The Winter Olympics in northern Italy are just two months away, and the alpine skiing World Cup tour is gearing up with the first downhill race of the season at Colorado’s Beaver Creek. Additionally, Quebec’s Mont Tremblant is hosting a pair of women’s giant slaloms this week.
The Canadian men, specifically Jack Crawford and Cam Alexander, are anticipated to contend for medals at the upcoming Olympics in Bormio, Italy. Crawford, 28, surprised many at the 2022 Games by clinching a bronze in the individual combined event and winning gold in the super-G at the 2023 world championships. Alexander, also 28, secured a bronze in the downhill at the 2023 worlds and has five World Cup medals in the downhill.
Swiss skier Marco Odermatt, the reigning champion in downhill, super-G, and giant slalom, remains a strong competitor this season. As for the Canadian women, Val Grenier, who grabbed a bronze in the downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo in January 2024, is expected to lead Canada’s medal hopes at the Olympics. Britt Richardson, the junior world giant slalom champion in 2024, is another Canadian talent to watch.
American star Mikaela Shiffrin, aiming for redemption after a challenging 2022 Olympics, has dominated the slalom events this season but is yet to reach the podium in giant slalom. With key rivals facing injuries, Shiffrin’s path to success seems clearer. Additionally, the return of Lindsey Vonn to the World Cup tour adds an intriguing element to the upcoming races.
The upcoming events at Beaver Creek and Mont Tremblant will showcase the thrilling competition and set the stage for the much-anticipated Winter Olympics in Italy.