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The women's downhill in the 2024 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup consisted of eight events, including the final. The tentative schedule called for eleven events, but a new event, the team combined, which was scheduled for 16 February 2024 in Crans Montana, was cancelled and converted into an additional downhill on the final schedule, increasing the planned schedule to twelve. However, as discussed below in the season summary, cancellations reduced that number during the season. The season champion was Cornelia Hütter of Austria, ending a string of three straight season triumphs by Sofia Goggia of Italy, who was injured just after the midpoint of the season but still finished third.

Season summary

The first two downhills of the season were scheduled for 18 and 19 November 2023 on the "Gran Becca" course on the Matterhorn, which crosses an international border between the start (Zermatt, in Switzerland) and the finish (Cervinia, in Italy); the course name comes from the local dialect in Valtournenche, in which the Matterhorn is called “Gran Becca”, meaning “big peak”. However, the first downhill of the season was cancelled due to high winds on the Matterhorn, and its rescheduling or replacement is currently not planned. The scheduled race the next day also was cancelled due to high winds, and its rescheduling or replacement is also not planned, reducing the season to ten events.

As a result, the first downhill was held in St. Moritz, Switzerland on 9 December, and visibility deteriorated so badly during the break after the first 30 skiers that the remainder of the race was canceled after 35 skiers; three of the five after the break failed to finish. However, the race was official since the 30 skiers had already gone, and it resulted in an upset victory for two-time defending overall champion Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. (only her fourth downhill win of her all-time record 91 total victories). However, Shiffrin only competed in one of the next four downhills, in Cortina, in which she crashed and was injured, and those four downhills were won by four different skiers from four different countries: Jasmine Flury of Switzerland; three-time defending discipline champion Sofia Goggia of Italy; Stephanie Venier of Austria; and Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway. The wide distribution of results left Goggia in the overall lead at the halfway point of the season, with an 89-point lead over Venier with four races to go.

The following downhill, scheduled for the first week of February in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, was then cancelled due to warm weather, giving the many injured skiers on the World Cup circuit another week to recover. However, even the time off didn't affect the proliferation of injuries, with discipline leader Goggia requiring immediate surgery after breaking two bones in her right leg while doing giant slalom training in Italy, putting her on the sidelines for the rest of the season along with Swiss skiers Joana Hählen and Corinne Suter and Canadian skier Valérie Grenier, while Shiffrin also was still out after her crash in Cortina. In the first race back after Goggia's injury, at Crans Montana in Switzerland, Swiss star Lara Gut-Behrami became the sixth different winner in six races for the season, and her victory moved her to within 41 points of Goggia's season lead. and three other racers -- Venier, Flury, and Cornelia Hütter of Austria -- closed to within 100 points. The next day, a seventh different winner, Marta Bassino of Italy, took advantage of an early start time on a melting course to claim the top step of the podium ahead of Brignone and Gut-Behrami; however, Gut-Behrami took over the season lead in the discipline (with just two races to go), giving her the current lead in three of the four disciplines as well as the overall lead.

The next-to-last downhill of the season, in Kvitfjell, was scheduled for 2 March, but both planned training runs, on 29 February and 1 March, were cancelled by heavy snowfall, which meant the downhill could not be run (as at least one training run prior to the race is required); instead, the race was converted to a super-G to replace one of the two races in that discipline cancelled the prior week.

Finals

The World Cup finals in women's downhill were held on Saturday, 23 March 2024 in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria. For the first time since the finals began in 1993, the downhill was the last event of the finals instead of the first, with the women's race being held on Saturday and the men's on Sunday. Only the top 25 skiers in the World Cup downhill discipline and the winner of the Junior World Championship in the discipline (Victoria Olivier of Austria), plus any skiers who had scored at least 500 points in the World Cup overall classification for the season, were eligible to compete in the discipline final, and only the top 15 earned World Cup points. Due to injuries, six qualified skiers (Goggia, Shiffrin, Flury, Hählen, Grenier, and Laura Gauché of France) missed the finals, and one non-qualified skier with 500 points (Alice Robinson) opted to compete, so the final consisted of 21 racers.

Gut-Behrami carried a lead of 68 points over Venier and 72 points over Hütter into the final, so she only needed to tie for eighth (worth 32 points) to clinch the season title. Hütter, skiing twelfth, moved into first by half a second, but Gut-Behrami, skiing just two racers later, played it too safe and was almost two seconds behind, giving Hütter only the second downhill win of her career (about six-and-one-half years after her first, at Lake Louise in 2017) and the discipline crown for the season.

