A new five-part docuseries, 'On the Edge: World Cup Ski Racing,' will offer viewers an inside look at the lives of elite ski racers as they prepare for the Milan Cortina Olympics. The series, produced by ESPN, features some of the biggest names in the sport, including Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn, Marco Odermatt, and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen.
The first three episodes air on Friday, with the final instalment, 'The World's Stage,' scheduled for April 10. This episode will focus on Swiss racer Camille Rast and her reflections on the fatal New Year's fire in Crans-Montana, as well as the Olympic performances of athletes like Vonn, who returned to competition after a partial knee replacement.
The opening episodes spotlight Shiffrin and her fiancé, Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, as they support each other following their recoveries from severe injuries. The series also follows racers such as Alice Robinson, Sofia Goggia, Federica Brignone, Dominik Paris, and Henrik Kristoffersen.
Sophie Goldschmidt, president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, said in a statement: 'This kind of storytelling is so important to the future of our sport. "On the Edge" gives ski racing an even bigger platform and broader reach — and that’s how you inspire participation.' She added that the series aims to encourage more young people to take up ski racing.
Filmmaker Pat Dimon, a lifelong skier from Vermont, directed the series. He said: 'Growing up a lifelong skier in Vermont, I learned that what matters most often happens away from the gates and finish line. "On the Edge" is about seeing past the polished surface and dropping into the real line of World Cup racing — the grind of travel, the toll of injuries, the pressure, and the mindset it takes to be and stay at that level.'
The series will premiere on the ESPN app and ESPN on Disney+.
