Killington Women’s World Cup skiing returns to Vermont: 2 skiers with Western Mass ties to compete

This is a biweekly column about all things skiing and snowboarding in New England.

Since the FIS Women’s World Cup ski racing returned to the Northeast eight years ago, American Mikaela Shiffrin has dominated the slalom, winning six of the seven races and earning two bronze medals in the giant slalom.

This year Shiffrin, who broke the record for the most World Cup ski race wins overall with her 87th victory in March 2023, is on tap to claim her 100th victory at Killington, following her 98th win in Levi, Finland, and 99th in Gurgl, Austria, on Saturday.

In what now has become a tradition, the Stifel Killington World Cup will feature women’s giant slalom on the Saturday after Thanksgiving followed by the slalom on Dec. 1. In between the races there will be music, chances to meet the athletes and other fun activities.

Although warmer temperatures reduced the snowmaking window this month, Killington’s state-of-the-art system was able to blow enough snow for the race and to open with limited terrain last weekend for the general public. Race officials inspected the course Thursday and gave their go-ahead for the race to be held. On Friday, Mother Nature decided to cooperate as well, dumping about 6 inches of snow on top of the man-made flakes.

The weekend is expected to attract more than 100 of the best skiers from around the world. For several years, crowds of about 30,000 people have come out to watch, making it one of the biggest World Cup races of the season and that is expected to continue this year, said Brooke Geery, marketing specialist for Killington.

For Shiffrin, Killington has always been a bit special. Not only has she finished first in the slalom year after year, her local ties (she has relatives in the Berkshires and is an alumna of Burke Academy in Vermont) means she attracts a cheering squad of family and friends.

Her mother grew up in the Berkshire town of Lanesboro and Killington was the only spot where her beloved grandmother, who died in 2019 at the age of 98, saw her granddaughter race in person.

But Shiffrin isn’t the only woman with local ties and her personal group of supporters to be racing at Killington.

Paula Moltzan, a Minnesota native who now lives in the Berkshire town of Charlemont with her husband Ryan Mooney, will also be competing. Along with drawing family members she also will bring out friends from the University of Vermont where she was a pre-med major and a member of the ski team.

Moltzan, who has been moving up in the rankings over the past few years, finished eighth in both the slalom and giant slalom at Killington in 2023. She also secured a sixth place finish in Austria on Saturday.

After her final giant slalom run last year, Moltzan jumped a fence so she could greet her sister and brother-in-law and especially give her 18-month-old nephew a hug at his first World Cup race.

“I think being part of this event feeling the energy it is so exciting TV doesn’t do it justice to see it is so exciting and it is something everyone should experience,” Geery said.

To hear the crowd cheering and clanging cowbells when Shiffrin crests the bottom drop of the Superstar run, which is visible to the entire crowd, is always exciting, she said.

But as is the crowd tradition, every athlete gets a chorus of cheers, even the first-time racers who hail from Europe.

The Americans, of course, are not the only ones to watch. Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, who came in first in the overall World Cup last year and has won the giant slalom race at Killington in 2022 and 2023, and her Italian competitor Federica Brignone, who finished second overall last year will be hoping to capture their own golds in Vermont next weekend.

Other well-known skiers expected are Sara Hector, of Sweden; Alice Robinson, of New Zealand; Katharina Liensberger, of Austria; Lena Duerr, of Germany and Valerie Greniere of Canada. A few up-and-coming Americans expected to compete are Nina O’Brien and Katie Hensien, who have finished in the top 10 in early season races this month, Geery said.

While skiing is the main event, with the crowds comes the party at Killington, Geery said.

The event will kick off on Friday night with DJ Ross One, fireworks and a ceremony where the athletes receive their bib numbers. Popular band Fitz and the Tantrums will perform on Saturday following the races, and DJ Ross One will again play between the races.

There are also plenty of post race parties at a number of bars and restaurants up and down the Killington Access Road, she said.

“Adding the concerts adds to the whole experience. We try to increase the energy,” Geery said. “It has become part of the event and some people some for the music while some people come for the skiing and a lot come for both.”

Despite the fact that new owners took over Killington this year, Geery said people will see few changes in the event.

Entry fee will remain $10, with the exception of some VIP passes. Tickets must be bought online, although that can be done the day of the race for people who don’t want to plan ahead.

The money will go to the Killington World Cup Foundation, which helps to support youth racing. In keeping with that theme, often racers will meet with teams of young skiers after the races. Local teams of male and female racers have also been invited to take some runs on the course on the Monday after the weekend races, she said.

Most information can be found on the Killington World Cup website but here is a little advice for people who are going for the first time:

• On both days the first runs begin at 10 a.m. and the second start around 1 p.m. People who want to see the entire competition should leave plenty of time to take a shuttle from one of the free satellite lots and pass through the security checkpoints.
• Parking passes for upper lots have been sold out but there are plenty of spots in satellite lots and shuttles run from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in a constant loop all weekend.
• Killington has gone cashless, so people should make sure they bring a credit card if they want to buy food, drinks or souvenirs.
• Bring as little as possible and expect bags to be searched. There is a long list of things that are banned on the website including pets, chairs, alcohol, all weapons and drones.
• Dress warmly. Warm, waterproof boots are a must since the standing area is snow-covered and can be wet and muddy. Long underwear, a warm hat, thick mittens and a parka are recommended and it doesn’t hurt to stick a few chemical handwarmers in your pocket.