beaver Creek, Colorado – Swiss skier Marco Odermatt continued his dominant run on the World Cup circuit Friday, securing his first U.S. downhill victory and extending his lead in the overall standings. The win at Beaver Creek marks Odermatt’s third of the season, solidifying his position as a favorite heading into the Winter Olympics next February in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo . The race was briefly interrupted by a concerning crash, highlighting the inherent dangers of the sport.
Swiss skier Marco Odermatt secured his first World Cup downhill victory in the United States on Friday, November 30, at Beaver Creek, Colorado, extending his lead in the overall World Cup standings. This win marks Odermatt’s third victory in six races this season, highlighting his dominance across multiple disciplines.
Jan Zabystřan of the Czech Republic finished in 26th place, matching his result from the season-opening super-G race in Copper Mountain. Maintaining consistent performance early in the season is crucial for athletes aiming for a strong Olympic showing.
Odermatt completed the slightly shortened course – adjusted due to wind at the top and soft snow conditions lower down – in a time 2.05 seconds faster than Zabystřan.
The Swiss champion finished three-tenths of a second ahead of American Ryan Cochran-Siegle and 69 hundredths of a second ahead of Norway’s Adrien Smethe Sejersted. This victory adds to Odermatt’s impressive career total, bringing his count to 48 World Cup wins.
The race was temporarily halted for approximately 20 minutes following a serious crash involving Slovenian skier Rok Ažnoh. Ažnoh lost his helmet during the fall and remained motionless on the course. He was transported off the slope on a rescue sled for medical evaluation, and his condition remains unknown at this time. Such incidents underscore the inherent risks involved in high-speed skiing.
Following the downhill race, the super-G competition scheduled for Saturday, December 2, has been moved to Friday due to updated weather forecasts. Saturday will serve as a reserve day, and a giant slalom is still planned for Sunday, December 3, in Colorado. An earlier scheduled second downhill race was canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions.
