Isabella Wright: Photo Credit GEPA

Who is racing, when and how to watch the women’s Kvitfjell downhill

It is not likely but it is certainly possible that tomorrow’s downhill will be the 86th career World Cup victory of Mikaela Shiffrin. It would be poetic if she matched Ingemar Stenmark’s total victories skiing a downhill. Notably, Shiffrin did win the opening training run and has earned three career World Cup downhill victories. She skied beautifully in the first super-G and has certainly put a lot of effort into being fast. Shiffrin has competed in four of the seven downhills this season and has been fourth twice.

The favorite, however, is Italy’s Sofia Goggia. Goggia is simply the best woman downhiller on the planet. She has won five of the seven downhill races this season and earned second place in another after breaking her hand at the top of the St Moritz course.

Ten highest-ranked women downhillers for the season

North American women have consistently shown the level of aggression that earns podiums at the World Cup. They are moving in a positive direction and good results from any of them would not be a surprise. However, both challenges from multiple racer’s returns from injury and inexperience have undoubtedly interfered with their best results this season.

Season World Cup downhill rank of North American women

Seven North American women will compete on Saturday, March 3rd, in the Kvitfjell downhill. Five of those women are Stifel US Alpine Team members and both Canada and the US have one independent racing. Canadian Marie-Michell Gagnon has retired from downhill racing and is not racing in Kvitfjell.

North Americans starting in Saturday’s March 4th Kvitfjell women’s downhill

• Bib 19, Breezy Johnson, USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, Atomic
• Bib 4, Mikaela Shiffrin, USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Atomic, Oakley
• Bib 22, Bella Wright, USST, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation, Atomic
• Bib 35, Keely Cashman, USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 38, Trish Mangan, independent, HoliMont Snowsports, Dartmouth College, HEAD, SWIX, ASP
• Bib 44, Lauren Macuga, USST, Park City Ski Team, Winter Sports School, Rossignol, LOOK, SWIX
• Bib 46, Stefanie Fleckenstein, Independent, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, University of Colorado, Rossignol, LOOK, SWIX

The race will begin at 5:00 am Eastern Time and 2:00 am on the West Coast. Remember, live and full replay is available with English-speaking announcers on Ski and Snowboard Live.

In Canada, CBC sports offers Alpine World Championship racing content.

Start list and program for Saturday’s March 4th Kvitfjell women’s downhill

Program for Saturday’s March 4th Kvitfjell women’s downhill