A Season Preview Snapshot

With only days to go, the 2024-25 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is shaping up to be one of the more thrilling ones in recent memory. The World Championships, new venues, and marquee athletes’ pursuit of glory make this season one to watch.

Here are a few key highlights for the upcoming season:

2025 Alpine Skiing World Championships: The Alpine Skiing World Championships will take place in Saalbach, Austria, from February 4 to 16, 2025.

Exciting Venues: Levi, Finland, returns to the men’s slalom calendar, while Gurgl, Austria, will host the women’s slalom. The season also features a men’s slalom and giant slalom in Hafjell, Norway, marking the first time the resort has hosted top men’s racers since the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. Crans-Montana, Switzerland, will host a men’s downhill and Super-G as part of the lead-up to the 2027 Alpine World Ski Championships.

North American Races: The regular season’s first U.S. race will feature the women’s GS and slalom in Killington, Vermont. Beaver Creek, Colorado, will host men’s and women’s downhill and super-G on the Birds of Prey, along with a men’s GS for the first time since 2019. For only the second time, the calendar includes two women’s GS races in Mont Tremblant, Canada.

Sun Valley World Cup Finale: The World Cup Finals will be held in Sun Valley, Idaho, marking the first time this iconic American resort hosts the event

Mikaela Shiffrin shoots for the 100-win milestone

The greatest of all time shoots for the 100-World Cup victory milestone this season. Shiffrin currently stands at an impressive 97 World Cup wins, surpassing USA’s Lindsey Vonn’s 82-win mark and Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark’s record of 86 during the 2022-23 season. Moreover, she’s still performing at her peak, and each victory will make history and establish new ski racing benchmarks.

 Marcel Hirscher’s return to the World Cup circuit

After five years in retirement, Austrian native Marcel Hirscher will return to the World Cup circuit, competing under the flag of the Netherlands. Recognized as one of the greatest skiers of all time, Hirscher has claimed eight Overall World Cup titles and 67 World Cup race victories and is a three-time Olympic medalist. As reported earlier by SRM, Hirscher will be taking advantage of a new FIS ruling allowing him to compete in the 31st (wildcard) starting position, vaulting ahead of active racers holding FIS points.

Chasing Marco Odermatt

Marco Odermatt has been on an incredible three-year streak.

The 26-year-old Swiss superstar has dominated alpine skiing, winning the Overall Crystal Globe for three consecutive years. Last season, Odermatt was unstoppable, securing four crystal globes in Overall, Giant Slalom, Super G, and Downhill. His supremacy was evident as he outpaced his nearest rival, Loic Meillard, by a record 874 points in the Overall World Cup standings.

As the new season approaches, Odermatt boasts 37 World Cup victories, an Olympic gold in Giant Slalom from 2022, and two gold medals in Downhill and Super-G from the 2023 World Championships. He ranks among today’s best racers and is poised to continue his ascent as one of alpine skiing’s greats.

All the buzz: A Lindsey Vonn comeback?

On October 8th, SRM announced that the 39-year-old veteran might be eyeing a return to competitive skiing. Following a partial knee replacement, Vonn shared her gratitude on Instagram for being able to ski again in New Zealand, calling it a place where she feels “inner peace and joy.” She has recently trained and took selfies with Corinne Suteron on the Rettenbachferner glacier in Sölden, Austria, where the season opener will occur in a few days.

The timing of her enrollment in the mandatory six-month USADA whereabouts testing protocol remains unclear. Records show she was tested in the third quarter, suggesting her eligibility date will likely be early in the season.