As the sun shines and the snow starts to melt off the mountains, it's time to reflect on the success of the 2023-24 season for the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team. 

In total, the alpine team brought home 10 World Cup wins, 21 podiums and 51 top 10 results across the men and women’s World Cup teams. With multiple career best seasons, overall ranks, first-time podiums and stellar comeback seasons, let’s take a look at how it all shook out. 

Men’s Alpine 

On the men’s tour this season, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team bagged three podiums, one World Cup win and 17 top 10 results. The season started off with a bang in Val Gardena, Italy for the men’s speed team when two-time Olympian Bryce Bennett won the first downhill of the season, his second World Cup win. Bennett did it in style coming from behind to upset speed superstars Marco Odermatt of Switzerland and Aleksander Kilde of Norway. (If you haven't seen the reaction video of this moment, it's worth a look.) Bennett followed up his win with a third place result just two days later on the same track. Also to note - Bennett made the second largest downhill rank leap this season from 37th to fifth in the world. 

Teammate and Olympic silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle also had a strong and consistent season. His best result was a fourth place in Kitzbühel, Austria in the first of two downhills, finishing just 0.01 seconds off a podium result. Both Bennett and Cochran-Siegle finished their downhill season with career best rankings: Bennett fifth in the discipline and Cochran-Siegle eighth. Younger athlete Kyle Negomir also made positive strides, finishing in the top 30 for super-G.  

Overall, it was a step in the right direction for the men’s speed team as a unit, closing the season with six men in the top 20 in the final downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway. The team finished fifth in the Nations Cup for downhill—just a few points off Austria in fourth. 

On the men’s tech side, River Radamus had his best ever season. Radamus consistently posted strong giant slalom results, all leading up to his first World Cup podium on home snow at the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup where he scored third place. Radamus also dabbled in slalom, shooting up from bib 70 to 19th place in Adelboden, Switzerland and showed solid super-G results with a top 10 result in Garmisch, Germany. He finished his giant slalom season ranked 11th, his best rank to date. 

On the men’s slalom team, Jett Seymour continued to show his speed in the stacked men’s field with his best result coming at the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup in 15th. 

It was an exciting season for the team’s young guns too. Up-and-coming tech skier Ryder Sarchett won gold at Junior Worlds in the giant slalom, the United States’ first gold in the discipline since Radamus in 2019. This victory enabled him to make his World Cup debut at World Cup Finals, when he scored the third fastest second run in the giant slalom, proving that he is ready for the big leagues. Jack Smith also made his World Cup debut this season in the super-G in Garmisch, Germany. 

Women’s Alpine

The women’s alpine season was highlighted by the winningest alpine skier of all time, Mikaela Shiffrin, claiming her record-equaling eighth slalom Crystal Globe—despite being out of the circuit for six weeks due to a knee injury. This season, Shiffrin again won more World Cups than any other woman on the circuit—nine victories across three disciplines, including a downhill, a giant slalom and seven wins in slalom. She now has 97 World Cup wins to her name, with an astounding win number 100 just around the corner.

AJ Hurt had a tremendous breakthrough year on the World Cup circuit, securing her first two World Cup podiums: one in slalom and one in giant slalom. She proved that she is a force on the women’s tech circuit across both disciplines. Teammate Paula Moltzan also showed immense speed and consistency this season, highlighted by her third career World Cup podium in the Soldeu, Andorra slalom race. Moltzan closed out her season with her best giant slalom result to date at World Cup Finals when she scored a sixth place result, her eighth top 10 result in the discipline. 

Although the women’s tech team was smaller this season due to injury setbacks, the women still won the Nations Cup for slalom for the second year in a row with three different women standing on the podium in slalom. A feat that has not happened since 1970 when Barbara Ann Cochran, Kiki Cutter and Jody Nagel all stepped on the podium in slalom that season. 

The women’s World Cup speed circuit was highlighted by Jackie Wiles who made a tremendous comeback this season, landing on the podium in the World Cup downhill in Cortina—the 2026 Olympic venue. Lauren Macuga also had a breakout season, with three top 10 results in super-G, including a fifth place in Kvitfjell, Norway. Macuga ended her season ranked 13th in the women’s super-G standings and qualifying for her first World Cup Finals. 

Tricia Mangan also had a great season on the Europa Cup circuit, securing two super-G podiums and one downhill podium. 

