To no one’s surprise, Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt climbed to the top step of the podium Saturday at the Stiefel Birds of Prey super-G, flying down the course in 1:09.41. It was his 38th career FIS World Cup win, and came five years plus one day after his first-ever victory in the same event at the same venue.
The race was a battle between recent dominant forces in speed events — Odermatt and France’s Cyprien Sarrazin, who stunned many with back-to-back wins at the famous Kitzbühel downhill last season — and some newcomers. Sarrazin was .18 seconds back in second, while Austria’s Lukas Feurstien, 23, scored his first World Cup podium by finishing third, .47 behind Odermatt. Two additional young racers — Norway’s Fredrik Moeller, who just turned 24, and 23-year-old Giovanni Franzoni of Italy — vaulted into a tie for fourth place. Moeller started 32nd and Franzoni started bib 39.
“Today was a very difficult one. It was already a little bit bumpy from the top. You had to ski smart from the middle section, with big turns,” said Odermatt, 27. Commenting on what has transpired since his first World Cup win five years ago, which includes a near record 12 consecutive giant slalom victories over the course of two seasons, “I would never have dreamed about this. Beaver Creek is a very special place for me. It’s a really good atmosphere and we really like to ski here.”
It was Odermatt’s second trip to the podium for the weekend — he was second in Friday’s Stiefel Birds of Prey downhill; his Swiss teammate Justin Murisier collected his first World Cup victory. He is also favored in Sunday’s giant slalom, having taken 16 of 21 races (76%) in that discipline since the start of the 2022-23 season.
Defending Birds of Prey super-G champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway is sidelined with complications due to injuries suffered in January, but is on site. He has just been cleared to start skiing again, and posted video from an adjacent run in Beaver Creek to his social media.
Odermatt’s win also moved him into a tie for third place overall in the career super-G wins list, which is led by Austrian Hermann Maier, who had 24 victories over the course of his storied career. Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway is second with 17, and now Odermatt and Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud are tied for third at 13 wins each.
Six of the first 10 racers failed to finish Saturday, including Sarrazin’s teammate Nils Allegre. “I was not that confident at the start. I watched three guys on the TV, and they were out (of the course),” said Sarrazin. With bib number 12, Sarrazin stopped watching, and instead focused on what he learned in the inspection to ensure he finished successfully. “I stayed calm, but I did a good inspection, and I told myself ‘two thirds to be smart and the rest full gas. ”
River Radamus, 26, was the top American on the day, finishing eighth, .84 seconds back. “It was more of a downhill-type set today, and the conditions were phenomenal, the course crew’s done an amazing job, so it was a fun day charging on the race course,” said Radamus, who grew up in nearby Edwards. “You’re never satisfied, but it was a pretty good result and hopefully it gave everyone something to cheer for.”
Collectively four Americans finished in the points: 8. Radamus; 11. Ryan Cochran-Siegle; 19. Kyle Negomir; 28. (tie) Bryce Bennett and Marco Kohler (SUI). Other Americans: 31. Sam Morse; 37. Jared Goldberg. Among the 18 who did not finish the race were Americans Erik Arvidsson and Wiley Maple.
Racing concludes Sunday with the Stiefel Birds of Prey giant slalom. The first run is at 10:00 a.m. and the second run at 1:00 p.m.; all times MST. All races are free to spectate at the John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium, including the all-new Public Perch, which offers a spectacular vantage point above the race area.
Free race shuttles depart from the Covered Bridge in Beaver Creek Village often throughout race days. From the race-finish drop-off area, there is a five-minute on-snow walk uphill to Red Tail Stadium. Please allow one hour of travel time from the base of Beaver Creek Resort to Red Tail Stadium to avoid missing any of the action!
RESULTS
Men’s Super-G
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