The Stifel Killington Cup has become one of the major highlights of the Northeast’s ski season. Each Thanksgiving Weekend, the top female alpine ski racers on the planet head to Vermont on Killington’s notorious Superstar trail for two World Cup events: Giant Slalom & Slalom. In between the races, there are concerts, vendors, and of course: skiing and riding.
Last weekend, I made the trip up to Killington for Saturday’s Giant Slalom World Cup race. The weather was brisk, resulting in excellent racing conditions. The end of the first run saw New Zealand’s Alice Robinson with the lead. In between the first and second runs, there was a concert by Mix Master Mike, who’s known for his collaborations with the Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill.
The second run was an exciting viewing experience due to the constant lead changes. Cowbells rang through the frigid air during each racer’s run, which grew in intensity during the laps of Americans Paula Moltzan and Mikaela Shiffrin. Both Paula and Mikaela briefly took the lead down the stretch. The ultimate winner was Lara Gut-Behrami, followed by Alice Robinson in second, and Shiffrin in third.
After the event, the racers did some media interviews. Mikaela took questions from various media outlets, such as WCAX, before engaging in the Winner’s Presentation.
After the race, there was a concert by Young The Giant, an alternative rock band known for a variety of hits in the 2010s. Killington consistently brings in big acts for the Cup, such as Noah Kahan and Michael Franti last year.
I didn’t make it to Sunday’s Slalom race, but I wish I had. It was another triumph for Mikaela Shiffrin, as she won her 90th World Cup race. She will aim to add to that record-breaking total this weekend at Tremblant.
In terms of advice for those who want to visit the Killington Cup in the future, I’d say to not be reluctant to go because of the crowds. Parking spots are easy to find with constant shuttle service, and lift lines on the mountain weren’t as large as I expected.
I would like to thank Killington Resort for hosting me this past weekend, and for continuing to host these World Cup events, which remind people that Vermont is pretty rad.
Image Credits: Ian Wood, Killington Resort