Young Talent

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team brought a few fresh faces to the World Cup tour this season. In the opener in Soelden, Austria, sister duo Elisabeth and Mary Bocock made waves in the ski racing world as they debuted together as the first sisters to make their World Cup debut together since 1999. Dasha Romanov also made her first World Cup start in the Levi, Finland slalom and Allison Mollin made her speed World Cup debut in Crans Montana, Switzerland. 

The future is bright for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. Along with the impressive World Juniors result by Sarchett and the number of World Cup debuts, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team claimed two NorAm Cup titles this season. Allison Mollin won both the super-G and downhill titles. 

Now the Stifel U.S. Ski Team looks to the future with a World Championships season looming and an Olympics year on the horizon. The team is fired up for a summer of prep and training to continue the fight to be the best in the world. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced their full support for Dexter Paine in his candidacy for the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) Council. 

As a visionary leader with a deep commitment to skiing and snowboarding and its athletes, Paine has been involved in governance at both the national and international levels for decades. He served as a member of the FIS Council Executive Committee from 2014-22 and has acted as an ex-officio honorary member from 2022 to the present. Throughout his time with FIS, Paine focused on transparency, communication and inclusivity, including championing for female representation on the Council, longer terms for athlete representatives and the inclusivity of Paralympic sports. 

Paine currently serves as a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors (2021-present), is on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation Board (2002-24) and is actively involved in the Salt Lake City 2034 Olympic Winter Games bid. Previously, Paine was Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors (2006-19) and was on U.S. Biathlon’s Board of Directors (2020-24). He has extensive experience in event delivery as an Executive Committee member of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado and the 2019 Freestyle, Freeski & Snowboard World Championships in Park City, Utah. 

Paine is the chairman at Paine Schwartz Partners and has more than 25 years of investment experience and 35 years in the private equity industry. In addition to his professional achievements, Paine is widely respected for his integrity, vision and dedication to the sport. His collaborative approach and strategic mindset have positioned him as a trusted leader within the skiing and snowboarding community.

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors firmly believes that Paine’s extensive experience and unwavering passion make him the ideal person to represent the interests of athletes and federations worldwide, unanimously putting forward his candidacy. 

"Dexter Paine's dedication to the advancement of skiing and snowboarding is unparalleled,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President & CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “His leadership has consistently propelled our sports forward, and we know he will bring that same level of commitment and expertise to the FIS Council. We are proud to endorse Dexter and are confident in his ability to advocate effectively for the interests of athletes and federations around the world."

Gene Sykes, Chairman of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, also voiced his support. "As an organization committed to supporting American athletes on the global stage, we recognize the importance of strong leadership within international federations,” said Sykes.
“Dexter’s proven track record of leadership and advocacy aligns perfectly with the values of the Olympic movement. We fully endorse Dexter's candidacy for the FIS Council and believe he will be an outstanding representative for skiing and snowboarding on the international level."

Olympic champion Kikkan Randall, who has served on the IOC Board, USOPC Board and FIS Council, echoed the sentiments: “Dexter has been an incredible leader and advocate for skiing and snowboarding across all levels. He understands the complex needs of all stakeholders and has always championed the athletes' voices in the process. He brings a wealth of experience, tremendous passion and dedication to making sport fair, safe and positioned for growth. Dexter is well respected across the sports universe and has been an excellent collaborator between organizations. I am proud to endorse Dexter’s candidacy.”

The election for the FIS Council takes place at FIS Congress on June 5, 2024. 

In Idre Fjall, Sweden, the Ski Cross Junior World Championships team found tremendous success both individually and in the team event, highlighted by a team event bronze medal from Morgan Shute and Jack Mitchell. 

In the individual competitions, two-time Youth Olympic Games silver medalist Shute claimed fifth place in the individual competition. The next top performer for the U.S. was Maggie Swain in 16th and Molly Hagan in 27th. On the men’s side, Jack Mitchell found the top 10 in ninth place. Walker Robinson was 21st and Sullivan Butler 37th. 

Shute, who hails from Carabassett Valley Academy, and Mitchell, from the Evolve SX/Mission Ridge Ski Team, teamed up together to snag the bronze medal in the team event. 

RESULTS
Ski Cross Junior World Championships

Congratulations to the USA athletes that achieved International ranking for the 2024 FIS Masters Cup Season!

