STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Lindsay Vonn will challenge 25 other women, including Italy’s Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia, Australia’s Cornelia Hunter and Idaho’s own Breezy Johnson for a downhill title on a course no World Cup athlete has ever ran before. Horse riders and skiers will team up on a course with an unusual “L” in it during a Wild West Skijoring contest.
Sun Valley’s own Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street will unwrap a new bronze sculpture of herself standing in what she says is her signature stance. And Barenaked Ladies and country music star Tracy Byrd will headline free concerts as Ketchum’s Main Street closes down for a week.
The wildly anticipated 2025 Audi FIS World Cup Finals takes front and center stage at Sun Valley this coming week. Here’s the schedule to watch the races live or on TV and all the other things you need to know, from how to get around during the week to how to partake of a popup opportunity for New York City bagels.
THURSDAY, March 20
11 a.m. The MEN’S DOWNHILL TRAINING can be viewed from the lower Greyhawk Base viewing area.
12:30 p.m. The WOMEN’S DOWNHILL TRAINING can be viewed from the Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area.
5 p.m. KICK OFF PARTY at Whiskey’s on Main.
FRIDAY, March 21
11 a.m. WOMEN’S DOWNHILL TRAINING can be viewed from the Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area
Noon-8:30 p.m. VENDORS will be set up at Ketchum Town Square until 5 p.m., while FOOD TRUCKS will be at the square from noon until 8:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m. MEN’S DOWNHILL TRAINING can be viewed from the Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area.
2-4 p.m. DJ DOT performs live music at the Warm Springs Base Area.
3-5 p.m. BOGNER AND BRASS RANCH PRE-BIB DRAW PARTY at the Brass Ranch Village
4 p.m. The CHASING POWDER PARTY launches at the Main Stage on Main Street Ketchum. Performers include Brandi Cyrus, Annie Bosko and the Jake Maurer Band, with an after-party featuring DJ Locomotive beginning at 9 p.m. at Whiskey’s on Main.
5:30-7 p.m. A free OPENING CEREMONY and DOWNHILL BIB DRAW at the Sun Valley Resort Outdoor Ice Rink. The top 10 men and top 10 women downhill racers will select their starting positions for Saturday’s race from 6 to 7 p.m. There’ll be an ice show and surprises from the Idaho Potato Commission.
7-8 p.m. DJ MIX MASTER MIKE, a Grammy winner called the world’s greatest DJ by USA Today, will perform with fireworks following at the Sun Valley Resort Outdoor Ice Rink
SATURDAY, March 22
9 a.m-5 p.m. VENDOR VILLAGE at Warm Springs Base Area
11 a.m. MEN’S DOWNHILL can be viewed from the Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area and live on Outside TV and CNBC/Peacock.
11 a.m. The AUDI FIS WORLD CUP FINALS WATCH PARTY will be held at the Main Stage on Main Street Ketchum
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. DJ DOT provides live music at Warm Springs Base Area
Noon-8:30 p.m. VENDORS will be set up at Ketchum Town Square until 5 p.m., while FOOD TRUCKS will be at the square from noon until 8:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m. WOMEN’S DOWNHILL can be viewed from the Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area and live on Outside TV
Following Women’s Downhill—PRESENTATION OF THE HARRIMAN CUP by the City of Sun Valley to the fastest male and female downhill racers at Warm Springs Base Area
2 p.m. APRES PARTY with thrice Grammy-nominated PAUL OAKENFOLD, the Godfather of electronic music, at Warm Springs Base Area. Oakenfold is known for groundbreaking performances at such exotic locales as the Great Wall of China and Mount Everest base camp, and he has contributed to films like “The Bourne Identity” and “The Matrix Reloaded.”
4 p.m. A RETRO PEAK PARTY featuring BARENAKED LADIES, SUGAR RAY and BRANDI CYRUS will take the Main Stage on Main Street
10 p.m. LATE NIGHT PARTY featuring DJ Locomotive will start at 10 p.m. at Whiskey’s on Main
SUNDAY, March 23
9 a.m.-5 p.m. VENDOR VILLAGE at Warm Springs Base Area
11 a.m. WOMEN’S SUPER G, or super giant slalom (combines the technical elements of slalom and the speed of downhill on a course that demands more maneuvering than a downhill run) can be viewed from Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area (watch on Outside TV either live or at 12:30 p.m.
