Sun Valley Resort, America’s first destination ski resort, established in 1936 by the Union Pacific Railroad, is preparing to host the FIS World Cup Finals from March 22-27, 2025, on the Warm Springs side of Bald Mountain. This prestigious event marks the first World Cup Finals in the U.S. since 2017 in Aspen and the first return to Sun Valley since 1977.

Sun Valley is no stranger to competitions and training. The Harriman Cup races, which began in 1937, was once the pinnacle of North American ski racing. The race that made racers legends. When creating the course for the upcoming World Cup, Sun Valley wanted to make sure to immortalize their rich history of competition and training.

Course Preview

The course pays homage to Sun Valley legends and pivotal historical moments in time. Some highlights include:

• Durrance Dive: The Downhill Course quickly dips into the Durrance Dive, which pays homage to the legendary Dick Durrance, a three-time Harriman Cup champion who also designed the original race course when it was on Bald Mountain.
• Carol’s Wagon Wheel: Following the legends section (see below), racers will enter Carol’s Wagon Wheel, named for Carol Holding. Carol purchased Sun Valley along with her husband Earl back in 1977 and was at the helm until she passed away this past December at the age of 95.
• Rudi’s Roll: Also on course is Rudi’s Roll, named for Michel Rudigoz, a legendary coach in Sun Valley, known for coaching Debbie Armstrong and Christin Cooper to Olympic medals in 1984 and Olympian Pete Patterson.

Perhaps most exciting to the museum, is when the start of the Super-G course winds through the legends section, named after prominent women throughout Sun Valley’s history: Gretchen Fraser, Picabo Street, Christin Cooper, Muffy Davis, and Kaitlyn Farrington. Three of these legends are members of the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame.

Picabo Street, a native of the Wood River Valley, learned to ski and race in Sun Valley. Providing to be a great training ground, Picabo went on to find significant success on the World Cup circuit and became an Olympic gold medalist. Picabo will be honored with the unveiling of a statue at the 2025 World Cup Finals.

Gretchen Fraser trained at Sun Valley, became the first American to win an Olympic medal in alpine skiing, securing gold and silver at the 1948 Olympics. Fraser’s unexpected victory brought immense publicity to Sun Valley.

Christin Cooper joined the Sun Valley Ski Team at the age of 10. By 16, she was competing for the U.S. Ski Team, where she became the first American to win three medals in a single world championships and an Olympic silver medalist. Christin was also alpine skiing’s first female expert analyst.

As Sun Valley prepares to welcome the world’s elite skiers for the 2025 World Cup Finals, the event not only signifies a major moment in contemporary ski racing but also serves as a powerful reminder of the resort’s enduring legacy as a pioneering force in the sport, shaped by legendary figures and historic competitions.