Wengen super-G preview

Fan’s attending the Wengen super-G public draw: Photo Credit GEPA

Who is racing, when and how to watch the Wengen super-G

Wengen is truly unique among the Alpine World Cups. In the winter, getting to the village requires a trip on a cog railroad from Lauterbrunnen, a small village sitting in a scenic valley with 72 alpine waterfalls. Once in Wengen, only electric taxis and pedestrians roam the streets. Both spectators and teams have two choices to ascend to Wengen, by train or helicopter. Sometimes the VIP area halfway down the speed course looks like a cluttered landing pad. 

However, getting to the finish area requires spectators without skis or snowboards to take the Wixi chair lift from Wengen and a six-minute walk or, for the healthy, a 15-minute walk up from Wengen. Once there, however, you are treated to a great finish stadium. 

For those with an adventurous spirit, the train continues to Kleine Scheidegg near the top of the downhill and then you can transfer to the Jungfrau Railway, which takes its passengers another 35 minutes up the mountains to the “Top of Europe.” 

The super-G in Wengen is among the longest. It starts from the combined start, which is a 1:50 downhill. So considering it is warm and there is new snow, this race could be nearly two minutes long. Weather permitting, the speed events start with a spectacular airshow presented by the Patrouille Suisse, the Swiss Air Force. This is undoubtedly a race series every race fan should put on their bucket list.

Unfortunately, the organizers will be battling the weather tomorrow. The forecast calls for warm temperatures and a mix of rain and snow. However, only time will tell, and you know the Swiss will do everything in their power to host a great event. One can only imagine the workforce of military and volunteers that are currently preparing for the course. 

North Americans racing

Fourteen North Americans are among the entries. The Stifel US Alpine Team has entered six men. Alpine Canada Alpin has entered eight. Eleven North American men have scored in super-G this season. Canada’s James Crawford ranks fifth. Canada’s Jeffrey Read ranks 19th. Three other North Americans have season ranking inside the top 30. Notably, they are all tied for the 26th position. That group includes US Olympic Medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Canadians Brodie Seger and his brother Riley Seger. However, Cochran-Siegle has only scored once this season, 13th in Bormio, so he is skiing at a level higher than his rank indicates. 

If you want a favorite, look no further than the home nation’s choice, Marco Odermatt. Odermatt has won two of the three super-Gs this season and was 2nd in the other. But there are a lot of capable skiers ready to compete, and one small mistake or missed wax can ruin Odermatt’s day. The weather could also be dramatic. Super-G races take a long time, and a slight break in the weather or favorable wind can create surprise success. 

North Americans on the Wengen January 13th super-G start list

• Bib 2, Travis Ganong, USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, Atomic
• Bib 6, James Crawford, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, HEAD
• Bib 14, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, USST, Mt Mansfield Ski Club, Cochran’s Ski Club, HEAD, SWIX, ASP
• Bib 21, Broderick Thompson, ACA Whistler Mountain Ski Club, HEAD, Oakley
• Bib 22, Brodie Seger, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Atomic
• Bib 25, Trevor Philp, ACA, Banff Alpine Racers, University of Denver, Rossignol/LOOK
• Bib 34, Kyle Alexander, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Rossignol, Look
• Bib 42, Jeffery Read, ACA, Banff Alpine Racers, Atomic, UVEX
• Bib 45, Kyle Negomir, USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Atomic
• Bib 48, Jared Goldberg, USST, Snowbird Sports Educational Foundation, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 49, Bryce Bennett, USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, Fischer, ASP
• Bib 54, Cameron Alexander, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 55, Riley Seger, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 56, Erik Arvidsson, USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, Middlebury College, HEAD

The race begins at 6:00 am Eastern and 3:00 am on the West Coast The race is available live and replay in the USA on the streaming service Ski and Snowboard Live. In Canada, video content is offered on CBC sports.

Start list and program for the Wengen super-G January 13th

Program for the January 13th Wengen super-G