Featured image: Lucas Pinheiro Braathen crosses the finish line during the 2025 Stifel Copper Cup at Copper Mountain. (Courtesy of Copper Mountain)
Copper Mountain will host men’s World Cup super-G and giant slalom races Nov. 28-29, with O.A.R. headlining the weekend’s off-snow festivities.
COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — World Cup alpine ski racing will return to Copper Mountain this Thanksgiving weekend, with the Stifel Copper Cup bringing the men’s Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup circuit back to Colorado on Nov. 28-29.
Following last season’s return of World Cup racing to Copper, the 2026 event will feature a men’s super-G on Saturday, Nov. 28, followed by a men’s giant slalom on Sunday, Nov. 29.
The super-G will be the first men’s speed race of the 2026-27 World Cup season, while the weekend will also mark the first U.S. stop on the men’s World Cup calendar.
The racing comes 50 years after Copper first hosted an FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in 1976.
World Cup racing returns to Copper Mountain
Both races will take place on Copper Mountain’s World Cup venue in East Village, with the courses finishing on Rosi’s Run.
Saturday’s super-G will send the field down a course combining steep pitches, technical sections and high-speed terrain. Sunday’s giant slalom will feature the traditional two-run format.
Spectators will be able to watch from the East Village finish area. Skiers and riders can also use the Super Bee chairlift, which provides views of much of the racecourse.
Copper Mountain has become an important training location for elite alpine racers through the Stifel U.S. Ski Team Speed Center. The resort regularly hosts national team athletes and international World Cup racers for early-season training.
O.A.R. to headline Saturday night festivities
The Stifel Copper Cup weekend will include a series of events away from the racecourse, including live music, a World Cup bib draw and fireworks.
Friday evening will feature a DJ performance in Center Village, with the artist to be announced.
Following Saturday’s super-G, attention will shift to Center Village for the men’s giant slalom bib draw. The top 15 athletes in the discipline will appear onstage and randomly select their starting positions for Sunday’s opening run.
O.A.R. will then headline a free Saturday night concert.
The multi-platinum band is known for songs including “Shattered (Turn the Car Around),” “Love and Memories” and “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker.” An opening act will be announced at a later date.
A fireworks show will follow the concert.
Fans in East Village will also have access to a vendor village featuring partner activations, interactive experiences and Stifel Copper Cup merchandise throughout the race weekend.
Stifel Copper Cup tickets and grandstand seating
General admission to the Stifel Copper Cup races is free.
Copper Mountain will offer reserved grandstand seating near the finish area for spectators seeking an upgraded viewing experience.
General admission grandstand tickets are priced at $45 for one race day or $80 for both days. Premium grandstand seating, which guarantees access to the upper rows, costs $65 for one day or $120 for the weekend.
Those prices are available through Oct. 31 and will increase afterward.
VIP experiences available for World Cup weekend
Copper will also offer VIP packages for both race days.
The VIP experience includes access to Grand Hall, an indoor hospitality space with a private outdoor deck overlooking the race venue. Packages also include chef-prepared meals, a premium open bar, access to a private finish-area viewing section and reserved parking.
Single-day VIP access is priced at $750, while a two-day package costs $1,400. Those prices are valid through Oct. 31.
Parking and skier access during the Stifel Copper Cup
Copper Mountain will remain open for public skiing and riding during the World Cup weekend.
Skiers can reach the race finish area via Skid Road from Center Village terrain or by riding the Super Bee lift. Terrain accessible from the top of Super Bee during the event is intended for intermediate and advanced skiers, with no beginner terrain available from that lift.
Premium parking will be available for $75 per day or $150 for both race days and includes a reserved parking space and shuttle transportation to and from the race venue.
Free parking will also be available in the Alpine and Far East lots. Parking is included with VIP packages.
Copper will also offer $99 lift tickets on Saturday and Sunday as part of its annual Play Forever giving program, with a portion of each ticket sold benefiting a selected nonprofit partner.
The discounted tickets must be purchased online in advance.
Additional event information, grandstand tickets, VIP packages, parking and lift tickets are available through Copper Mountain. Media credential applications for the event are also open.
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