Special congrats to Charlie Hauser (2nd in Age Class B12-RM), Knut Olberg (1st in Age Class B11-IM), Lydia Young (3rd in Age Class C10-RM) and Lisa Densmore Ballard (1st in Age Class C7-NO) for Winning Globes in their age class! Lisa was also 1st place for the women overall in SG! Knut and Lisa were on site in Reiteralm, AUT at the FMC Finals to receive their globes in person.

See the full 2024 FMC Final Standings! USA Ranked athletes shown here:

Results from the USA FIS Masters Cup in Beaver Creek can be found at: usalpinemasters.org/2024/fismasters

Full results from all FIS Masters Races

Here are the USA racer results summary from this season!

Release courtesy of World Pro Ski Tour

2024 World Pro Ski Tour TAOS World Championships, presented by New Mexico True Results

Super Slalom World Championships, presented by SportsInsurance.com and CB Sports – March 29, 2024

After exciting qualifying rounds and Ski TAOS’ Kachina Basin, the men faced off starting in a round of 32 and the women qualified to a field of 16 based on entry numbers. Regardless of competition size, men and women receive equal prize money and race on the same course at all World Pro Ski Tour races. Here's how it all panned out:

MEN

Joining the WPST TAOS World Championships were regular WPST competitors including U.S. Ski Team veteran, Michael Ankeny (USA); Current Tour leader, Christian Soevik (NOR); German national team veteran, Roman Frost (GER); 2023 Tour Overall Champion, Simon Breitfuss-Kammerlander (AUT); six-time All-American, Filip Forejtek (CZE) and more. These athletes set up to face off the likes of 2023 WPST World Champion, Reto Schmidiger (SUI); 2023 FIS Parallel World Champion, Alex Schmid (GER);  U.S. Ski Team and TAOS athlete River Radamus (USA); World Cup tech specialist, Sam Maes (AUT); Austrian World Cupper, Raphael Hauser (AUT) and more. 

Round of 32 surprises included a fast elimination of 2023 Tour Champion, Simon Breitfuss-Kammerlander who qualified poorly, while Germany's Adrian Meisen upset number nine-seeded George Steffey (USA). Racing progressed smoothly into the round of sixteen, where upsets included Haaser taking advantage of a quick mistake by the number 1 seeded Filip Forejtek and Haaser then went on to ski into the quarterfinals. No other big surprises through this round.

Headed into quarters, racing was intense and the pace aggressive. While dominant on the Tour all season, Soevik met his match in Haaser and was eliminated, while Schmidiger proved his mastery of the TAOS course once again and easily defeated his Czech opponent, Jan Zabystran (CZE). Frost, also a solid WPST athlete this season, faced Sam Maes, who edged him out. Finally, longtime Tour regular Ankeny challenged Schmid, but was unable to get past the reigning FIS World Champion gold medalist even with an advantage after the first run.

Semi-finals offered an all-international field with Haaser out skiing Schmidiger, who was showing signs of fatigue. Maes met Schmid with aggression and skied into the finals.

With a small final between Schmidiger and Schmid, Schmidiger came out victorious after Schmid got tangled up and was unable to recover. In the finals Maes and Haaser each attacked the course, but Maes had a dominant start and built his lead the entire way down.

1) Sam Maes (BEL)
2) Raphael Haaser (AUT)
3) Reto Schmidiger (SUI)
4) Alex Schmid (GER)

WOMEN

The women's field held another deeply stacked group of talent, including: WPST regulars like 2023 Tour Champion and Overall World Champion, Erin Mielzynski (CAN); 2022 Tour Champion, Tuva Norbye (NOR); 2024 WPST Aspen winner, Sara Rask (SWE); All-American Kaitlyn Harsch (USA) and more. These ladies met 2022 Overall TAOS World Champion, Paula Moltzan (USA); 2023 Giant Slalom TAOS World Champion, Tricia Mangan (USA); and other racers coming directly off the World Cup.

SportsInsurance.com teammates Tuva and Harsch saw one another in their first matchup, with Tuva coming away with the win. Tuva then had to meet yet another teammate, Mielzynski in the Round of 8. Mielzynski has proven dominant against Tuva all season, but today, Tuva skied with a purpose and clearly came away with the win. 

Meanwhile, Tuva's younger sister Kaja also joined in the race action - Kaja has raced on the WPST before, but not recently - and progressed along the bracket to face Moltzan in the semi-finals. Both Norbye sisters skied with speed and precision to progress along in their brackets, with Tuva advancing against Mangan, however Kaja was unable to outski Motzan and made it into the small final against Mangan. Mangan won the first heat, but Kaja regained her momentum and skied into third place.

