Featured Image: Katie Hensien of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. Credit: GEPA

As the second run of the first World Cup of the 2024-25 season unfolded in Sölden, Austria, the women were able to shake off their initial first run jitters. They were primed and eager to show that their pre-season training had paid off. 

The weather broke up slightly for the second run, but the athletes were still fighting wind at the top and flat light through the steep pitch. Some athletes were lucky enough to get a sunny run, while others had cloud coverage, challenging their visibility. 

Shiffrin was leading the charge after the first run, -0.22 ahead of Alice Robinson and a -0.40 lead over Federica Brignone. However, she was ready to bring more to the track on the second run. 

The end of the race was a nail-biting fight for the athletes. However, it was the Italian, Federica Brignone, that pulled through with the victory (-0.17). This set two records for the 34-year-old athlete: the oldest female to win a World Cup and the winningest Italian female athlete on the World Cup circuit. 

“I was not expecting it; this was incredible,” Brignone said. “This was an amazing start to the season.”

This was her 13th GS victory, so she ended the day with a chicken dance in the finish and youthful excitement during her interview. Nevertheless, she still understands the work she needs to do during this long gap from competition before the next event. 

Alice Robinson of New Zealand came into second place with a strong second run. Before getting in the start gate, her coach told her to go “full throttle,” and she did just that. But it was not enough to beat the Italian. 

Rounding out the podium was Austrian Julia Scheib, who conquered a fast second run. She was sitting in 14th position after the inaugural run and was able to make up time, awarding her her first top-3 finish. 

Unfortunately, Mikaela Shiffrin of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team lost speed on the lower part of the course, which caused her to move back on the leaderboard. She still maintained a top-5 finish, ending the day in 5th place. 

This was Shiffrin’s first giant slalom back after her injury last season, so it was a strong finish heading into the season for the star. 

She stated after the race, “Yeah. I would have liked to have a stronger performance on the second one.”

“I felt like mentally in a pretty good place. I felt like I had a good things to focus on, but it’s still always a little bit tricky for me. I need to have this first race of the season to then get the mentality going in the next races,” She explained.

She commended her teammates and explained that they will all walk away a little bit more hungry.

Incredibly Impressive Returns For North Americans

Nina O’Brien and Katie Hensien of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team returned to racing with breathtaking performances. They both exuded extreme confidence and tenacity. The sun also peaked through for the two athletes, which assisted them with a slight visual advantage. 

Katie Hensien took full advantage and laid down an unbelievable winning second run, which moved her into 4th-place position. This was the best result that Hensien has ever accomplished in both giant slalom and slalom. 

Impressively, this is only the second time that Hensien has competed in the second run of a giant slalom, and she was able to hold onto a second run lead time. She screamed into the video camera, “I am back, baby!” She is not only back on the World Cup stage, but she is showing great promise for the season.

O’Brien also gave a standout performance, coming down the track with an extensive lead ahead of the field.

She picked up speed coming into the final flat section, reaching for the finish, ending the day with a career-best result, 7th place. This marks her third top-10 result in GS and fifth in her career. 

Other North Americans

Paula Moltzan grasped onto a significant lead at the top of the course and was ripping onto the pitch. She revealed that she really wanted it and was motivated to attack by her teammate’s performances. However, she was barely bumped out of the top-10, finishing the day in 11th place. 

This marks the best outcome for the U.S. women since 1985 in Waterville, when four racers achieved the top 10.

On the second run, Britt Richardson of Alpine Canada Alpin dealt with wind moving in, which brought back the cloud cover. The athlete had to fight the challenges of flat light, causing her to drop time on the back half of the run. She achieved a 17th-place finish, which was her 11th top-30 finish in the World Cup giant slalom. 

Her teammate, Cassidy Gray, made a breakthrough last season, and her confidence shined in the first run and at the top of the second. Sadly, during the second run, she found herself a bit behind at the top of the pitch and struggled to regain her balance. In her effort to recover, she leaned too far, which ultimately led to her DNF.

Race Results From the October 26th Women’s Sölden Giant Slalom

Analysis of the Top 3 Finishers

Analysis of the North American Finishers