11 a.m. The AUDI FIS WORLD CUP FINALS WATCH PARTY will be held at the Main Stage on Main Street
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. LIVE MUSIC by the GARY TACKETT BAND at Warm Springs Base Area
Noon-8:30 p.m. VENDORS will be set up at Ketchum Town Square until 5 p.m., while FOOD TRUCKS will be at the square from noon until 8:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m. MEN’S SUPER G can be viewed from Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area (Live on Outside TV)
1 p.m. The BLISTER REVIEW RACING RECAP PODCAST will start at Ketchum Town Square Stage
2-5 p.m. WORLD CUP REBELS APRES MUSIC/220 KID, a multi-platinum selling songwriter with the hit single “Don’t Need Love,” at Warm Springs Base Area
2:30-3:30 p.m. CULINARY Experience at the Sun Valley Culinary Institute (tickets required)
4 p.m. APRES SKI MUSIC with BIG & RICH, TRACY BYRD and JOSH WEATHERS at Ketchum Main Stage
10 p.m. LATE NIGHT PARTY featuring BRANDI CYRUS will start at 10 p.m. at Whiskey’s on Main
MONDAY, March 24
9 a.m.-5 p.m. VENDOR VILLAGE at Warm Springs Base Area
11 a.m.-noon PICABO STREET Sculpture Unveiling and Renaming of Festivals Meadow to Sun Valley Champions Meadow on Sun Valley Road
Noon-3 p.m. SUN VALLEY’S WILD WEST SKIJORING INVITATIONAL at Sun Valley Champions Meadow featuring professional skijoring racers
Noon-8:30 p.m. VENDORS and FOOD TRUCKS at Ketchum Town Square
3:30-5 p.m. LIVE MUSIC BY PRAIRIE BLUE, Sun Valley Champions Meadow (live music will be offered through the day)
9 p.m. DANA CARVEY STAND UP SPECIAL at The Argyros (tickets for this and other Argyros events at https://www.theargyros.org/calendar)
TUESDAY, March 25
9 a.m.-5 p.m. VENDOR VILLAGE at Warm Springs Base Area
9:30 a.m. WOMEN’S GIANT SLALOM RUN No. 1 featuring more turns and maneuvers than Super-G and downhill ((Live on Outside TV)
10 a.m.-Noon LIVE MUSIC BY SIDE HUSTLE at Warm Springs Base Area
Noon—WOMEN’S GIANT SLALOM RUN NO. 2 can be viewed from Lower Greyhawk Base Viewing Area (Live on USA and OUTSIDE TV)
Noon-8:30 p.m. VENDORS and FOOD TRUCKS at Ketchum Town Square
2-5 p.m. WORLDCUP REBELS APRES MUSIC with DJ LOGIC, a master turntablist and electronic music ambassador, at Warm Springs Base Area
3-5 p.m. APRES WITH LINDSEY VONN at Brass Ranch River Run
6 p.m. HERoic PANEL AND SCREENING at Sun Valley Opera House featuring a panel discussion led by the Stifel U.S. Ski Team around the environmental initiative East Green, along with screenings of Mikaela Shiffrin’s latest episode of “Moving Right Along” and the short film “The Hypocrite” presented by Protect our Winters. Tickets are $10, available at https://www.showpass.com/heroic-panel-and-movie-screening/, with the money going to Protect Our Winters (POW).
8 p.m. THE Grammy-nominated and Emmy Award-winning songwriter duo WARREN BROTHERS AND GUESTS at The Argyros (tickets required)
10 p.m. LATE NIGHT at Whiskey’s on Main
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
9 a.m.-5 p.m. VENDOR VILLAGE at Warm Springs Base Area
9:30 a.m. MEN’S GIANT SLALOM RUN NO. 1 can be viewed from Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area (Live on Outside TV)
10 a.m.-Noon LIVE MUSIC BY CLIFTONITE ACOUSTICS at Warm Springs Base Area
Noon—MEN’S GIANT SLALOM RUN NO. 2 can be viewed from Lower Greyhawk Base Viewing Area (Live on USA & Outside TV)
Noon-8:30 p.m. VENDORS and FOOD TRUCKS at Ketchum Town Square
2-5 p.m. WORLD CUP REBELS APRES MUSIC with G. LOVE, an American Hip-Hop Blues artist whose hit single “Cold Beverage” climbed the charts in 1994, at Warm Springs Base Area
5:30-7 p.m. Free APRES PARTY & SLALOM BIB DRAW at Sun Valley Resort Outdoor Ice Rink
7-8 p.m. Performance by 220 KID & FIREWORKS at Sun Valley Resort Outdoor Ice Rink
8 p.m. NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS MUSIC PERFORMANCE at The Argyros (tickets required)
10 p.m. LATE NIGHT at Whiskey’s on Main
THURSDAY, MARCH 27
9 a.m.-5 p.m. VENDOR VILLAGE at Warm Springs Base Area
9 a.m. WOMEN’S SLALOM RUN NO. 1 can be viewed from Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area (Live Outside TV)
10 a.m. MEN’S SLALOM RUN NO. 1 can be viewed from Lower Greyhawk Base Viewing Area (Live on Outside TV)
11 a.m.-Noon LIVE MUSIC BY DOT at Warm Springs Base Area
Noon WOMEN’S SLALOM RUN NO. 2 can be viewed from the Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area (Live on USA & Outside TV)
Noon-8:30 p.m. VENDORS and FOOD TRUCKS at Ketchum Town Square
1 p.m. MEN’S SLALOM RUN NO. 2 can be viewed from Lower Greyhawk Base viewing area (Live on Outside TV
1:30 p.m. FINAL GLOBE PRESENTATION at finish area following final race
3-5 p.m. WORLD CUP REBELS APRES MUSIC with SWITCHFOOT, a four-member band with a Grammy Award-winning “Hello Hurricane” at Warm Springs Base Area.
