SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Italian ski sensation Federica Brignone and Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt have claimed the season-long downhill titles after the cancellation of the World Cup finals’ races on Saturday, caused by high winds.
Initially, the races faced multiple delays during the day due to morning snow conditions, subsequently followed by blustery winds along the course. Despite the sunshine when the final decision was reached, a sizable crowd gathered eagerly at the finish line.
As neither competition will be rescheduled, this scenario awards Odermatt his second consecutive downhill discipline crown. For Brignone, it marks the first in her career, consolidating her status with the women’s overall title as well. Meanwhile, Odermatt had already made history by securing his fourth consecutive overall championship.
A highly anticipated showdown for the women’s downhill was on the cards, with Brignone leading the World Cup finals by an intimate 16-point advantage over Austria’s Cornelia Huetter, and a 34-point lead above her Italian compatriot, Sofia Goggia.
As for the men, Odermatt comfortably led his Swiss teammate, Franjo von Allmen, by 83 points.
Sunday is set to host a men’s and women’s super-G race, which remains on the schedule.
