Reigning downhill World Cup champion Cornelia Huetter back on top as women's speed season starts at Beaver Creek
The Austrian skier was the fastest on course at the women's speed season-opener while Sofia Goggia made a strong post-injury comeback in second place.
Alpine Skiing
Austria's Cornelia Huetter began the 2024-25 World Cup speed season the same way she finished the previous one – at the top of the podium.
The reigning downhill World Cup champion was in stellar form as she blazed to the finish line of the first ever women's downhill on Beaver Creek's legendary Birds of Prey course on Saturday (14 December) in a winning time of 1:32.38.
Having been off the pace in the three official training runs, Huetter - wearing start bib number 11 - looked equal parts delighted and surprised when she went to the top of the timesheets. She kept that lead as she made the podium for the first time in the United States across her 13-year World Cup career.
The 32-year-old has battled back from injuries in recent years and enjoyed her most successful season since 2016 in 2023-24 with seven World Cup podiums and a downhill crystal globe – her first discipline title.
"It was on point. It was not easy. I had the feelings in the first training that I'm skiing OK. I'm skiing not how I want to ski, but it was going all good. I had a solid speed and today the tricky turns, I think I did really good today and took all the speed with me, so I think that was the secret today," Huetter told FIS after.
"After all the tough years, it's nice to be in that position and be able to ski like that."
Sofia Goggia briefly held the lead before Huetter outraced her time of 1:32.54. While she dropped down to second position for the remainer of the race, the Italian skier still had plenty of reasons to celebrate. It was Goggia's first first race since she broke her leg during giant slalom training in February 2024. She had shown solid form in the downhill training earlier in the week as well, finishing first and second in the field.
Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami finished third, 0.34 seconds behind Huetter, with home skier Lauren Macuga taking fourth for her best World Cup finish.
Before the race, Lindsey Vonn delighted her fans by going down as a forerunner ahead of her comeback at St. Moritz next weekend. The Swiss resort will host two Super G races with the 40-year-old U.S. ski legend returning after almost six years away.
Beaver Creek, 2024/25 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup: Results from women's downhill, 14 December 2024 (top 10):
- Cornelia Huetter (AUT) 1:32.38
- Sofia Goggia (ITA) +0.16
- Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) +0.34
- Lauren Macuga (USA) +0.52
- Ricarda Haaser (AUT) +0.56
- Ester Ledecka (CZE) +0.60
- Marta Bassino (ITA) +0.64
- Michelle Gisin (SUI) +0.72
- Federica Brignone (ITA) +0.87
- Ilka Stuhec (SLO) +0.88