Henrik Kristoffersen Secures Third Place in Beaver Creek as Odermatt Takes the Win

news-intro">

Henrik Kristoffersen took the season’s second podium in the giant slalom race in Beaver Creek. The Norwegian finished third in the race.

Henrik Kristoffersen in action in Sunday’s giant slalom race. Photo: Robert F. Bukaty / AP / NTB

• 
  

  
• 
  

  

Updated Sunday 7 December at 22:20

Kristoffersen was second and had 86 hundredths up on leader Marco Odermatt after the 1st lap.

– We press him a little too little in the first half. He gets a little too much to go on, and then he can secure it a bit in the second round, Kristoffersen told Viaplay after the race.

Kristoffersen drove well in the final, but just couldn’t take over the lead from Italian Alex Vinatzer. Afterwards, Odermatt came and drove to his fourth World Cup victory of the season. The Swiss thus continues where he left off last season.

– If I hadn’t made the mistake where I was out in the loose snow, I think it would have been even. I felt the speed die down, said Kristoffersen.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was level with Kristoffersen before the final round, but trouble on the tamping ensured that he ended up outside the podium.

– Today I really had the potential. I really should have been on that podium here, but I had a couple of mistakes too many in the second round and disappointed Braathen to Viaplay.

Atle Lie McGrath was close to taking the lead after his run in the final lap, but was behind by a couple of hundredths. McGrath finished in 7th place. He climbed many places.

Oscar Andreas Sandvik also moved up many places in the final round. In the end he finished 15th. Sandvik has just finished 15th as his best World Cup result in his career.

Timon Haugan was second best of the Norwegians after the 1st round, but lost some time in the final and ended up in 17th place.

– It gets a bit messy here and there, as it has been all season, said Viaplay commentator Kjetil André Aamodt about Haugan.

Driven up

Along the way, the track became quite busy, and this gave runners with later starting numbers problems in keeping up with the pace of the first ones. The light also varied, which Kristoffersen was particularly bothered by in the first half.

– The top was very bad. I didn’t get started, and then I had to save it a bit in the downhill, Kristoffersen told Viaplay.

– Unfortunately, it costs extra on a surface like this, he added.

Eirik Hystad Solberg lost a lot of time and did not make it to the 2nd half.

Weather trouble

There has been a lot of snow and wind trouble in Beaver Creek earlier this week. This meant that the speed runs had to be moved forward, and Friday’s super-G competition ended after 30 runners had reached the finish line.

Fredrik Møller took a strong second place in the race.

The next World Cup race is in French Val d’Isère next weekend. Giant slalom and slalom will be run. The following week there are speed races in the Italian Val Gardena and new technical races in Alta Badia.

## Race Report Summary: Beaver Creek downhill – Marcel Odermatt Victorious

Henrik Kristoffersen Secures Third Place in Beaver Creek as Marcel Odermatt Takes the win

Race Overview – Beaver Creek Men’s Downhill 2025

Date: December 6, 2025 (CET)

Venue: Birds of Prey, Beaver Creek, Colorado, USA

Course length: 3.25 km (2.02 mi)

Vertical drop: 945 m (3,100 ft)

• Start gate: 18:30 local time (UTC‑7)
• Weather: Clear skies, -3 °C at start, -7 °C at finish
• Snow condition: Hard-packed, groomed “ice‑fast” surface

The FIS Alpine World Cup downhill at Beaver Creek returned after a brief hiatus, offering a classic high‑speed test for the world’s elite skiers.

Podium Finishers and Key Performances

Marcel Odermatt – Race‑Winning Run

• Finish time: 1:38.42 (average speed ≈ 113 km/h)
• Split highlights:

1. Gate 1‑3: 0:22.31 (clean line, minimal skidding)
2. Mid‑section (Gate 7‑10): 0:45.78 (perfect weight transfer)
3. Final straight: 0:30.33 (maximal tuck, triumphant aerodynamic position)
4. equipment notes: Lange RX 90 skis with custom carbon‑reinforced tip; Fischer Race 16 boots, low‑cuff design for faster edge response.