Standings

	Venue	18 Nov 2023 Zermatt/Cervinia	19 Nov 2023 Zermatt/Cervinia	9 Dec 2023 St. Moritz	16 Dec 2023 Val d'Isère	13 Jan 2024 Zauchensee	26 Jan 2024 Cortina d'Ampezzo	27 Jan 2024 Cortina d'Ampezzo	3 Feb 2024 Garmisch	16 Feb 2024 Crans Montana	17 Feb 2024 Crans Montana	2 Mar 2024 Kvitfjell	23 Mar 2024 Saalbach
#	Skier													Total
	Cornelia Hütter	x		50	60	15	32	36	x	80	24	x	100	397
2	Lara Gut-Behrami	x		20	24	40	80	45	x	100	60	x	0	369
3	Sofia Goggia	x		80	50	100	60	60	x	DNS				350
4	Stephanie Venier	x		36	DNS	80	100	45	x	26	14	x	45	346
5	Federica Brignone	x		60	32	18	DNF	22	x	40	80	x	29	281
6	Jasmine Flury	x		13	100	24	22	24	x	80	12	x	DNS	275
7	Mirjam Puchner	x		45	26	60	29	20	x	16	15	x	40	251
8	Ilka Štuhec	x		18	45	22	10	12	x	29	26	x	80	242
9	Marta Bassino	x		26	12	0	24	29	x	45	100	x	0	236
10	Laura Pirovano	x		7	14	20	40	18	x	50	45	x	22	216
11	Ariane Rädler	x		15	36	36	11	15	x	32	40	x	26	211
12	Ragnhild Mowinckel	x		2	18	6	16	100	x	22	36	x	0	200
13	Nicol Delago	x		11	11	60	12	13	x	15	16	x	60	198
14	Jacqueline Wiles	x		DNS	6	18	20	80	x	20	20	x	20	184
15	Kira Weidle	x		29	20	45	15	DNF	x	9	13	x	32	163
16	Kajsa Vickhoff Lie	x		16	22	DNF	36	32	x	24	32	x	0	162
17	Laura Gauché	x		8	9	29	18	50	x	18	29	x	DNS	161
18	Christina Ager	x		10	3	6	60	14	x	0	5	x	50	148
	Priska Nufer	x		14	40	26	DNF	16	x	36	0	x	16	148
20	Joana Hählen	x		6	80	13	26	DNF	DNS					125
21	Michelle Gisin	x		32	11	32	DNF	DNS	x	5	0	x	36	116
22	Mikaela Shiffrin	x		100	DNS		DNF	DNS						100
23	Ester Ledecká	x		9	15	7	DNS	DNF	x	14	18	x	24	87
24	Elvedina Muzaferija	x		DNF	0	0	0	6	x	13	50	x	0	69
25	Valérie Grenier	x		DNS			60	DNF	DNS					60
26	Delia Durrer	x		12	16	12	2	10	x	3	2	x	NE	57
27	Emma Aicher	x		40	7	DNF	DNF	DNS	x	8	DNF	x	NE	55
28	Corinne Suter	x		24	29	DNF	DNF	DNS					NE	53
29	Isabella Wright	x		22	2	14	13	DNF	x	DNF	DNF	x	NE	51
30	Teresa Runggaldier	x		DNS	0	0	5	11	x	10	24	x	NE	50
	Christine Scheyer	x		4	13	11	9	DNF	x	2	11	x	NE	50
32	Romane Miradoli	x		DNS		0	0	26	x	12	9	x	NE	47
33	Lauren Macuga	x		DNS	0	0	15	8	x	11	8	x	NE	42
34	Nadia Delago	x		5	5	9	8	9	x	0	0	x	NE	36
35	Alice Robinson	x		DNS	0	DNS			x	1	4	x	18	23
36	Sabrina Maier	x		0	0	10	DNF	DNS	x	6	4	x	NE	20
37	Michelle Niederwieser	x		DNS	8	8	1	DNF	x	DNS		x	NE	17
38	Stephanie Jenal	x		DNS		4	DNF	3	x	0	7	x	NE	14
39	Noémie Kolly	x		DNS		DNF	DNS		x	7	6	x	NE	13
40	Keely Cashman	x		DNS	1	0	4	7	x	DNS		x	NE	12
41	Karen Smadja-Clément	x		DNS	0	DNF	0	6	x	4	1	x	NE	11
42	Emily Schöpf	x		DNS	0	0	DNS		x	0	10	x	NE	10
43	Stefanie Fleckenstein	x		3	4	DNS						x	NE	7
	Roberta Melesi	x		DNS			7	DNS	x	0	DNS	x	NE	7
45	Ricarda Haaser	x		DNS			6	DNS	x	0	0	x	NE	6
46	Jasmina Suter	x		DNS	0	DNS	0	4	x	0	0	x	NE	4
47	Vicky Bernardi	x		DNS		3	DNS		x	0	0	x	NE	3
	Tricia Mangan	x		DNS	DNF	DNF	3	0	x	DNF	0	x	NE	3
	Lena Wechner	x		DNS	0	2	DNF	1	x	DNS	0	x	NE	3
50	Nadine Fest	x		DNF	0	DNS	DNF	2	x	0	0	x	NE	2
51	Lisa Hörnblad	x		DNS	0	1	DNF	0	x	0	0	x	NE	1
	Juliana Suter	x		1	DNS								NE	1
	References

Legend

•   Winner (100 points)
•   2nd place (80 points)
•   3rd place (60 points)
• DNF = Did not finish
• DSQ = Disqualified
•   Did not start (DNS)
•   Not eligible for finals (NE)
•   Race canceled (x)
• Updated on 23 March 2024, after all events.

