Twenty-one-year-old Keely Cashman took home her first FIS World Cup top-10 result in the Val d’Isere super-G on Sunday, finishing 10th.

Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic, best known for her surprising win in the PyeongChang Olympic super-G, won her first World Cup super-G. Just .03 seconds behind her was Corinne Suter of Switzerland, who made it three podiums in a row in Val d’Isere. Federica Brignone, who sat out Saturday’s downhill after crashing hard in Friday’s race, was third.

Running bib 35, Keely attacked from the back for the third time this weekend with her typical no-holds-barred style and was thrilled to come down and see herself in 10th place. “It’s pretty crazy,” she said. “These are my first World Cup speed races in Europe, so I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to ski confident and to ski how I know I can ski and I knew if I did that, it would work out. I’m happy with the results.”

Keely’s star has been rising quickly over the past few seasons, culminating in a win of the 2020 NorAm downhill and overall title and a bronze in the 2020 Junior World Championship alpine combined. While she raced a handful of North American World Cups last season, this season, she’s racing in Europe with the team. And so far, so good. Over the weekend in Val d’Isere, she put down a 17th place in the first downhill, 16th place in the second downhill, and finally cracked the top 10 in the super-G.

Keely credits a lot of her success to her Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team teammates, who have helped the World Cup rookie learn the ropes and inspired her with results like Breezy’s podiums in Val d’Isere. “This is my first year with the speed crew,” said Keely. “It’s awesome to have a lot of older girls to take me under their wing. They’re super helpful. Watching Breezy do so good this weekend hypes everyone up and everyone is just so pumped to ski. When everyone is building off each other, it’s good for everyone.”

On top of that, the speed training offered by Copper Mountain, Colo. at the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center this November was crucial, and it's paying off for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team speed crew—both men and women—as they racked up personal bests and podiums this weekend and looked comfortable in the process. 

Rounding out the U.S. team, Isabella Wright was 33rd, and Breezy Johnson—who caught an edge and had a great recovery, narrowly missed doing the splits—37th. Jackie Wiles crashed and did not finish.  

Next up, the women have a short break for the holidays before the tech team heads to Semmering, Austria December 28.

RESULTS
Women’s super-G

HOW TO WATCH
All Times EST

Sunday, Dec. 20
9:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBCSN

Ryan Cochran-Siegle took second place and his first FIS World Cup podium in Val Gardena, Italy to lead three Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team men into the top six. Bryce Bennett was just off the podium in fourth and Jared Goldberg was sixth.

The Norwegians again showed their consistency, with Aleksander Aamodt Kilde taking his second win in two days. Beat Feuz of Switzerland was third.

Ryan, who has mostly been lauded as a giant slalom and super-G specialist, was surprised to find his first World Cup podium in a glider’s downhill. “Coming here, I didn’t think this would be a hill I should worry too much about,” he said. “That way it made it easy. This isn’t a hill I should do well—it’s such a gliding hill. I just focused on the skiing and it allowed me to perform well.”

But Ryan’s low-key style and textbook technique gave him an edge, which left him only .22 seconds off of the lead. “I had just a nice neutral approach to this hill,” he said. “You have to ski with a good intensity but not overdo it and just focus on the next turn ahead. They did a fantastic job getting the hill ready and it was a lot of fun to ski. I think I tend to do well when I’m having fun.”

But maybe Ryan’s podium in Val Gardena was written in the stars. Fun fact: His mother, Olympic slalom champion Barbara Cochran, took second place on this hill in the FIS Ski World Championships slalom in 1970. With his podium, Ryan became the first American man to grab a World Cup podium in speed since 2017, ending the longest U.S. men's downhill podium drought. 

The Val Gardena track has always treated the Americans well and the team hinted that they were podium hunting in the downhill training runs, but the men showed that they wanted those results, packing in four men in the top 15 and three of those in the top six. Bryce Bennett was just behind Ryan in fourth—his best result since he was fourth in both Bormio and Val Gardena in 2018. “I keep getting the wooden spoon here—the old fourth place—and I’m getting pretty over it!” Bryce joked. “One of these days it’ll happen. I’m feeling better skiing and more comfortable.”