In the big final, Tuva challenged Moltzan in the first run, but ultimately Moltzan found more speed in the second run on the blue course and earned the top spot in the TAOS World Championships super slalom for the third year in a row.

1) Paula Moltzan (USA)
2) Tuva Norbye (NOR)
3) Kaja Norbye (NOR)
4) Tricia Mangan (USA)

Giant Slalom World Championships, presented by Mazda – March 30, 2024

Saturday brought a bluebird and calm day Kachina Basin at Ski TAOS with a deeply talented field of pro athletes coming together for another day of World Championships racing, this time with a giant slalom course set.

MEN

After yesterday's super slalom, a giant slalom set brought a totally new game, with the men's round of 32 progressing as planned, but the round of 16 brought some major surprises. New faces to progress on during the day included the upset of yesterday's 2024 Super Slalom World Champion, Sam Maes (BEL) by George Steffey (USA). Tour leader, Christian Soevik (NOR), was taken down by rival WPST skier, Filip Foretjek (CZE) who has had difficulty up against Soevik all season. Alex Puente Tasias (ESP), who just joined the Tour in Bear Valley, upset Alex Schmid (GER), the reigning FIS Parallel World Champion. 

Exciting action and sometimes wild skiing continued into the quarterfinals with the giant slalom definitely bringing more speed and riskier lines by the athletes. Steffey proved he liked the GS format much better than yesterday's slalom and quickly eliminated Foretjek. Tour veteran and longtime US Ski Team athlete Michael Ankeny has proven throught the season that he can still compete agains the younger athletes now racing pro, but he was unable to shake off Alex Puente Tsias, who found an extra gear in his skiing today and progressed to the semi finals. The next surprise of the round came between U.S. Ski Teammates Radamus (USA) and Patrick Kenney (USA). Kenney held an advantage on the first run but was on the slower of the two courses in his second run; he dropped the hammer after the road and skied into the semis with a clear win. Last but not least, Jan Zabystran (CZE) met yesterday's second place finisher, Raphael Haaser (AUT) and Zabystran proved dominant in both runs.

During the semifinal round, George Steffey proved he could not be stopped on this course, saying, "as more of a GS guy, I favored today's setup and took every advantage." Steffey took care of Puente Tasias and sped into the finals. Zabystran continued his building pace against Kenney and earned the other spot in the finals. 

In the small final, Puente Tasias was showing fatigue and was unable to shake off Kenney, and the American skiied into a third place. Steffey and Zabystran kept it exciting through the first run, but Zabystran got too straight into the second and let Steffey ski safely into victory and to take home a $20,000 big check. 

1) George Steffey (USA)
2) Jan Zabystran (CZE)
3) Patrick Kenney (USA)
4) Alex Puente Tasias (ESP)

WOMEN

The women decided to change things up with the giant slalom as well, with more speed and straighter lines in places where they could take greater advantage of the flat sections. Yesterday’s super slalom World Champion, Paula Moltzan (USA) was upset in round of 8 quarterfinals by Fabiana Dorigo (GER), a Tour rookie and first time pro racer here at TAOS. 2023 Tour Champion Erin Mielzynski (CAN) was similarly upset when faced by Tricia Mangan (USA). Kaja Norbye (NOR) showed she was another athlete who could thrive in both tech disciplines with swift progress agains Evelina Fredricsson (SWE). Finally, Nora Brand (GER) defeated Tuva Norbye (NOR), preventing her from meeting her sister in the next round.

Release courtesy of World Pro Ski Tour 

In the semi finals, Mangan's speed kept coming while Dorigo was showing signs of fatigue and Mangan progressed to the final. Kaja Norbye was similarly able to outski Brand. This left an all German small final between Dorigo and Brand, and big final between Mangan and Norbye.

The small final went quickly with Dorigo holding Brand and skiing into third place. Mangan showed a more conservative approach to the course than her wild skiing of years past and defeated Kaja Norbye with a clear victory in both runs.

"This has been the most amazing event and I have had so much fun; the World Pro Ski Tour, TAOS and all of the sponsors have done an incredible job on this event and it all still feels surreal," said Mangan of her win.

