Several trophies remain up for grabs as World Cup ski racers wrap up season at finals in Sun Valley

By Canadian Press on March 20, 2025.

SUN VALLEY, Idaho (AP) — This is it: Just a few more races and a couple more trophies to hand out before the World Cup season closes. Then, the focus really turns toward the Olympics next winter in Italy.

There’s quite a bit that’s already been decided as the World Cup circuit returns to Sun Valley for the first time since 1977. For instance, Swiss standout Marco Odermatt has wrapped up his fourth straight men’s overall title, while Italian racer Federica Brignone has a near-uncatchable lead on the women’s side (382 points over Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland).

But there are still some disciplines with races too close to call heading into a week of finals. Plus, Lindsey Vonn, who came out of retirement this season, is competing in the downhill and super-G, and Mikaela Shiffrin in the slalom after making a return from a serious ski crash.

In addition to the overall title, Brignone has a chance to capture three discipline crowns — the downhill, super-G and giant slalom. Odermatt has already locked up the super-G and GS titles, with the only thing standing in his way for the downhill title being teammate Franjo Von Allmen.

Odermatt’s clearly the one to catch at the Milan-Cortina Olympics next February.

“Marco is undoubtedly the dominant force in ski racing right now,” said Markus Waldner, the men’s World Cup chief race director. “His ability to consistently race at such a high level week after week while managing the pressure is truly impressive.”

In each event, the top 25 (or so) ski racers are competing, with the first-place finisher earning 100 points and a decreasing value from there.

Men’s downhill

The race: Saturday

The contenders: 1. Odermatt, 605 points; 2. Von Allmen, 522.

The stakes: Odermatt has an 83-point lead over Von Allmen. All Odermatt has to do to secure the season-long downhill title for a second straight season is finish inside the top 14. The last time he didn’t wind up in the top 14 of a World Cup race was at the finals in 2023 (he was 15th).

Women’s downhill

The race: Saturday

The contenders: 1.Brignone, 384 points; 2. Cornelia Huetter, Austria, 368; 3. Sofia Goggia, Italy, 350.

The stakes: Brignone is trying to hold off a charge from Huetter, who captured the downhill crystal globe last season. Goggia is right there, too, and has won discipline four times. Vonn will be looking for a strong finish in her comeback to racing this season at 40 years old.

Women’s super-G

The race: Sunday

The contenders: 1. Brignone, 570; 2. Gut-Behrami, 565.

The stakes: The easiest scenario for Brignone is simply to finish in front of Gut-Behrami, who’s won the season-long super-G title two straight years. American Lauren Macuga won her first World Cup race in the super-G two months ago.

Men’s super-G

The race: Sunday

The contenders: Odermatt has already locked up his third straight super-G title.

The stakes: Odermatt has joined Kjetil Jansrud and Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, Hermann Maier of Austria and Pirmin Zurbriggen of Switzerland as the only men to win three or more World Cup super-G season crowns.

Women’s giant slalom

The race: Tuesday

The contenders: 1. Alice Robinson, New Zealand, 520; 2. Brignone, 500

The stakes: Robinson is trying to become the first Alpine ski racer from New Zealand to win a World Cup crystal globe, according to research by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.

Men’s giant slalom

The race: Wednesday

The contenders: Odermatt has wrapped up the title.

The stakes: Odermatt has 26 World Cup wins in the giant slalom. Only Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark (46) and Marcel Hirscher (31) have more on the men’s side.

Women’s slalom

The race: Thursday, March 27

The contenders: 1. Zrinka Ljutic, Croatia, 515; 2. Camille Rast, Switzerland, 474; 3. Katharina Liensberger, Austria, 464; 4. Wendy Holdener, Switzerland, 419.

The stakes: Shiffrin can’t win the season-long slalom crown, but can play a role in who does. Shiffrin missed races in her recovery from a puncture wound she suffered in a fall during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont, on November 30. Ljutic has finished first or second in four World Cup slalom races this season.

Men’s slalom

The race: Thursday, March 27

The contenders: 1. Henrik Kristoffersen, Norway, 612; 2. Loic Meillard, Switzerland, 565; 3. Clement Noel, France, 526.

The stakes: Last race of the season features a tight race as Kristoffersen seeks the fourth season-long slalom globe of his career.

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AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Pat Graham, The Associated Press

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