But more seriously, Bryce couldn’t have been more excited for his teammates. “I’m so pumped for Ryan,” he said. “He worked super hard. He’s one of my best friends on the team and I couldn’t be more excited for him. He’s just really good at skiing. You can’t argue that. I’m psyched for him. I’m psyched for Goldberg—he had a great day. It’s what we needed as a team.”

Jared Goldberg, who showed strength in the downhill training runs with a win and a fourth, placed sixth—his best World Cup result in his career and a promising platform to build off of for the 2020-21 season. Travis Ganong rounded out the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team men in the top 15, taking 14th place. Sam Morse also finished in the points, taking 29th—only his second time scoring points in his career. Middlebury skier Erik Arvidsson was 58th.

Next up, the men pass the baton to the tech team, who have a giant slalom in Alta Badia, Italy on Sunday and a slalom on Monday, then a night slalom in Madonna di Campiglio on Tuesday. The speed team has a short break for the holidays before heading to Bormio, Italy for a downhill and super-G.

RESULTS
Men’s downhill

HOW TO WATCH
All Times EST

Saturday, Dec. 19
10:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - Same Day Broadcast, Val Gardena, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Dec. 20
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
11:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - Same Day Broadcast, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Monday, Dec. 21
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, Dec. 22
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel

Breezy Johnson went two for two, pocketing her second downhill podium in two days in Val d’Isere, France, skiing into third place.

The podium looked eerily similar to Friday’s FIS World Cup downhill, with Sofia Goggia of Italy taking the win and Corinne Suter of Switzerland in second. Friday’s downhill saw Corinne win and Sofia in second. Breezy was third both days.

It was a bumpy ride for the women on the dark track, but Breezy was able to power through it, using all the strength she worked so hard for in the gym this summer. She flew into the finish .27 seconds off of Sofia and only .03 seconds behind Corinne, showing that she’s gunning for those higher spots on the podium.

“I just want to see what I can do,” said Breezy, whose two third place finishes in Val d'Isere are her first two World Cup podiums. “I want to go in and ski my best. After injury, I’m just trying to seize every moment and seize every day, so maybe I’ll put a threat in there with Goggia and Corinne!”

Breezy has been plagued by knee injuries throughout her career, causing her to miss the 2018-19 season and some of the 2019-20 season, but she hasn’t let those obstacles keep her from her ambitions.

“These podiums have been coming on for a while,” said Breezy. “I definitely have a goal to win a World Cup and go for a World Championship medal this year and I think this is just the beginning. We just keep working. My goal every day is to ski my best and if it’s the best it’s pretty freaking sweet. I want to see how far I can push myself.”

It was a solid day for the rest for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team women, stacking three in the top 20. Attacking from bib 44 and in only her fourth downhill World Cup start, Keely Cashman was well on her way to a top-10 result, but skied up on to the net Bode Miller-style and lost time. However, even with that exciting recovery, she still finished 16th, a personal best for the 21-year-old. Just behind Keely was Jackie Wiles, who finished in 17th place. Isabella Wright did not finish, but is OK and skied down.

The women race super-G on Sunday to finish off the weekend in Val d’Isere.

RESULTS
Women’s downhill

HOW TO WATCH
All Times EST

Saturday, Dec. 19
5:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBC
9:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Dec. 20
5:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Streaming Peacock
9:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBCSN

U.S. Nationals

The 2020-21 season kicked off last month with a flurry of high-level competition at Copper Mountain.  Two races were held in each event, one National Championship and one FIS, and many athletes notched personal best results.  It was exciting for domestic athletes to be able to race toe-to-toe with U.S. Ski Team members to start the year.  Congratulations to the juniors who achieved podium-level results: Isaiah Nelson (USST/BHSC), AJ Hurt (USST/SVST), Allie Resnick (USST/SSCV), and Ava Sunshine Jemison (BMA). There was a tremendous amount of momentum for the whole country coming out of the series, and a special thanks goes to Copper Mountain for hosting such exceptional races! 
 

