FIS World Cup Preview – Speed Events

November 04, 2013 D'Arcy McLeish

With the Sochi Winter Olympics less than a hundred days away, it’s going to be a big year for skiers on the FIS World Cup. I love watching skiing, but my favourite events are the speed events of Downhill and Super G. As I have mentioned in a previous post, the speed demons on the World Cup are hands down the best skiers in the world. They combine the technical parts of ski racing with the balls out courage and bravery it takes to tear down the mountain side at 80 miles per hour on bullet proof courses in adverse conditions. They are the best of the best and trump even some of the most accomplished big mountain skiers.

Aksel Lund Svindal - will the Norwegian win a gold in Russia?
Aksel Lund Svindal – will the Norwegian win a gold in Russia? Photo – skysports.com

So what can we expect this season in the race for Russian Gold? Looking internationally, the Swiss and the Austrians always field a talented group and can never be discounted as medal contenders. But the favourite in both the World Cup and Olympic speed events has to be Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal. After finishing fourth in 2011, third in 2012 and second in 2013 (along with titles in 2007 and 2009), Svindal is poised to continue his domination on the world cup and make a run for the top spot in Downhill and Super G at the Olympic Games in Sochi.

Making a comeback is never easy, but if anyone can do it, Bode Miller can.
Making a comeback is never easy, but if anyone can do it, Bode Miller can. Photo – www.valgardenagroeden.com

While the US is already dominating men’s GS under the leadership of Ted Ligety, on the men’s downhill side of things, the man to watch this year is Bode Miller. While not really a favourite, the veteran US downhiller is one of the most decorated world cup skiers of all time, and is attempting a bit of a comeback in the sport. While he is fast approaching the age where most ski racers have gone into retirement, it’s hard not to see him as a real contender. He has shown, time and again, that he has what it takes to win.

Will Ms. Vonn be able to regain her former dominance of the World Cup?
Will Ms. Vonn be able to regain her former dominance of the World Cup? Photo – worldcupdreams.org

The other American to watch will of course be Lindsey Vonn. Having dominated the world cup over the last 8 years, Vonn is coming off a season filled with injury and illness but claims she is healthy and ready to go. One of the most aggressive and technically perfect skiers in the speed disciplines, Vonn is sure to be in top form over the first few races of the season.

How cool would it be to see Erik Guay in the top spot in Russia?
How cool would it be to see Erik Guay in the top spot in Russia? Photo – Alpine Canada

Closer to home, the Canadian Men’s Alpine team, led by veterans Erik Guay, Jan Hudec and Manuel Osborne-Paradis are coming off a tough season. All three have a proven record of winning at the highest level, with Guay and Hudec both winning gold at the World Championships in 2011 and 2009, respectively. We’re rooting for them to dominate this year and we can only hope they have their game face on when the games in Russia get under way.

With the first speed events of the season to be held in Lake Louise (women’s) and Beaver Creek (men’s) in the last week of November, the battle for dominance on the World Cup and the road to the gold medal in Sochi is going to be a good one.

Be safe, ski hard.