Brignone Sets the Standard in Women’s GS First Run at Saalbach
After a weather delay forced course holds in the men’s Team Combined event, conditions were perfect for today’s Women’s Giant Slalom at the Saalbach 2025 FIS Alpine World Championships. Blue skies, a firm surface, and an electric crowd set the stage for an intense first run, where Italy’s Federica Brignone dominated.
Brignone Leads with Authority
With the top-ranked skiers tackling the course early, the biggest surprise was not who led, but by how much. Brignone skied with precision and power, carrying speed over the demanding terrain to build an impressive 0.67-second lead over New Zealand’s Alice Robinson. The Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Paula Moltzan continued her excellent GS form, holding third place but trailing 1.24 seconds behind the Italian.
The perfectly prepared surface allowed the world’s best to showcase their skill, yet the course’s length and relentless terrain quickly became a test of endurance. Despite no extreme pitches, wide swinging turns and rolling terrain combined demanded brilliant timing and endurance to generate speed.
Austria’s Hopes Falter
Julia Scheib, Austria’s top-ranked contender, charged onto the course carrying the weight of a ski-mad nation. However, she struggled with timing on the demanding turns and lost significant speed, finishing 2.50 seconds off the leading pace.
A Race of Separation
As more racers came down, it became clear that Brignone and Robinson had mastered the course’s toughest sections, maintaining momentum where others struggled. The rest of the field saw considerable time gaps, with many skiers over a second behind the podium positions.
After 15 racers, the top of the leaderboard remained unchanged, but the time spread among them was staggering—3.33 seconds from first to fifteenth.
The snow held firm, but the real challenge came from the length, terrain, and technical set, which created significant time gaps. The second run promises a fierce battle—not just for the win, but for podium spots still within reach.
Bib 20, Germany’s Lena Dürr made a strong push in the first run, rising well above her start number to finish the morning seventh fastest, 1.89 seconds off the lead.
North American Standings
Moltzan stood out as the top North American, sitting in third place at 1.24 seconds back. Her teammate Nina O’Brien skied into 11th place, finishing 2.91 seconds off the lead. AJ Hurt landed in 15th, trailing by 3.33 seconds.
Canada’s Britt Richardson fought to 18th place, overcoming the course’s challenges but finishing with a 3.61-second deficit. Valérie Grenier pushed hard but placed 20th, ending 4.08 seconds behind. Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Katie Hensien also struggled with the demanding set, crossing the line 4.37 seconds back in 23rd.
Second Run Format
At the World Championships, the fastest 60 from the first run will get a second run, but the fastest 30 skiers will start in reverse order. This means the 30th-fastest skier from the first run will start first in the second run, and the first-run leader will race 30th. This format sets up an exciting finale, where the best-ranked racers must hold their ground under pressure.
With only two DNFs among the first 30 racers, those starting with bibs over 30 faced a tough challenge to break into the top 30. To earn a spot in the flip, they needed an exceptional first run to outpace early starters on an already demanding course. Three racers with bibs higher than 30 met the challenge and secured a spot in the flip. The last to do so was Liechtenstein’s Charlotte Lingg, who finished 30th, while the fastest was Germany’s Emma Aicher, wearing bib 35, who sits in 27th.
During the second run, after the top 30 have raced, the remaining qualifiers will take their second run in their finish order from the first run.
Top thirty first run results
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First-run analysis of the fastest three and other North Americans in the top 30
About the Author: Peter Lange
