Brignone and Odermatt GEPA Photos

The Women’s and Men’s World Cup Giant Slalom (GS) season has been a thrilling talent showcase, with Lara Gut-Behrami, Federica Brignone, and Mikaela Shiffrin dazzling on the slopes. Meanwhile, in the men’s category, Marco Odermatt’s extraordinary dominance adds a layer of anticipation to the ongoing spectacle.

Women’s World Cup giant slalom season review

The FIS Women’s World Cup giant slalom season has been nothing short of thrilling, with five races completed out of the scheduled 11. Swiss powerhouse Lara Gut-Behrami claimed victory in the first two races in Sölden, Austria, and Killington, Vermont. However, Italian sensation Federica Brignone dominated the next two in Mt Tremblant, Quebec. The latest race in Lienz, Austria, witnessed the incomparable Mikaela Shiffrin’s triumphant return to the top of the GS podium.

As we bid farewell to 2023, Brignone sits atop the women’s GS standings, holding a 35-point lead over Gut-Behrami. Shiffrin, the reigning World Champion, trails Gut-Behrami by 80 points. The competition is fierce, and with six more races on the horizon, the season’s rankings are far from settled.

Other notable North Americans

Beyond the podium regulars, North American women have been making waves. Canada’s Valerie Grenier, last year’s World Cup winner in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, is currently ranked 6th in GS. Grenier consistently finishes among the top eight, with a commendable 4th place in the latest race, just 0.18 seconds off the podium.

Paula Moltzan of the Stifel US Ski Team, a former University of Vermont standout, is enjoying a solid start, securing points in all five races. With an impressive 8th-place finish in Killington, Moltzan has accumulated 107 points and holds the 11th position in the GS standings.

North American Young Guns

A rising star in the Stifel US Ski Team, AJ Hurt, has showcased her world-class speed with outstanding performances. Her recent 9th and 11th place finishes in Tremblant and Lienz mark her best career results, adding a promising chapter to her journey.

The Canadian team is also bursting with talent. Twenty-year-old Britt Richardson made a spectacular entrance into the season, scoring in the first three races. Despite setbacks in the last two races, Richardson sits 26th in the season rankings, just one spot away from the coveted 25th position for the World Cup Finals.

Cassidy Gray, another Canadian talent, has earned 14 points this season, currently holding the 37th rank. Inspired by home country fans, Gray delivered 24th-place finishes in both Tremblant races, solidifying her presence in the women’s white circus.

A Look Forward

For fans of Mikaela Shiffrin, her pursuit of a 23rd World Cup GS win adds an extra layer of excitement to the remainder of the season. As the athletes gear up for the upcoming races, the battle for supremacy promises high-speed thrills and unforgettable moments on the slopes. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds in the quest for GS glory. The next scheduled GS is on January 6th in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

Women’s GS ranking and a look back at the ranks of North Americans last season

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Men’s World Cup giant slalom season review

Get ready for an adrenaline-packed showdown as the men’s World Cup Giant Slalom (GS) makes its way to Adelboden, Switzerland, on January 6th. Switzerland’s skiing sensation, Marco Odermatt, has been setting the race venues ablaze with his remarkable giant slalom dominance.

Last season, Odermatt secured victory in an astounding seven out of the nine giant slaloms he raced, dominating the season’s GS discipline rankings. This season, he’s already claimed victory in all three completed races. When Odermatt has his ordinary greatness, he seems unbeatable, executing precise lines with unmatched efficiency.

The next stop for the men’s GS is none other than Adelboden, a classic giant slalom course that puts all their skills to the test. It’s situated in Odermatt’s home country of Switzerland, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the event.

Austria’s Marco Schwarz did manage to clinch the first run of the Sölden GS, but unfortunately, the race was canceled due to high winds. Ranked 2nd in the season’s GS standings, Schwarz won’t be competing further this season due to a knee injury sustained in the Bormio downhill, requiring reconstructive surgery.

In the absence of Schwarz, the Croatian Filip Zubcic has made a notable return to podium form, currently ranking third. Slovenian Zan Kranjec closely follows in fourth, 24 points behind Zubcic, who is notably a 120-point gap behind the leader, Odermatt.

With eight more men’s World Cup Giant Slaloms left on the schedule, there are ample opportunities for the standings to shift dramatically.

One of the season’s standout stories revolves around Andorran skier Joan Verdu, who not only secured his first podium but also earned his nation’s first podium, creating a memorable chapter in World Cup history.

Surprisingly, there are no Norwegians among the six best-ranked GS skiers, although three make their presence felt in the top 15.

North Americans scoring

Stifel US Ski Team’s Tommy Ford is the lone current North American GS athlete with a giant World Cup GS podium. His victory in Beaver Creek in 2019, a second-place finish in Santa Caterina, Italy, in 2020, and a third place in Niigata Yuzawa Naeba, Japan, underscore his prowess. After a significant 2021 leg injury in Adelboden, