Finishers
Beaver Creek Birds of Prey
Winner: Marco Odermatt (SUI)
Second: Cyprien Sarrazin (FRA)
Third: Lukas Feurstein (AUT)
Val Gardena / Gröden Saslong
Winner: Mattia Casse (ITA)
Second: Jared Goldberg (USA)
Third: Marco Odermatt (SUI)
Bormio
Winner: Fredrik Møller (NOR)
Second: Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT)
Third: Alexis Monney (SUI)
Wengen, Lauberhorn
Winner: Franjo Von Allmen (SUI)
Second: Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT)
Third: Stefan Rogentin (SUI)
Kitzbühel, Hahnenkamm
Winner: Marco Odermatt (SUI)
Second: Raphael Haaser (AUT)
Third: Stefan Rogentin (SUI)
Key Contenders for the World Championship Title
Marco Odermatt has been skiing on another level, unleashing raw power and brilliant tactics to win in Beaver Creek and Kitzbühel. Vincent Kriechmayr, a two-time world champion, is back from injury and thrives in the pressure cooker of major events, especially with this one on home soil.
Mattia Casse proved in Val Gardena that he can handle speed and risk. Fredrik Møller smashed his way to a breakthrough win in Bormio, where only the toughest survive. Raphael Haaser, Stefan Rogentin, and Jared Goldberg have been knocking on the door and could explode onto the podium.
With one run, one shot, and no holding back, the racer who executes the perfect blend of power, aggression, and calculated risk will claim the world championship title.
Top 15 Breakdown: Nations Stacked with Talent
The top 15 super-G racers this season represent seven nations, highlighting the depth of competition. Switzerland leads with five skiers, the most of any country. Italy follows with three, while Austria and Canada each have two. France, Norway, and the United States round out the list with one racer each.
Canada has two in the top 10, including Crawford, the reigning world champion, who sits tenth. He also carries serious momentum after his Kitzbühel downhill victory, proving he is ready to defend his title. With such a deep and competitive field, the Saalbach Super-G is set for an intense battle for gold.
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2024-25 World Cup SG Standings
Sixty-two athletes from 23 countries will compete in the Saalbach super-G on Friday, Feb. 7th.
North American 2025 Super-G Rankings
U.S. Entries: Four Racers Ready for Saalbach
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team will field four skiers in the World Championship Super-G, each bringing unique experience and strengths to the race.
- Jared Goldberg, ranked 14th this season in super-G. His best result came in Val Gardena, where he finished second, earning his first career World Cup podium. In the final super-G before Worlds, he placed 22nd in Kitzbühel. Goldberg raced in one previous World Championship, finishing 15th in the 2021 Cortina Super-G.
- Ryan Cochran-Siegle, the reigning Olympic silver medalist, is ranked 21st this season. His best results are 11th-place finishes in Beaver Creek and Kitzbühel, showing consistency on big tracks. He has four previous World Championship Super-G starts, with his best finish being 11th in Åre, Sweden, in 2019.
- River Radamus, ranked 27th, opened the season with a strong eighth-place finish in Beaver Creek, his home hill. He has competed in two prior World Championships but only raced one super-G, finishing 16th in Courchevel 2023, just outside of World Cup start list points.
- Bryce Bennett, ranked 45th, had his best Super-G result this season in Kitzbühel, finishing 19th in the final race before Saalbach. He has two previous World Championship Super-G starts, in Åre 2019 and Cortina 2021, with his best finish as 23rd in Sweden.
The U.S. squad enters with a mix of experience and potential, led by Goldberg’s Val Gardena podium and Cochran-Siegle’s Olympic silver medal pedigree. Radamus and Bennett add depth, each with the ability to challenge for a strong result.
Canada: Five Racers Ready for Saalbach
Canada will field five skiers in the World Championship Super-G, earning an extra quota spot with Crawford as the defending world champion.
- Cameron Alexander is Canada’s top-ranked super-G skier this season, sitting seventh. He has finished fifth twice, in Val Gardena / Gröden and Kitzbühel, the final race before Worlds. However, this will be his first World Championship Super-G start.
- James Crawford, the reigning world champion, is ranked tenth. His best super-G result this season was fourth in Wengen. He has raced in three World Championships, winning gold in Courchevel 2023.
- Jeffrey Read sits 31st in the standings, with his best result this season coming in Bormio, where he finished 19th. He has competed in two previous World Championships, with his best finish as 11th in Courchevel 2023.
- Brodie Seger, ranked 41st, finished 21st in Beaver Creek and scored points in Kitzbühel. He has raced in three previous World Championships, finishing just off the podium in fourth at Cortina 2021.
- Riley Seger earned his spot thanks to Canada’s extra quota. He secured his selection with a season-best 15th in Kitzbühel. This will be his first World Championships start.
The Canadian squad enters with a mix of experience and momentum, led by Crawford’s past success and Alexander’s strong results this season. Read and Seger bring previous World Championship experience, while Seger adds fresh energy to the team.
What to Watch For
The Saalbach 2025 Men’s Super-G promises high-speed action as the world’s best skiers battle for gold on the demanding Zwölferkogel course. Marco Odermatt, the season’s top-ranked racer, leads a deep field, while defending world champion James Crawford looks to defend his title after a strong Kitzbühel downhill win. Vincent Kriechmayr, a two-time world champion, returns from injury, and Mattia Casse, Fredrik Møller, and Stefan Rogentin have all proven they are strong contenders. With only one run to decide the champion, the race will determine who takes the most risk and executes under pressure.
Bibs and Bios of North American Men Racing the Super-G
- Bib 2, Jared Goldberg, Stifel USST, Snowbird Sports Educational Foundation
- Bib 7, Cameron Alexander, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club
- Bib 17, Jeffrey Read, ACA, Banff Alpine Racers, Atomic
- Bib 18, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Stifel USST, Mt Mansfield Ski Academy, Cochran’s Ski Club, HEAD
- Bib 20, James Crawford, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, HEAD
- Bib 21, Brodie Seger, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Atomic
- Bib 22, Bryce Bennett, Stifel USST, Team Palisades Tahoe
- Bib 30, River Radamus, Stifel USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, SYNC Protection
- Bib 33, 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
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Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
