Swiss skiing sensation Marco Odermatt kicked off the World Cup super-G season with a victory at Copper Mountain on U.S. Thanksgiving Day, while Aleksander Aamodt Kilde made a remarkable comeback after a nearly two-year absence, leaving his fiancée Mikaela Shiffrin in tears. Odermatt had previously triumphed in the giant slalom at Soelden last month, showcasing a strong start to the season ahead of the Milan Cortina Olympic Games in February. The Colorado venue, hosting men’s World Cup races for only the second time since 1975-76, witnessed Odermatt’s impressive performance where he overtook Vincent Kriechmayr by a mere 0.08 seconds to claim victory. This prevented Austria from a clean sweep, with Raphael Haaser finishing 0.05 seconds behind in third place and Stefan Babinsky in fourth.
Expressing his satisfaction with his run, Odermatt mentioned, “I crossed the finish line and I was like, ‘That was not too bad.’ I hoped the feeling matched the time.” Odermatt, the reigning overall champion, has dominated the super-G discipline by clinching the Crystal Globe for the last three consecutive years. On the other hand, Kilde, the 2020 overall champion and winner of 21 World Cup races, returned to the competition after a prolonged absence due to injuries sustained in a serious downhill crash in January 2024.
Kilde’s emotional return to racing left Shiffrin in tears as he finished 1.25 seconds behind Odermatt. The 33-year-old Norwegian skier, who endured significant injuries from the crash, tied for 24th place and was warmly embraced by Shiffrin at the finish line. Kilde’s comeback showcased resilience and determination considering the challenges he faced post-injury. The race at Copper Mountain, familiar to many speed racers as a training ground, provided a significant opportunity for Kilde to mark his return to competitive skiing.
Six Canadian skiers participated in the event, with Jack Crawford from Toronto leading the pack in 16th place with a time of 1:08.66. Following Crawford were Riley Seger from Vancouver and Jeffrey Read from Calgary, tying for 42nd place with a time of 1:09.67. The Canadian contingent also included Brodie Seger from North Vancouver, Cam Alexander from North Vancouver, and Raphael Lessard from Bromont, Que., who finished in the 45th, 52nd, and 55th positions, respectively.
The event at Copper Mountain marked the first of nine super-G races in a season punctuated by the upcoming Olympics. Odermatt’s victory, his 47th in World Cup competitions and 16th in super-G, solidified his status as a dominant force in alpine skiing. According to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, Odermatt’s achievement of 26 podium finishes in super-G ties him for third place on the men’s all-time list alongside Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud, trailing only Hermann Maier and Aksel Lund Svindal. The next super-G race will take place at Beaver Creek in the United States next month. Viewers can catch the live broadcast on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem by referring to the CBC Sports broadcast schedule for further details.