Copper Speed Projects

Directly after the U.S. Nationals finished, U.S. Ski & Snowboard hosted open, club-facilitated developmental speed training on the Copper Mountain Speed Center.  Coaches from around the western U.S. brought U14, U16, and FIS-level athletes to work through a speed progression under the leadership of U.S. Ski & Snowboard staff.  Reaching 200 athletes over the course of 10 days, the athletic focus was on basic speed skills: jumping, gliding, aerodynamics, and skiing over terrain.  The FIS athletes had the bonus of finishing their five-day training block with two SG races under blue-bird skies.

COVID-19

Both the U.S. Nationals and the Copper SG races featured extensive COVID mitigation measures to ensure that the races were run as safely as possible.  For the Nationals, every athlete, coach, and official was tested upon entry, and then again once more during the week.  For the FIS SG races, every athlete, coach, and official was required to complete a daily health check before arriving at the venue.  In each case, it was successfully shown that ski racing can move forward with thoughtful steps taken to mitigate congestion points at the start, finish, and on course during inspection.  Granted, there is risk with almost any activity we undertake in this pandemic, but as an individual, naturally socially-distanced, outdoor sport, alpine ski racing has distinct advantages that should allow us to continue doing what we love this winter! 

In spite of the successful precedent established at Copper, we are having difficulties hosting races this December.  Some of the challenges have been weather-related, but in other cases, the local restrictions have been too strict for us to operate.  Still, it is encouraging to see the Western Region moving forward with FIS races in Jackson, WY this week, and we will look to build on that example after the holidays. 

In spite of all the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought, the stark reality has forced us to be thankful for what’s most important: our collective health, the chance to remain engaged at work and school, and the opportunities we have to enjoy the outdoors.  This winter, more than ever, skiing will prove to be a vital part of our lives.  The slow start to the racing season is only a small hiccup in the larger picture and one that has the side benefit of allowing our athletes to train more and hone their skills for the long-term.  Let’s all work together to make the most of the current situation.

Ryan Cochran-Siegle led the way for the U.S. men in Val Gardena, Italy, finishing in eighth place—his first top 10 in a FIS World Cup super-G.

Val Gardena’s striking beauty didn’t distract last season’s overall World Cup champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway, who took the win ahead of 2019-20 super-G globe winner Mauro Caviezel of Switzerland. Kjetil Jansrud of Norway was also on the podium in third—his sixth super-G podium in Val Gardena in the last seven seasons.

Ryan skied a clean and fast line on Val Gardena’s dark Saslong track to take his first top-10 result in the discipline. He had threatened a number of times last season, snagging three top 20s in the Beaver Creek, Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Hinterstoder super-Gs before the season ended early, and was excited to finally crack the elusive result bracket.

“My main focus was just to carry speed as much as I could—trusting that, not trying to be perfect and letting it go, letting it flow,” said Ryan. “I think I executed in places pretty well. Obviously still a good amount of time off the top Norwegian, so there’s still a lot to learn, but I had fun with it and trusted it and really enjoyed it. I think between my set up and approach to the whole day, it was a good day.”

Behind Ryan, Jared Goldberg attacked from bib 57 to take home 23rd place—his best super-G result since 2018. Keep an eye out for him in Saturday’s downhill. He won the first training run and was fourth in the second and he wants that result.

Travis Ganong, who was fourth in last week’s Val d’Isere super-G, also finished in the points, taking 25th place. Bryce Bennett was 33rd.

Sam DuPratt was also scheduled to race in Val Gardena, however, he crashed and sustained bilateral lower extremity injuries in the second of two downhill training runs. He has been treated locally and will return to the U.S. for further care. He is amazing everyone with his resilience.

Also missed in Val Gardena is Steven Nyman, who holds the title “King of the Saslong,” as he’s won three times (all three of his World Cup victories) on the track and has four top 10s. Steven is currently recovering from an injury home in Park City, but provided his teammates advice for the weekend’s races.

Next up, the men race downhill on Saturday in Val Gardena.

RESULTS
Men’s super-G

HOW TO WATCH
All Times EST

Saturday, Dec. 19
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Val Gardena, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Val Gardena, ITA, Streaming Peacock
10:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - Same Day Broadcast, Val Gardena, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Dec. 20
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
11:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - Same Day Broadcast, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Monday, Dec. 21
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, Dec. 22
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel

On a sunny day in Val d’Isere, France, Breezy Johnson grabbed her first FIS Ski World Cup podium to lead three Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes into the top 25—including Keely Cashman in 17th from bib 46 to grab her career-first World Cup points. 

