A first-timer’s guide to the world’s most thrilling ski competitions
By Cheryl Lindstrom and Julie Block
Stifel Birds of Prey is a highly anticipated stop on the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup circuit, where the world’s best skiers compete across four disciplines, chasing points, prize money, and the coveted crystal globe awarded to each season’s overall champion.
Have you ever wondered how the World Cup works, or what exactly you are watching at the Stifel Birds of Prey races? We’ve got you covered.
Understanding the World Cup
Skiing started as a means of transportation 6,000 years ago in the northern part of what is now Norway. It evolved into a thrilling winter pastime for many and a profession for a very talented few. Alpine competitions existed in 19th-century Norway, and The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) was formed in 1924, but the World Cup circuit as we know it today launched in 1967. Each season runs from late October through March, with races held at iconic venues across Europe, North America, and occasionally Asia.
The circuit features races from October through March each season, with most venues hosting multiple events, and Stifel Birds of Prey is one of the most prestigious stops on the calendar. This year’s competition weekend December 4-7 will feature two men’s downhills, a super-G, and a giant slalom.
The top 30 finishers in each race earn World Cup points, starting with 100 for first place and decreasing incrementally to one point for 30th place. Points accumulate throughout the season across all disciplines, and the overall World Cup champion is the racer with the most total points at the end of the season. Discipline champions are also crowned in each of the four events: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, and slalom.
In an Olympic year like the one we are in now, points are even more crucial: athletes must earn a certain number of points to qualify for the Games. The points threshold varies by discipline and country.
Understanding the Four Alpine Disciplines
For the first quarter century of organized ski racing, races fell into three disciplines: downhill, slalom, and combined (“combining” the speed of downhill with the agility of slalom). Through natural evolution of the sport, the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup circuit now includes four disciplines: downhill, super-G, giant slalom (GS), and slalom, each requiring a different course length and number of gates. You might be wondering: what’s the difference?
Downhill is the fastest and most dangerous of all alpine events, with racers reaching average speeds of nearly 60 mph and navigating approximately 35 gates—far fewer than other disciplines. The straightest line is the fastest line, but strategic gate placement forces racers to demonstrate both speed and technical skill.
Super giant slalom, or super-G, blends downhill speed with giant slalom-like turns. It is the newest discipline, born about 45 years ago after speed specialists complained that having two technical disciplines (slalom and GS) versus one speed event (downhill) created a points imbalance. The first men’s super-G was held in 1982, and it became an official World Cup discipline in 1985-86.
Giant slalom, introduced at the 1950 World Championships in Aspen, is widely considered the most technically demanding discipline. With up to 60 turning gates on a men’s course measuring 250-450 meters (820-1,476 feet), it requires precise turning and the ability to carry speed from one gate to the next.
Instead of one winner-take-all run, GS athletes ski two runs. The top 30 finishers from the first run compete in reverse order for the second run, with the combined times determining the winner. In addition to keeping spectators engaged, the reverse-order system also levels the playing field. The best racers from the first run must navigate changing conditions as courses experience wear and tear, giving up-and-coming competitors a chance to move up the ranks.
Slalom is the most technical and slowest of the four disciplines, but don’t let that fool you! Gates are closer together in slalom than they are in GS and the course is shorter, requiring incredible agility, lightning-fast reflexes, and the ability to navigate a sea of gates in rapid succession. Like GS, slalom consists of two runs, with the top 30 from run one competing in reverse order for run two, and with the combined times determining the winner.
Combined was a staple for the first 25 years of organized ski racing. The format has evolved considerably over the decades, and combined races now appear mainly at major events like the Olympics and World Championships. The most recent innovation is the team combined, where one athlete’s downhill time is added to a teammate’s slalom time.
Understanding the Birds of Prey Course
Birds of Prey has established itself as one of the most challenging and respected courses on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup circuit. Gates are placed in the same position each year using GPS, and changes are made only to improve safety. The combination of terrain features, reliable snow conditions, and thoughtful course design creates races that test every aspect of a skier’s ability.
The top section of the Birds of Prey downhill course is a flat section called The Flyway, which requires proper wax and gliding skills. Racers then hit The Brink: a steep plunge followed by a hard turn, widely considered the toughest spot on the course.
“Once you come over The Brink, it changes from heaven to hell,” says course designer Bernhard Russi. “From one moment to the other, you have to change your technique completely.”
For the next mile, racers must navigate twists and turns while building speed all the way to the finish line. While race start locations vary based on discipline, every athlete shares one experience: flying over Red Tail Jump into the finish.
At Red Tail Jump, athletes launch up to 70 meters through the air at 70 miles per hour, covering nearly the length of a football field in mere seconds just before crossing the finish line. The signature jump is just one reason this course has become legendary in the world of alpine ski racing.
It all gets underway December 4-7, when the world’s best men’s ski racers descend on Beaver Creek. Fractions of seconds will separate triumph from heartbreak, and racers will push the limits of speed, precision, and courage on one of the sport’s most iconic stages in a final push to compete at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games.
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