Odermatt Dominates Beaver Creek Downhill, Extends World Cup Lead
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Marco Odermatt cemented his status as a dominant force in alpine skiing, securing victory in the opening downhill race of the Olympic season at Beaver Creek and further extending his lead in the World Cup standings. The Swiss skier’s win marks his first downhill triumph in the United States and his third victory of the season.
The race, held on the Birds of Prey piste, saw Odermatt finish three tenths of a second ahead of American Ryan Cochrane-Siegle and 69 hundredths of a second ahead of Norway’s Adrien Smiseth Sejersted. This victory adds to Odermatt’s impressive record, bringing his career total to 48 triumphs.
Zabystřan Finishes 26th, Course Conditions Impact Race
Czech skier Jan Zabystřan finished in 26th place, mirroring his result from the season’s opening super-giant slalom at Copper Mountain. Starting with bib number 36, the 27-year-old Zabystřan trailed the winner by 2.05 seconds. The course itself presented challenges, with organizers shortening it slightly due to windy conditions at the top and softer snow at the bottom.
Odermatt’s consistent performance this season includes wins in the giant slalom in Sölden and the super-G in Copper Mountain, demonstrating his versatility across multiple disciplines. He has now claimed victory in three different events in the sixth race of the season.
Race Interrupted by Ažnoh’s Accident
The competition was temporarily halted for approximately twenty minutes following a concerning incident involving Slovenian skier Rok Ažnoh. Reports indicate Ažnoh’s helmet came off during a fall, and he remained motionless for a period. Following extensive on-course treatment, Ažnoh was transported to the finish area via rescue sled. As of this report, no official information regarding his condition has been released.
Schedule Adjustments at Beaver Creek
Organizers have adjusted the remaining schedule at Beaver Creek, moving the super giant slalom from Saturday to Friday in response to the latest weather forecasts. Saturday will now serve as a reserve day, and the giant slalom is currently slated to take place in Colorado on Sunday. An earlier planned second competition was canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions.