It was a tough day with a lot of brutal crashes in Val d’Isere, including four athletes in the top 25 and American Alice McKennis. Alice skied down following her crash but will sit out Saturday’s downhill and Sunday’s super-G as she undergoes further evaluation. Both Austria's Nicole Schmidhofer and Italy's Federica Brignone crashed, causing significant course holds for Breezy, but she wasn't phased. The races was tight in the top three, with Switzerland’s Corinne Suter in first, by .11 seconds over Italy’s Sofia Goggia in second place, followed by Breezy in third, .20 seconds off the pace. 

Breezy started the week off strong, finishing second in the first downhill training run on Wednesday, and winning the second of two downhill training runs on Thursday by a massive six tenths. Breezy’s go for broke style served her well in Friday’s race, but it still hasn’t hit her. “I don’t think anything has sunk in yet, so I think I’m probably just going to keep it that way and just keep working towards tomorrow,” she reflected post-race. “The snow in most places was actually a lot better, it was just a little bumpier in some spots, and a lot faster with the race wax and everybody going for it. It was a good race.”

If you watch Breezy, her approach to downhill resembles Olympic champion Picabo Street’s hard-charging style. Mentally tough and physically strong, Breezy is destined for the top of the podium. “I was happy with it...I try to go out and ski 100% every day,” she added. “There were a few mistakes for sure, and places to clean up for tomorrow and I’ll keep working, but I’m obviously very happy. I love Val d’Isere, this is where I first felt at home on the World Cup—I came here in 2016...I did well after some really bad training runs, and that was the first time I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I belong on the World Cup.’” As far as tomorrow goes...for Breezy, her eyes are on the prize. “After the training runs, and today, I’m hunting for the win tomorrow,” she said. 

Keely Cashman skyrocketed from bib 46 to land in 17th and grab her first career World Cup points, while Jackie Wiles—who has been skiing consistently fast in training runs—landed in 23rd. When asked about how it was today, Keely said, "slightly scary, but mostly fun." Bella Wright also started for the Americans, but finished just outside the top 30, in 35th. 

Up next, the women have a downhill on Saturday, followed by a super-G on Sunday. 

RESULTS
Women’s downhill

HOW TO WATCH
All Times EST

Saturday, Dec. 19
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Streaming Peacock
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Val Gardena, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Val Gardena, ITA, Streaming Peacock
5:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBC
9:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBCSN
10:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - Same Day Broadcast, Val Gardena, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Dec. 20
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
5:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
9:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBCSN
11:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - Same Day Broadcast, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Monday, Dec. 21
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, Dec. 22
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel

There is, quite possibly, no venue on the FIS Ski World Cup circuit quite as aesthetically spectacular as Val Gardena, Italy. It is a downhill track like none other, requiring skill, power, courage, and stamina. The terrain is unlike any other. Nine jumps. 17 larger bumps. Athletes jump up to 262ft and are 20 feet about the ground. Imagine that. The infamous “camel humps.” It’s a doozy. It also happens to be a favorite track for the Americans. Just ask veteran Steven Nyman, who has won three times here. Buckle up, because it’s going to be quite the weekend. 

In the first of two downhill training runs, the Americans went 1-2. Jared Goldberg, followed by big ol’ Bryce Bennett...who, as we know, loves this track. Day 2? Those Attacking Vikings threw down: Aleksander Kilde first, Kjetil Jansrud second. But guess what?! Jared, once again, the fastest American, in fourth. Ryan Cochran-Siegle fifth. Bryce seventh. Sam Morse 19th. Former World Junior Downhill Champ and Middlebury Alpine athlete Erik Arvidsson will be checking out this real-deal track for the first time. He's stoked. "That was SO much fun," he said when he came down after his first training run. Giddy up!

