SUN VALLEY, Idaho — In just over 100 days, the world’s fastest ski racers will head to Sun Valley for the 2025 FIS World Cup. Sun Valley hasn’t hosted the World Cup since 1977.
The iconic resort will host the top 25 skiers in four events – downhill, super G, giant slalom and slalom.
“The best of the best will be here,” said Pete Sonntag, VP and general manager at Sun Valley. “These are the last races of the year – the culmination of the entire season.”
Sonntag said when he got the call about hosting the race, the excitement was immediate.
“It was a little over a year ago and I got the phone call, ‘Okay, there's a chance you could host the World Cup finals in March of 2025 are you interested? And we need to know soon.’ and I said, ‘We are very interested.’” Sonntag said.
The resort has previously hosted the Harriman Cup and the U.S. Alpine Nationals. It was also voted North America’s best ski resort for three the last consecutive years.
“We're this authentic ski resort, but what it [hosting the race] allows us to do is showcase to the world who we are and what we're all about,” Sonntag said.
Sonntag said there are several preparations to be done to get ready for the week-long competition. The resort is working on adding protective netting, a new timing system, moving terrain for courses and even getting the resort ready for all the TV stations that will attend.
“The amount of work that has to be done is pretty, pretty remarkable,” Sonntag said.
While hosting the event is a testament to how challenging and beautiful the Sun Valley resort is, Sonntag said it highlights the Gem State as a whole.
“It's a celebration not only of Sun Valley and Ketchum and the Wood River Valley, but the whole state of Idaho,” Sonntag said.
Until March, the resort will be in preparation mode until the competition March 22-27.
“It's going to be fantastic,” Sonntag said. “We are so lucky.”