6 p.m. GIDDY UP AND GO CLOSING PARTY at Ketchum Town Square
8 p.m. THE LAST YEE-HAW at Whiskey’s on Main
SATURDAY, March 29
Noon-World Cup Finals Recap on NBC/Peacock
SUNDAY, March 30
1 p.m. MEN’S SLALOM SECOND RUN tape delay on CNBC/Peacock)
HOW TO SEE THE RACES LIVE
VIPs can watch from a lounge at the bottom or Greyhawk while those who purchase $45 tickets can watch from grandstands there or at select viewing points along the course with one opposite the Steilhang Traverse, others above and below the slalom start and one just above the finish line at Greyhawk.
Free spectator viewing will be at the race course finish line and along the course venue. On-hill spectators will need a ski lift ticket as they’re skier accessed.
SKIING BALDY
Overall lift operations will not be affected during the event. Challenger and Flying Squirrel lifts will be open for public use, but Challenger mid-station unloading will not be permitted during the giant Slalom events on March 25 and 26.
CULINARY EXPERIENCES
5850 Fest is presenting Apres Q with Tyler Florence in the Ketchum Town Square Monday through Thursday. A plate of live-fire dishes costs $99 for adults and $39 for those 12 and under, with tickets available at https://www.5850fest.com/apres-q.
Culinary Experiences with such celebrity chefs Tyler Florence and Art Smith are being offered throughout the festival with tickets available at https://www.5850fest.com/summit-to-table.
POPUP BAGELS, the No. 1 bagel in New York City, will be baking plain, everything, salt, sesame and poppy bagels onsite at the Argyros Performing Arts Center from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday, March 21-23. Pick up a six-pack with one schmear of cream cheese, scallion cream cheese or brown sugar cinnamon butter or two dozen plus two schmears, available by preorder only at https://www.hotplate.com/popupbagelsonthemove/2dbc37db-e501-4c58-ae17-ea487d724175.
ROAD ACCESS AND PARKING will be restricted in some places to create event spaces, including Main Street from 1st Street to Sun Valley Road during the opening weekend. East Avenue between East 4th Street and Sun Valley Road, Washington Avenue between River and 1st Street, and Picabo Street in front of Warm Springs Lodge will be closed throughout the World Cup.
THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC PARKING in Warm Springs from Wednesday, March 19, through Thursday, March 27. Road access and parking restrictions within a four block radius of Warm Springs Lodge during the World Cup will ensure that emergency services and public shuttles/buses can operate without interruption and that residents can access their properties. Parking in the area is on private property only. Sun Valley Company’s Warm Springs lots will be for official and competitor use only.
FREE SHUTTLES
Sun Valley Resort and Mountain Rides will be running shuttles every 15 minutes from 5:15 a.m. to 3:30 pm., then every 30 minutes from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Riders may park for free at the Upper Parking Lots on the River Run side of Bald Mountain. Additional parking lots throughout town, such as the south lot of the Wood River YMCA and Rotary Park, will also be activated as park-and-ride areas.
The Mountain Rides Bronze route leaves from the River Run Plaza bus stop by the bridge at :47 and :06 after the hour from 8:47 a.m. to 4:47. There also will be shuttles from the Baldy View Circle bus stop in the Sun Valley Village every 30 minutes starting at 5 a.m.
Those wishing to ride buses from Bellevue or Hailey may pick them up at the Atkinsons’ Market in Bellevue, Hailey Ice Rink north lot, Hailey Park & Ride on River Street and Wood River Middle School. Riders will transfer from the Valley route to the Blue route in Ketchum.
Buses will drop off in front of Apples; the drop-off location for motorists will be on Howard Drive.
Learn details at https://www.sunvalley.com/events/audi-fis-ski-world-cup/parking-transportation/.
5850 FEST VIP PASSES
VIP passes grant entry to the most coveted events, premium amenities, and unforgettable experiences throughout the festival with private lounges with gourmet cuisine and top-shelf beverages and front-row seats at the main stage concerts. Passes are available at https://5850fest.eventive.org/passes/buy.