Caught up with three-time Saslong victor (we like to call him, “King of the Saslong,” though he doesn’t agree with that title), Steven Nyman. Here’s what he had to say: “Obviously it’s a bummer, but it is what it is, and I’m trying to help the boys in any way that I can. My words of advice to them are: ‘You gotta nail that first big right-footer...give yourself space, don’t try to gain anything there. It’s just about cleanliness and carrying your speed through that flat. When it comes to terrain, you need to be confident...like know it like the backside of your hand and just go over every blind roll, and know where you’re going without hesitation because that’s going to set you apart from 95% of the guys. Everybody is going to hesitate, and as Americans, we have an advantage, growing up, playing in terrain parks, and understanding terrain better than the Europeans. Fight, fight, fight for aerodynamics wherever you can.’”

Again, he reiterated that he’s “not the ‘King of the Saslong.’” “It’s Kristian Ghedina [from Italy, with four victories on the Saslong]...or, actually, it’s Leo Mussi [Steven’s and Kristian’s technician, who has won seven times on the Saslong], then Kristian, then me,” he added with a laugh. To put it simply, the Americans love this track and you’re not going to want to miss the action this weekend. First up: super-G Friday, followed by downhill day on Saturday. Sunshine all ‘round'. In super-G, watch Travis Ganong, who was fourth last weekend in Val d'Isere, France to match his career-best in the discipline. He's en fuego at the moment, and his super-G set-up is dialed! 

Speaking of sunshine, the women brought the heat in both downhill training runs over in Val d’Isere, France, with Alice McKennis Duran first, Breezy Johnson second, Jackie Wiles 11th, and Keely Cashman 28th on day one! Day two: more of the same. Breezy in first, with a commanding .63 second lead. Jackie Wiles ninth. Alice McKennis Duran 11th. Keely Cashman 30th. The women’s speed crew is healthy, confident, and back with a vengeance. Watch out, world. Of course, Breezy was quick to call it “Fool’s Gold,” and added that she hopes she didn’t “peak too soon.” With two downhills and a super-G at Val d’Isere, there’s bound to be some big-time results in France. Oui Oui!

Follow all of the action on Peacock TV, NBCSN, and the Olympic Channel...because we’ve got a stacked pre-holiday week of alpine action for y’all.

RESULTS
Men’s downhill training 1
Women’s downhill training 1
Men’s downhill training 2
Women’s downhill training 2 

START LISTS
Men’s super-G
Women’s downhill 

HOW TO WATCH
All Times EST

Friday, Dec. 18
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Streaming Peacock
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Super-G - LIVE, Gardena, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Super-G - LIVE, Val Gardena, ITA, Streaming Peacock

Saturday, Dec. 19
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Streaming Peacock
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Val Gardena, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Val Gardena, ITA, Streaming Peacock
5:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBC
9:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBCSN
10:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - Same Day Broadcast, Val Gardena, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Dec. 20
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
5:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
9:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBCSN
11:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - Same Day Broadcast, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Monday, Dec. 21
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, Dec. 22
11:34 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel

In an interview with The New York Times, Hig Roberts, a U.S. Alpine Ski Team alumnus, two-time U.S. national champion, and former Middlebury NCAA skier, shared that he is gay—becoming the first elite men’s alpine skier to publicly come out as gay, hoping to encourage others to be themselves.

“I just woke up one morning and I said, ‘Enough is enough,’” Roberts said to the New York Times. “I love this sport more than anything — I’m so lucky and privileged to be doing this — but I can’t go on another day not trying to achieve the person that I am meant to be. Which I think for each and every one of us, one of those main goals needs to be happiness and authenticity.”

The Steamboat, Colo. native had a successful four years of collegiate ski racing for Middlebury and a stint with Team America and coach Peter Lange during the 2015 season, then he rocketed to the U.S. Ski Team B Team. His collegiate career featured two NCAA team slalom championships and an appearance at the 2013 World University Games. Hig was named to the U.S. Ski Team in 2015-16 for two seasons and snagged two national championships, including the giant slalom national title in 2017 and the slalom national title in 2018. 

In August of 2016, Hig's younger brother, Murphy, died after a diabetic seizure while hiking, falling, and sustaining a head injury. "Murph," as Hig called him, was just 22.

