Johnson Grabs Career-First Podium to Lead Three into Top 25

On a sunny day in Val d’Isere, France, Breezy Johnson grabbed her first FIS Ski World Cup podium to lead three Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes into the top 25—including Keely Cashman in 17th from bib 46 to grab her career-first World Cup points. 

It was a tough day with a lot of brutal crashes in Val d’Isere, including four athletes in the top 25 and American Alice McKennis. Alice skied down following her crash but will sit out Saturday’s downhill and Sunday’s super-G as she undergoes further evaluation. Both Austria's Nicole Schmidhofer and Italy's Federica Brignone crashed, causing significant course holds for Breezy, but she wasn't phased. The races was tight in the top three, with Switzerland’s Corinne Suter in first, by .11 seconds over Italy’s Sofia Goggia in second place, followed by Breezy in third, .20 seconds off the pace. 

Breezy started the week off strong, finishing second in the first downhill training run on Wednesday, and winning the second of two downhill training runs on Thursday by a massive six tenths. Breezy’s go for broke style served her well in Friday’s race, but it still hasn’t hit her. “I don’t think anything has sunk in yet, so I think I’m probably just going to keep it that way and just keep working towards tomorrow,” she reflected post-race. “The snow in most places was actually a lot better, it was just a little bumpier in some spots, and a lot faster with the race wax and everybody going for it. It was a good race.”

If you watch Breezy, her approach to downhill resembles Olympic champion Picabo Street’s hard-charging style. Mentally tough and physically strong, Breezy is destined for the top of the podium. “I was happy with it...I try to go out and ski 100% every day,” she added. “There were a few mistakes for sure, and places to clean up for tomorrow and I’ll keep working, but I’m obviously very happy. I love Val d’Isere, this is where I first felt at home on the World Cup—I came here in 2016...I did well after some really bad training runs, and that was the first time I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I belong on the World Cup.’” As far as tomorrow goes...for Breezy, her eyes are on the prize. “After the training runs, and today, I’m hunting for the win tomorrow,” she said. 

Keely Cashman skyrocketed from bib 46 to land in 17th and grab her first career World Cup points, while Jackie Wiles—who has been skiing consistently fast in training runs—landed in 23rd. When asked about how it was today, Keely said, "slightly scary, but mostly fun." Bella Wright also started for the Americans, but finished just outside the top 30, in 35th. 

Up next, the women have a downhill on Saturday, followed by a super-G on Sunday. 

RESULTS
Women’s downhill

HOW TO WATCH
All Times EST

Saturday, Dec. 19
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Streaming Peacock
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Val Gardena, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Val Gardena, ITA, Streaming Peacock
5:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBC
9:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Downhill - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBCSN
10:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - Same Day Broadcast, Val Gardena, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Dec. 20
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
5:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - LIVE, Val d'Isere, FRA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
9:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Val d'Isere, FRA, Broadcast NBCSN
11:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Giant Slalom - Same Day Broadcast, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Monday, Dec. 21
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Alta Badia, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, Dec. 22
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel