Olympics 2018 live stream: Men’s Alpine Super-G start time, TV schedule, and how to watch online

The world’s best skiers are set to take on one of the Winter Olympics’ most challenging races Friday (Thursday night Eastern Time) — assuming the weather allows it. Heavy winds have ravaged the Jeongseon Alpine Centre throughout the 2018 Games, creating dangerous conditions and forcing postponements throughout the event’s first week.

That pushed back the men’s Super G finals from Thursday to Friday, giving competitors an extra day to strategize and fend off the nerves that accompany a career-defining race. The super-G — short for super giant slalom — drops racers more than a quarter mile down a mountain while adding the challenge of cutting through narrow gates in a nod to its technical roots. While regarded as more of a pure speed event than the slalom and giant slalom, the super-G still requires a combination of control and composure beyond just downhill mastery.

The 2018 race is expected to be a Norwegian-dominated affair. Skiers from Norway are a common thread among the race’s favorites, and an Aquavit-flavored sweep could be in store in Pyeongchang. Leading the charge is Kjetil Jansrud, the reigning World Cup season champion. Jansrud will be looking to defend the gold medal he won at the 2014 Games in Sochi.

He’ll have to fend off a challenge from fellow countryman Aksel Lund Svindal, whose 16-year career has painted him as an all-time great in the sport. Svindal won super-G gold in 2010 and has claimed five World Cup titles. At 35 years old, this may be his last chance to boost his Olympic medal count.

Finally, the Norwegian team is rounded off by Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, the 2016 World Cup titlist. He’s never medaled in the Olympics or World Championships and will be eager to rewrite his history with a big performance in South Korea.

The United States, on the other hand, may not have much of a chance to medal Friday night. Travis Ganong may be the team’s best hope to find the podium — but he’s never finished better than 15th in the World Cup standings. He’ll have to hope his proficiency in the downhill event translates to a shocking upset in the super-G if he wants to boost Team USA’s medal count.