Hig told the New York Times, that Murph taught him to live authentically. 

As he ascended in the sport and struggled again with his sexual identity, the slopes became a safe haven — the only place he could freely fly down a mountain.

Until his world came crashing down.

In August 2016 his younger brother, Murphy, died after he had a diabetic seizure while on a hike, fell and sustained a head injury. Murphy was 22.

The sudden loss of his brother was a blow that almost ended Roberts’s career; he recalled Murphy as the “most special person” in his life. Murphy, who grew up with Type 1 diabetes, taught Roberts one of his most valuable lessons: Live every day authentically yourself.

The ski industry is intensely male-dominated and "hyper-masculine," and though many Americans aren't as familiar with ski racers...they are like gods and goddesses over in Europe. Skiing to Europe is the NFL or NBA to America. It's wild. Thousands of screaming fans asking for autographs. But Hig said he felt as though he were in an environment that "almost encouraged womanizing." "Instead, he opted for his hotel room, alone." 

When the New York Times piece went live on Sunday, there was an outpouring of love and support from former teammates, friends, and ski industry members on social media. Two-time Olympian Tommy Ford, who just snagged his career-third FIS Ski World Cup podium in Santa Caterina, Italy posted his support on Instagram, saying that he was "Proud of Hig for coming out as gay. Thank you for being courageous. Time for things to change."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Tommy Ford (@tommyford)

Hig posted on his Instagram on Tuesday. Here is an excerpt: 

...the one thing I have not conquered until now is: my own self, my identity—or in other words—my authentic truth. So, in the name of doing myself the greatest justice there is in life, I’ll be doing that now.

I am gay.

It is puzzling to think that this 3-letter word, just like my name and equally as critical to my identity has eluded me during this “full” life. Rather than try to pan for that answer which has been veiled in maybe fear, maybe weakness, and also maybe the understanding that I would eventually come to this moment on my own time, I have decided to release and embrace my genuine intention. I share this because while parts of my journey are unique, I feel that I am in the process of harnessing one of life’s greatest lessons that I do believe all of us have the capability to realize. Simply put, it is flipping the script on what you perceive to be your greatest weaknesses and instead employing them as your greatest strengths...

Big congratulations to Hig for being brave to share his story with the world and be authentically himself. Hig's honesty will undoubtedly inspire others to be comfortable with who they are.

Read the full articles on NYTimes.com and Out.com. 

On a stunning day in Courchevel, France, Mikaela Shiffrin made her triumphant and emotional return to the top step on the podium in a FIS World Cup. Young gun AJ Hurt took home her first World Cup giant slalom points, and top-20, in 18th place.

After an issue with the snow, in which the course was watered after heavy snowfall on Saturday and then groomed, the track was deemed unfit for racers for the previously scheduled Sunday giant slalom. But Sunday’s postponement left a hard and fast track for the women on Monday under blazing sunlight and it was worth the wait to see Mikaela take her first World Cup win in almost a year.

It was a beautiful moment when she crossed the finish line ahead of the field, as the community at the bottom of the hill realized that this was Mikaela’s first win after her father’s sudden passing. Mikaela took a moment in the finish corral, sitting on her skis and hugging her legs—seemingly letting it all wash over her. Emotions ran higher when she stepped off the podium and into her mom’s arms, as she cried through her post-race interview.

“It was a pretty incredible day, obviously,” said Mikaela through tears. “But I’m pretty sad. I mean, it’s a bit bittersweet. But it’s pretty special.”

Mikaela won the first run, but only by seven-hundredths and she knew she had to keep up her energy and stamina to hammer out a strong second run for the win. And given that this was only her second giant slalom race after over 300 days off the World Cup circuit, she wasn’t sure she could do it. “I didn’t really know if I could come back to this level. It’s a lot of energy to focus like that and to put the toughness and strength in your skiing,” said Mikaela. “I’ve done it—I used to do it all the time—but I’m at a different place and didn’t know if I could do it again.”

But Mikaela proved herself wrong and threw down a stellar second run on the swingy-set course to take the win by .82 seconds—her first victory since January 2020 and first giant slalom win since December 2019. Behind Mikaela, Federica Brignone of Italy finished second—a particularly impressive feat given that she went down on her hip in the second run—and Tessa Worley of France was third.

