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As the Winter Olympics draw near in northern Italy, the alpine skiing World Cup tour intensifies with the upcoming races at Beaver Creek in Colorado. This week, the event includes the first downhill race of the season and a super-G competition. Additionally, Mont Tremblant in Quebec is hosting two women’s giant slaloms, marking the only Canadian stop on the circuit.
Focusing on Canada’s prospects for an Olympic alpine medal, let’s first examine the men’s side.
Crawford and Alexander Aim for Olympic Success
Alpine skiing’s downhill and super-G disciplines, known for their speed and thrill, take the spotlight this week at Beaver Creek after several races in the technical categories at the start of the World Cup season. Canadian skiers to watch in the speed races are Jack Crawford and Cam Alexander, both poised to contend for medals at the upcoming Olympics in Bormio, Italy.
Jack Crawford, 28, impressed at the 2022 Beijing Games by clinching a bronze in the individual combined event, sixth place in super-G, and narrowly missing the podium in downhill. He later secured a gold in super-G at the 2023 world championships and has accumulated six World Cup medals. Cam Alexander, also 28, earned a bronze in the downhill at the 2023 worlds and has five World Cup medals, with a victory in Norway in 2022.
While Crawford has shown remarkable progress, Alexander faced setbacks due to a knee injury at the world championships last February, affecting his performance in subsequent races. Despite challenges, both skiers remain strong contenders for the upcoming events.
At the recent Copper Mountain races, Swiss skier Marco Odermatt emerged as a dominant force, continuing his winning streak and setting high expectations for the season and the Olympics.
Grenier’s Battle with Shiffrin
In the women’s competition, Val Grenier stands out as a prominent Canadian figure, aiming for a successful season and a strong showing at the Olympics. After enduring injuries and setbacks, Grenier’s determination to excel in the giant slalom remains evident as she prepares for the races at Mont Tremblant this weekend.
Another Canadian athlete to watch is Britt Richardson, a rising talent in giant slalom events. Amidst the competition, American star Mikaela Shiffrin’s return to form after a challenging period adds excitement to the upcoming races and the Olympic season.
As the alpine skiing season unfolds, the stage is set for captivating performances and fierce competition leading up to the Winter Olympics in Italy.