GEPA Mikaela Shiffrin photo Edgar Eisner Bryce Bennett photo Thomas Bachun

A brief review of the 2023-24 Women’s and Men’s World Cup downhill season so far. Ski Racing Media covers the key moments, top performers, and the overall standings. Engage in a snapshot of the current season and a look back at how North American athletes fared last season.

Women’s World Cup downhill review

The 2023-24 Women’s World Cup downhill season is in full swing, with two races wrapped up. Unfavorable weather scrapped the first pair in Zermatt-Cervinia; there was no shocker there.

Sofia Goggia, the Italian speed queen, usually claims the season title. But this time, she missed the top spots in the first two races and landed off the podium in Val d’Isere, France – a bit of a twist. Despite this, Goggia holds onto her lead in the season standings.

Mikaela Shiffrin, a force on the Stifel US Ski Team, clinched the season’s first downhill race in St Moritz, Switzerland, marking her fourth downhill victory in a stellar career with 93 total wins. Shiffrin skipping the Val d’lsere France downhill race keeps the suspense alive.

North Americans

North American women kicked off the season with a mix of results. Jacqueline Wiles made a roaring comeback, displaying impressive speed, while Keely Cashman kept notching up scores. Isabella Wright impressed with a solid 12th place in St Moritz but slipped to 29th in France.

Breezy Johnson, the US number one, remains ineligible due to Anti-Doping whereabouts issues – no clarity on her return.

On the Canadian front, Stefanie Fleckenstein, racing as an independent SYNC Team athlete, grabbed attention with a 27th-place finish in Val d’Isere, securing valuable points. However, her promising start took a heart-wrenching turn as she crashed in the finish. Surgery followed, forcing her to bow out for the remainder of the season. It was a tough break, especially considering her career-best start to the season.

As the season progresses, Goggia continues to lead the standings. Notably, only five North American women have scored downhill points so far. The next women’s World Cup downhill is scheduled for January 13th in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria. With eight more downhill races lined up, the North American women are poised for more action, surprises, and high-speed competition on the slopes. Stay tuned for the thrill!

See how women are ranking in the 2024 World Cup downhill standings, and take a glance at how North Americans did last season.

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Men’s World Cup downhill review

The 2023-24 Men’s World Cup downhill season has been a rollercoaster ride, with only three of the six scheduled races completed so far. Mother Nature played her part, canceling the first three events in Zermatt-Cervinia and Beaver Creek, Colorado, due to unfavorable weather conditions.

The resilient spirit of the competitors, however, prevailed, and a rescheduled Zermatt-Cervinia race was organized in Val Gardena / Gröden, Italy, using a shorter Saslong course from the super-G start. Stifel US Ski Team member Bryce Bennett seized the opportunity, clinching his second career Saslong victory in the first race on the modified track. His prowess continued as he secured a commendable third place just two days later on the full course, where the legendary Dominik Paris, a home country hero, claimed the top spot.

The treacherous Stelvio in Bormio, Italy, witnessed the ascent of Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin, who notched his first World Cup downhill podium with a thrilling victory. Despite his absence from the top step of the podium the season’s favorite, two-time title holder Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, remains a formidable force and a frontrunner for the season’s downhill title.

Adding to the excitement is the tie between USA’s Bryce Bennett and Kilde for second place in the season’s downhill standings. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt, though still seeking his first career World Cup downhill win, holds the top rank and is hailed as the world’s best male skier, consistently earning the podium.

North Americans

Other North Americans are making their mark as well. Canada’s James Crawford sits at a respectable sixth in the season standings, posing a constant threat to the podium. Teammate Cameron Alexander, a World Championship bronze medalist, celebrated his first podium of the season in Bormio.

Veterans Jared Goldberg and Ryan Cochran-Siegle of the Stifel US Ski Team have shown promise, but have yet to fully unleash their potential. The return of USA’s independent Wiley Maple adds an intriguing storyline to the mix. Having retired due to a back injury, Maple made a spectacular comeback, earning a World Cup start in Bormio through the Europa Cup and finishing as the top USA athlete with a career-best 12th place.

More on the North American front, Talented Canadian Jefferey Read and Stifel US Ski Team’s Kyle Negomir have contributed to the North American downhill point total.

Additionally, Stifel US Ski Team member Erik Arvidsson will miss the season due to a knee injury he experienced training in Copper Mountain. Also, Canadian Boderick Thompson is recovering from a head injury sustained during training in Beaver Creek. His return is undetermined

Looking ahead, the historic Wengen Lauberhorn in Switzerland awaits as the next stop, featuring the longest course on the tour. The action kicks off with a Beaver Creek makeup downhill on January 11th. With eight more Men’s World Cup downhills scheduled for the 2023-24 season, the competition promises to heat up as the downhill skiers vie for supremacy.

See how men are ranking in the 2024 World Cup downhill standings, and take a glance at how North Americans did last season.