1) Tricia Mangan (USA)
2) Kaja Norbye (NOR)
3) Fabiana Dorigo (GER)
4) Nora Brand (GER)

OVERALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

With points accumulation over the race weekend, Tricia Mangan was a clear WPST 2024 TAOS World Champion, presented by New Mexico True and she held both her $20,000 prize and $25,000 bonus high. so much variety in the men's field between the two race days culminated in a three-way tie for the $25,000 men's title and bonus, shared by Jan Zabystran, Sam Maes and Raphael Haaser.

PARK CITY, Utah (March 29, 2024) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard is pleased to announce the nine ski cross athletes that will represent the USA at the Ski Cross FIS Junior World Championships next month in Idre Fjäll, Sweden. 

The team is highlighted by Morgan Shute who recently earned two medals at the Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, Korea, including a silver in the individual and silver in the team event. Shute is also ranked first in the NorAm overall. Youth Olympic Games teammate and fellow team event silver medalist Walker Robinson also joins Shute on the World Juniors team. 

“This group of ski cross athletes is strong across all levels,” said Chip Knight, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Development Director. “We have a mix of up-and-coming athletes as well as our ski cross veterans, two of whom just claimed silver at the Youth Olympic Games. We know that this group will have success in Fjäll and are excited to see them compete against the world’s best.”

The event will take place April 14-15, 2024 with both an individual event and a team event. 

U.S. Junior World Championships Roster 

(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

Women

Molly Hagan (Laconia, NH; Gould Academy; 5/15/2007)

Maggie Swain (Kingfield, MA; Carrabassett Valley Academy; 7/10/2006) 

Morgan Shute (Allendale, NJ; Carrabassett Valley Academy; 9/13/2006)

Deia Steinmetz (South Lake Tahoe, CA; Team Palisades Tahoe; 10/18/2006)

Men

Sullivan Butler (Carrabassett, ME; Carrabassett Valley Academy; 7/7/2005)

Aiden England (Truckee, CA; Team Palisades Tahoe; 8/11/2006)

Jack Mitchell (Wenatchee, WA; Evolve SX/Mission Ridge Ski Team; 3/3/2003)

Tanner Murphy (Girdwood, AK; Alyeska Ski Club; 3/3/2005) 

Walker Robinson (Frisco, CO; Team Summit; 6/26/2006)

The sun came back out for the final day of national championship racing at Sun Valley for the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel. Lila Lapanja and Madison Hoffman tied for the slalom win for the women and Luke Winters won the men's race. Winters and Lapanja took home the titles of slalom national champions, as Hoffman races for Australia.

Sun Valley crowds gathered throughout the day to watch both the men and women race the slalom. The hill was firm and the set was tricky, tripping up many on the first run, including World Cup slalom aces Paula Moltzan and Jett Seymour, who did not finish. 

Lapanja led the first run and held onto the lead, but University of Utah’s Madison Hoffman had a fast second run to share the top podium spot with her in a tie. Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Zoe Zimmermann rounded out the podium in third. It is Lapanja’s second slalom title in a row.

Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Luke Winters unsurprisingly scored the win—his third slalom title in his career—with his young teammate Camden Palmquist in third. Croatian skier Matej Vidovic was second.

On the juniors side, Elisabeth Bocock snagged her third juniors victory of the weekend, having also won the super-G overall and juniors, and finishing second overall and first in juniors in the giant slalom. Palmquist led the juniors, with Stanley Buzek in second and local boy Ryder Sarchett in third.

The Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel has officially wrapped, with juniors heading to NorAms in Panorama and many of the World Cup athletes taking a much-needed break.

RESULTS
Women’s slalom
Men’s slalom

On Sunday, March 24, the final downhill of the season was canceled due to weather and safety. Despite the disappointing end, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Bryce Bennett and Ryan Cochran-Siegle officially ended the season in their top downhill ranks ever. Bennett was fifth and Cochran-Siegle eighth.  

The racers arrived to the Saalbach venue ready to roll Sunday morning, but the conditions were the opposite of what had transpired the last 10 days with snow and wind—creating a difficult job for the course workers. The race was initially delayed by a few hours, but after salting, hosing and slipping, the organizing committee made the difficult decision to cancel the final downhill race. 

“Well, winter came back to Austria at the exact wrong time,” joked Bennett. “The organizing committee here in Saalbach did everything possible to make it happen but the weather conditions did not allow.” 

