FIS Ski Cross World Cup Val Thorens preview: Schedule, top athletes, and how to watch live
Will David Mobaerg and Marielle Thompson get their Crystal Globe defence off on the right foot in France this weekend?
Freestyle Skiing
The first ski cross competition of the 2024/25 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup season takes place this week in Val Thorens, France, with two events each in the men's and women's fields.
The ski resort in the French Alpes — the highest of kind in Europe at 2300m — boasts a fast, technical course that will push the world's best ski cross racers to their limits as they seek to start the new campaign with maximum points.
Below you'll find our preview for the competition, including the full schedule of events, the top skiers to keep an eye on, and how to watch the action live.
FIS Ski Cross Val Thorens World Cup Schedule
All times local (CET).
Wednesday 10 December
Women's qualification - 13:30
Men's qualification - 14:00
Thursday 11 December
Men's qualification - TBD
Women's qualification - TBD
Friday 12 December
Men's finals (race 1) - 14:00
Women's finals (race 1) - 14:00
Saturday 13 December
Men's finals (race 2) - 14:00
Women's finals (race 2) - 14:00
Skiers to watch at the FIS Ski Cross Val Thorens World Cup
The battle for the 2023/24 women's Crystal Globe came down to the final race, with Sochi 2014 champion and Beijing 2022 silver medallist Marielle Thompson just finishing ahead of Marielle Berger Sabbatel to claim her first ski cross title since 2017.
The two Olympians are primed to do battle once more in the French Alps this weekend, but keep an eye out for Beijing 2022 champion Sandra Naeslund , too. The Swede missed the majority of last season with a knee injury, but she's now returning to a venue where she's dominated throughout her career.
However, it was Daniela Maier who triumphed in Val Thorens in 2023/24, winning the second race of the season and with it the first World Cup victory of Maier's career. The Beijing 2022 bronze medallist is a real threat to top the podium again this weekend and shared her love of the French course with FIS-SKI.com.
"Val Thorens is a track that I really like - it’s twice as important for me because it’s a track I love and the first race,” she said.
“I’m excited about my form if I’m honest. It’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster; I had really good training days where I was fast, but in some cases in the same camps I had bad days, or not-good days.
“But I think that when I am wearing the start bib again and I’m on snow, I can do my routines and then I’m back and hopefully I am in good shape. I am really excited to be back at the races and have fun.”
Like Thompson, David Mobaerg got off to a slow start in the men's competition last campaign, only finding the top of the podium in Bakuriani — the 11th World Cup event of the season.
He only moved into the overall lead with one race to go, but had the strength of will to hold off his challengers and claim the first Crystal Globe of his career.
It was a bitter end to the season for Reece Howden, who led for most of the World Cup before falling at the final hurdle to finish a mere 59 points behind Mobaerg. It was a flipped result from 2022/23 when Howden edged out Mobaerg for gold, so it will be exciting to watch these two fantastic skiers commence a third round of battle this week.
How to watch the Ski Cross World Cup Val Thorens 2024
The L'Equipe channel broadcasts the Ski Cross World Cup finals every year in Val Thorens. The event is also broadcast worldwide on Eurosport.