See also

• 2024 Alpine Skiing World Cup – Women's summary rankings
• 2024 Alpine Skiing World Cup – Women's overall
• 2024 Alpine Skiing World Cup – Women's super-G
• 2024 Alpine Skiing World Cup – Women's giant slalom
• 2024 Alpine Skiing World Cup – Women's slalom
• World Cup scoring system

References

1. "FIS CALENDAR & RESULTS - World Cup Women DH". fis-ski.com. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
2. "The Ultimate Guide to the Zermatt Ski World Cup and the Gran Becca Slope". Zermatterhorn. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
3. ^ Associated Press (18 November 2023). "Strong winds cancel women's World Cup downhill race at Matterhorn mountain". MSN.com. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
4. ^ Southby, Ben (19 November 2023). "WEATHER CAUSES MORE TROUBLE IN ZERMATT-CERVINIA AS WOMEN'S DOWNHILL WORLD CUP RACE CANCELLED FOR SECOND SUCCESSIVE DAY". Eurosport. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
5. ^ Olympic Talk (9 December 2023). "Mikaela Shiffrin wins rare downhill for 91st World Cup victory". NBC Sports. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
6. Associated Press (26 January 2024). "Mikaela Shiffrin taken away by ambulance after crash in Cortina during a World Cup downhill". NBC News. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
7. Sportsbeat (16 December 2023). "JASMINE FLURY ADDS WORLD CUP SUCCESS IN VAL D'ISERE TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE - 'IT WAS A WILD RUN'". Eurosport. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
8. Staff (13 January 2024). "Alpine ski World Cup 23/24: Sofia Goggia claims first downhill win of the season at Altenmarkt-Zauchensee - Results". Olympics.com. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
9. Dampf, Andrew (26 January 2024). "Stephanie Venier wins Cortina downhill, while Canada's Grenier part of three-way tie for bronze". CBC. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
10. Dampf, Andrew (27 January 2024). "Norway's Mowinckel wins alpine ski downhill race ahead of US skier Wiles". 9 News Denver. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
11. ^ Associated Press (29 January 2024). "Warm temperatures prompt cancellation of World Cup ski races in Garmisch and Chamonix". MSN.com. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
12. Associated Press (5 February 2024). "Top skier Sofia Goggia has season-ending surgery on right leg after training crash". CBC. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
13. Staff (16 February 2024). "Alpine ski World Cup 23/24: Lara Gut-Behrami wins home Crans Montana Friday downhill on shortened course". Olympics.com. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
14. Associated Press (17 February 2024). "Italian skier Marta Bassino dominates World Cup downhill. Overall leader Gut-Behrami finishes third". MSN.com. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
15. ^ Lange, Peter (1 March 2024). "Saturday Switch: Kvitfjell Women's World Cup Downhill Transforms into Super-G". skiracing.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
16. Associated Press (23 March 2024). "Huetter wins World Cup downhill race to clinch her 1st title and deny Gut-Behrami her 4th of season". MSN.com. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
17. "Audi FIS Ski World Cup St. Moritz Women's DH (SUI)" (PDF). FIS. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
18. "Audi FIS Ski World Cup Val d'Isère Women's DH (FRA)" (PDF). FIS. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
19. "Audi FIS Ski World Cup Zauchensee Women's DH (AUT)" (PDF). FIS. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
20. "Audi FIS Ski World Cup Cortina d'Ampezzo Women's DH (ITA)" (PDF). FIS. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
21. "Audi FIS Ski World Cup Cortina d'Ampezzo Women's DH (ITA)" (PDF). FIS. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
22. "Audi FIS Ski World Cup Crans-Montana Women's DH (SUI)" (PDF). FIS. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
23. "Audi FIS Ski World Cup Crans-Montana Women's DH (SUI)" (PDF). FIS. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
24. "Audi FIS Ski World Cup Saalbach Women's DH (AUT)" (PDF). FIS. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
25. "Official FIS women's season standings". fis-ski.com. Retrieved 23 March 2024.

External links

• Alpine Skiing at FIS website

• 2023–24 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
• FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women's downhill discipline titles