This decision also ended the fight for the downhill Crystal Globe. It was a tight race between Swiss star Marco Odermatt and Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin, with a gap of 42 points between the two racers. Odermatt came out on top for his third discipline globe. He also claimed the giant slalom, super-G, downhill and overall titles this season — four globes in total. 

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team also had a lot to be proud of this season. Bennett and Cochran-Siegle showed strength and consistency to become a solid force on the downhill circuit. Bennett opened the season with a win and a podium, sporting the red leader's bib for the next races. Cochran-Siegle was a mere hundredth from a podium in Kitzbühel and had multiple top 10 results. The two skiers are more fired up than ever to continue the momentum into the next season along with the rest of the speed team. The team took the fifth spot of the downhill Nations Cup as well; they were just shy of overtaking the Austrians in fourth. 

“It was a good season, highs and lows. We are ready to move forward. I think our entire team has been pushing really hard,” said Bennett. “In Kvitfjell we had six guys in the top 20 which has not happened in over a decade, so I think we have a strong team moving forward and we are excited to keep pushing.”

The grind is not over for the downhillers, who will now stay in Austria for a few more days to test skis and prep for the next season. 

CUP STANDINGS
Men's downhill

Paula Moltzan took home the national championship giant slalom title in 2024, winning the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel at Sun Valley Resort. It is Moltzan’s second giant slalom title in a row.

It started out overcast and drizzly for first run with 18-year-old Elisabeth Bocock punching it into first place and Moltzan on her heels. However, the weather took a turn second run, with showers turning into blizzard-like conditions at the top of the course and pouring rain at the bottom second run. But the poor visibility and deteriorating course conditions didn’t seem to affect Moltzan and Bocock, who finished within .05 seconds of each other, and 2.49 seconds ahead of Madison Hoffman of the University of Utah. Moltzan took the win; Bocock was second.

Bocock has had quite a week, having already won the super-G national championship. She also stood on the GS junior podium with her sister Mary Bocock, who finished sixth overall and third for the juniors. Tatum Grosdidier was second, finishing just off the overall podium in fourth.

The men and women race slalom on Sunday to wrap up the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Sun Valley.

Jackie Wiles snagged 13th place at the World Cup Finals downhill on Saturday, March 23, in Saalbach, Austria to close her impressive 2023-24 comeback season. 

Wiles landed a career-best second-place finish in the downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy this season, six years after her first and only World Cup podium. After sitting out the 2022-23 season following surgery and rehab of a right knee full patella tendon reconstruction, Wiles’ goal heading into this season was simply “getting back to herself.” Finishing the season ranked 14th in the world in downhill was beyond her expectations. 

“I’m psyched to be in the top 15 at the end of the season,” Wiles reflected. "Coming back this year, I had expectations to try and get back to myself, but after being away with injuries, you just never know. I knew that if I skied the best that I could, I could have a great season. So to be able to come out and actually execute this year, get past some fear, and feel confident, I’m really psyched.”

With a storm coming in, there were several course holds and delays on Saturday due to high winds. It was a race to the finish for the downhill Crystal Globe. Austria’s Cornelia Huetter put on a show for the home crowd, finishing first and moving ahead of Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami to walk away with the globe. Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec and Italy’s Nicole Delago each slid across the finish line to round out the podium in second and third, respectively. 

“The most rewarding moment this year was the podium in Cortina,” said Wiles. “I’ve had such a special feeling there, and to have everything come together on a day and have family and friends after so many tough years of injuries and coming back and being able to do that proved a lot to me. It was really special and meant a lot to me.”

Wiles is looking forward to heading into a summer prep period healthy for the first time in a while and to “coming back with a bit even more fierce and fight to me.” 

Teammates Mikaela Shiffrin and Lauren Macuga watched the race from the finish, and Shiffrin was joined by Norwegian boyfriend Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who was also injured in January. Kilde and the entire team celebrated Shiffrin’s third-place overall finish in the standings at the award presentation following the race. Gut-Behrami was first overall with 1,716 points, while Italy’s Federica Brignone was second with 1,581 points. Despite missing six weeks of competition, Shiffrin still amassed 1,409 points. 

The 2023-24 World Cup season will conclude on Sunday, March 24 with the men’s downhill. 

RESULTS
Women’s downhill 

CUP STANDINGS
Women’s downhill 

HOW TO WATCH 

March 24 (ET)
6:15 a.m. - men’s downhill - Peacock