Speed athletes to watch at World Cup Finals

By Published On: March 15th, 2017Comments Off on Speed athletes to watch at World Cup Finals

The 2017 World Cup Finals competition kick off in Aspen, Colo. on March 15 with the men’s and women’s downhill. In this end-of-season race series, only the top 25 athletes in each discipline get to start, meaning they represent the best of the best. Of those athletes, who should you keep an eye on in super-G and downhill?
 

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR)

Age: 24 | Racing in downhill and super-G
ST. MORITZ, SWITZERLAND Ð FEBRUARY 14: Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway competes during the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships Nation Team Event on February 14, 2017 in St. Moritz, Switzerland (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)Called “the best trained skier I have ever seen” by teammate Aksel Lund Svindal and with a middle name inspired by ski racing royalty–Kjetil Andre Aamodt–early indications are that Aleksander Aamodt Kilde may become one of the dominant speed racers of his generation. In 2016, the Norwegian won the World Cup super-G discipline globe and has two World Cup victories to his name.
 

Lindsey Vonn (USA)

Age: 32 | Racing in downhill and super-G
JEONGSEON,SOUTH KOREA,03.MAR.17 - ALPINE SKIING - FIS World Cup, downhill training, ladies. Image shows Lindsey Vonn (USA). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Andreas PranterLindsey Vonn has 77 World Cup wins to her name in addition to seven World Championship medals and four World Cup overall titles. The American is the winningest female athlete of all time and is chasing the all-time wins record currently held by Ingemar Stenmark, who had 86 wins in his career. Vonn made a triumphant return to the World Cup this January after a year recovering from two injuries including a spiral fracture in her upper right arm from November.
 

Erik Guay (CAN)

Age: 35 | Racing in downhill and super-G
ALPINE SKIING - FIS Ski WC St. MoritzIn February, Erik Guay shocked the skiing world just a week after a horrific crash by winning the super-G World Championship, and in the process, becoming the oldest world champion in the sport’s history. The Canadian has 25 World Cup podiums and five victories to his name.

“The course is really good,” Guay said. “It’s different than most courses I’ve seen. It’s got a little bit of everything, some gliding sections, really technical back and forth through the middle and some good flowy speed down bottom. And actually some really contrasting light changes on the way down, sunny up top then in the shade, so thank you again for the amazing goggles.”

The most decorated Canadian alpine World Cup racer of all time, Guay will be aiming to end his season on a high note in Aspen.
 

Tina Weirather (LIE)

Age: 27 | Racing in downhill, super-G and giant slalom
ALPINE SKIING - FIS Ski WC St. MoritzTina Weirather comes into World Cup Finals after winning her first-ever World Championship medal, a silver in the super-G. The Liechtensteiner has 30 World Cup podiums to her name and six victories. Alpine skiing greatness runs in Weirather’s family. Her mother, father and uncle have all won World Championship medals.
 

Dustin Cook (CAN)

Age: 28 | Racing in super-G
KITZBUEHEL,AUSTRIA,17.JAN.17 - ALPINE SKIING - FIS World Cup, Hahnenkamm-race, preview. Image shows Dustin Cook (CAN). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Christian Walgram Though he lacks in creative nicknames – “Dusty” and “Cookie” – Dustin Cook is a beast when it comes to laying on the accelerator. After a strong 2015 season in which the Canadian took his first World Cup win and a runner-up finish at the World Championships–the first Canadian male racer to medal in Super-G at a World Championships–Cook had to watch from the sidelines in 2016 with an injury.

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About the Author: Gabbi Hall

A California native, Gabbi moved to Vermont to ski on the NCAA circuit for St. Michael’s College, where she served as team captain and studied journalism. Before joining Ski Racing, she worked as a broadcast TV producer and social media manager in higher education. She can be reached via email at gabbi@skiracing.com