Beaver Creek, Colorado - The alpine skiing season continues to heat up, with two major events taking center stage this weekend as the women's Super-G at Beaver Creek coincides with the men's slalom at Val d'Isère.
On Sunday, December 15, the women's Super-G of the FIS World Cup will take place on the challenging Birds of Prey course. This race marks the much-anticipated return of Italian skier Sofia Goggia after her long recovery from injury. Goggia, who finished second in the downhill event on Saturday, aims for victory and has established herself as one of the favorites.
With Goggia starting with the bib number 13 and fellow Italian skier Federica Brignone set to begin with number 10, the competition promises to be fierce. Both athletes are expected to push for the podium against other strong contenders such as Lara Gut-Behrami and Cornelia Huetter.
The Birds of Prey course is known for its steep pitches and technical demands, presenting athletes with numerous challenges. According to NBC Sports, the course requires "precision, strength, and concentration right from the start". The event is slated to begin at 19:00 CET, with broadcast coverage on Rai 2 and Eurosport 1 along with streaming options available via platforms such as DAZN and Discovery Plus.
Meanwhile, over at Val d'Isère, the men are gearing up for their slalom event on the La Face de Bellevarde, also scheduled for Sunday. The first run kicks off at 10:00 CET, with the second run expected to begin at 13:00 CET. The Italian team will include Luca De Aliprandini, Alex Vinatzer, and Filippo Della Vite, among others, as they look to compete against standout competitors like Kristoffersen and Clement Noël, who is hunting for another victory after strong performances earlier this season.
The Italian women's team has made headlines not just for Goggia and Brignone, but also for Marta Bassino, who is considered a strong contender as well. Goggia's return to competitive skiing has been particularly noteworthy, considering her challenging recovery from injuries sustained last season. The resilient 32-year-old expressed her emotions leading up to this competition, stating, “It’s heavy but paradoxically, now I've come back to skiing, it seems nothing happened.”
According to the latest rankings, Goggia currently sits as the 16th overall with 80 points after her remarkable return. Meanwhile, the competition on the men's side remains fierce, especially with Athletes like Marco Odermatt having showcased exceptional skills this season.
Fans tuning in can watch both events live, signaling the advent of exciting competition as the alpine ski season progresses. The duality of events - one taking place on the rugged American slopes, and the other on the famed French routes - presents viewers with ample action and thrilling visuals. For ski enthusiasts, it's the perfect weekend to witness athletic prowess and the relentless drive of these elite athletes.
With both races providing unique challenges and showcasing some of the best talents the sport has to offer, this weekend surely marks another exciting chapter in the world of alpine skiing.
