Calgary, AB. (Dec 6, 2024) — Canada’s James Crawford (Toronto, ON) started the FIS Ski World Cup men’s downhill season with a fourth-place finish today in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Teammate Brodie Seger (North Vancouver, BC) delivered a career best 10th to kickoff his season. 

In the first of nine World Cup downhill races this season, on a bright sunny day with a clear blue sky, Crawford raced to his seventh top 5 in the downhill dating back to a third-place finish in Beaver Creek in 2022. 

“I felt really comfortable on my skis and I felt that I could just go out and send it today,” said Crawford. “I really wanted to go out and bring the skiing that I’ve been searching for the last year. I was able to trust in all the work I’ve put into my skiing and today felt easy, like I could flow down the mountain.”

“I had a good plan today and I was able to lean into it. The snow and the course here are similar to what we grew up skiing on so it’s easy for me to trust myself to do the right things.” 

Seger started 49th today and punched his way to 10th, producing two sectors in the top 6. This is Seger’s 14th World Cup downhill top 30 and his second top 15 in Beaver Creek after a 13th place in 2019.

“I definitely had some first race jitters beforehand but I’m pretty happy with this result,” said Seger. “I saw Jack’s result when I was preparing at the top and I tried to use that as a little motivation for my run. It is a relief to start the season with a decent result early in the season and want to build confidence from here.”

“Feels like a weight off my shoulders after last season coming back from knee injury. Felt like I was trending in the right direction in the summer but it’s always a different story to put it together on race day.” 

Jeffrey Read (Canmore, AB) finished in 33rd, missing out on the points by .05 of a second, while Cameron Alexander and Kyle Alexander (North Vancouver, BC) both missed a gate and skied down the course for DNFs.

Next races: (link to FIS Calendar)

Men race continue in Beaver Creek (USA) with a SG and GS in December 7-8

Para-alpine World Cup season starts December 10 in Steinbach Am Brunner (AUT).

Ski cross have their first World Cup race of the season December 12 in Val Thorens (FRA)

Follow Canada’s Ski Team this season on Alpine Canada’s website, across our social media accounts and subscribe to our newsletter here.

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Mark Halliday
Alpine Canada
403 777 3204
media@alpinecanada.org

About Alpine Canada 

Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct. With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community.