Mikaela was quick to commend her teammates, rivals, coaches and family. “It’s a really big testament to my coaches and my mom and everybody around me—my whole team, my family,” said Mikaela. “I definitely didn’t ski alone today. I had a lot of strength from a lot of people to help me get down.”

Sunday’s win was Mikaela’s 67th FIS World Cup victory, tying her with the legendary Marcel Hirscher and placing her third on the overall win list, behind Ingemar Stenmark and Lindsey Vonn. “I was thinking a lot about his skiing today—so that’s pretty cool,” said Mikaela.

AJ Hurt, who celebrated her 20th birthday last weekend, had a huge day, grabbing her first-ever World Cup second run and subsequent World Cup points with a top-20 finish. “I’m very excited,” she said. “I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be!” AJ's result earned the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team women's tech crew another World Cup giant slalom spot in their quota. 

Paula Moltzan, Keely Cashman and Nina O’Brien also started for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team in Courchevel, but did not qualify for a second run.

The women head next to Val d’Isere, France for speed events. Training begins Wednesday.

RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom

Ryan Cochran-Siegle led three Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes into the top 25 in a tight and wild Val d'Isere downhill on Sunday, finishing in 13th, .81 off the pace, set by the surprising Slovenian Martin Cater—who snagged his first World Cup victory (and podium) from bib 41. 

It was a tight race, and when the sun came out on the top of the course, the track appeared to get faster as the race went on—particularly at the top. For a while, it appeared that the Norwegian Aleksander Kilde had the victory in the bag, but the opportunity was there for the higher bibs to send it, and Martin Cater took advantage of that, landing on the top of the podium. Austria's Otmar Streidinger came down bib 26, to finish second on the day, and Switzerland's Urs Kryenbuehl rounded out the podium in third.

Ryan, one of the few athletes on the FIS Ski World Cup circuit that competes in five disciplines (parallel, giant slalom, alpine combined, super-G, and downhill), has struggled to find his groove in the first few races, but Sunday was a good step forward for him. In Saturday's super-G, Ryan went down on his hip. He scored his first World Cup points of the 2020-21 season last weekend in Santa Caterina, Italy, in the second of two giant slalom races. 

"I feel good...I think where my skiing has been and where my racing has been, there's been a pretty big deficit between the two, and I feel like today I was able to bring those two closer together," he said after the race. He'll bring that momentum into the next races, including a speed series in Val Gardena, Italy, and a giant slalom in Alta Badia, Italy. "Today I had a good feeling on the skis, which is all I can really ask for right now—try to build the confidence from that," he continued. "Hopefully, I continue to stay in there and stay competitive. Obviously, you always want more as a ski racer, but I think today was a good step forward, and I'll take that."

The race featured some unexpected bibbos, razor-thin margins in the top 10 (.62 seconds between first and tenth), and pretty big crashes. Travis Ganong, who was fourth in Saturday's super-G opener, ended up a solid 23rd, and teammate Bryce Bennett tied for 24th. 

It's definitely a cool race, where, there was a lot of opportunities still there even after the top 20 guys, and there were guys that committed and were able to ski well," reflected Ryan. "Obviously, when you start earlier, you don't really want to see that, but, as a ski racer, I think it's good for ski racing...getting an equal opportunity and those young guys or guys who are trying to work their way up are able to get there. The whole podium deserved it today."

Rounding out the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team, Jared Goldberg was 43rd, Sam Morse 45th, and 2016 World Junior downhill champ and Middlebury College athlete Erik Arvidsson 54th in his World Cup debut. 

Up next for the men is a super-G and downhill in Val Gardena, Italy—a venue that has treated the Americans well in the past, including Steven Nyman, who is known as the "King of the Saslong" and has won all three of his World Cup victories at the venue. The men, including Bryce and Travis, are stoked to be heading there next. 

RESULTS
Men’s downhill

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EST.

Monday, Dec. 14
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Giant Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Courchevel, FRA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Giant Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Courchevel, FRA, Streaming Peacock + Broadcast Olympic Channel