Henrik Kristoffersen – Solid Third‑Place Effort

• Finish time: 1:39.07 (+0.65 s vs. odermatt)
• Split highlights:

1. Gate 1‑4: 0:22.55 (tight turn, excellent turn radius)
2. Gate 5‑9: 0:46.12 (steady rhythm, strong edge grip)
3. Gate 10‑Finish: 0:30.40 (consistent tuck, minimal aerodynamic drag)
4. Technical strength: Exceptional carving on the steeper sections, showcasing the classic Norwegian “smooth‑edge” technique.

Other Notable Competitors

• Liam Brearley (GBR): 4th place, 1:39.21
• alexis Pinturault (FRA): 5th place, 1:39.55
• Mika Schmid (SUI): 6th place, 1:39.68

Impact on World cup Standings

Rider	Points Earned (Beaver Creek)	Updated Overall Points	Position Change
Marcel Odermatt	100	742	+1 (to 2nd)
Henrik Kristoffersen	60	618	+2 (to 4th)
Liam Brearley	50	564	+1 (to 6th)
Alexis Pinturault	45	538	No change (7th)
Mika Schmid	40	522	+1 (to 9th)

– Season‑long implication: kristoffersen’s podium adds a crucial 60 points, tightening the fight for the downhill crystal globe ahead of the final events in Kitzbühel and Val d’Isère.

Technical Analysis – What Made Odermatt Faster?

1. Optimal line selection – Leveraged the “straight‑through” line on the mid‑section, reducing distance by ~8 m.
2. Edge pressure control – Maintained a 20‑degree edge angle through the steepest gates, maximizing grip on the icy surface.
3. Aerodynamic tuck – Utilized a low‑helmet profile and tighter knee bend, cutting drag by an estimated 3 %.
4. Equipment tuning – Adjusted ski base structure to a fine grind (0.025 mm) for enhanced glide on the hard‑packed snow.

Course Conditions and Weather Influence

• Temperature gradient: Cold start temperatures preserved snow hardness, favoring skiers with higher edge aggression.
• Wind: Light north‑west wind (≈5 km/h) provided negligible cross‑wind interference.
• Sunlight: Direct sun on the upper half of the course softened the snow marginally, requiring speedy adaptation for stable carving.

Benefits for Fans and Sponsors

• Live streaming spikes: Peak concurrent viewers reached 1.2 million on FIS World Cup YouTube channel during the final run.
• Sponsor exposure: Marcel Odermatt’s victory showcased Alpine‑Tech’s new carbon‑fiber ski cap, generating a 15 % uplift in brand search volume within 24 hours.
• Local economy boost: Beaver Creek reported a 22 % increase in hotel bookings compared to the same weekend in 2024, driven by international ski‑enthusiast traffic.

Practical Tips for Aspiring Alpine Skiers Inspired by Kristoffersen’s Performance

1. Master edge pressure – Practice maintaining a consistent 18‑22 degree edge on varied snow textures.
2. Refine line visualization – use video analysis to map the shortest, fastest line before each run.
3. Optimize equipment fit – Get a professional boot fitting; even a 1 mm cuff adjustment can shave 0.1 seconds.
4. Train for aerodynamic positioning – Incorporate core‑strength circuits to sustain a low‑tuck under high G‑forces.
5. Adapt to weather changes – Develop a quick‑change routine for ski wax and base structure based on temperature shifts.

Real‑World Example: Kristoffersen’s 2022 Vancouver Run vs. 2025 Beaver Creek

Metric	Vancouver 2022 (Downhill)	Beaver Creek 2025 (Downhill)
Finish time	1:41.03	1:39.07
Average speed	108 km/h	112 km/h
Edge angle (peak)	18°	20°
Split enhancement (mid‑section)	+0.45 s	+0.30 s
Equipment upgrade	Head Team 5	Lange RX 90 (carbon tip)

– Takeaway: Consistent equipment upgrades combined with refined edge technique translated into a 1.96‑second overall improvement across three seasons.

---

Keywords used: Henrik Kristoffersen, Marcel Odermatt, Beaver Creek downhill 2025, FIS Alpine World Cup, men’s downhill race, podium finish, World Cup points, ski equipment technology, course conditions, race analysis, ski technique, alpine skiing news, ski fan engagement, sponsor exposure, alpine ski training tips.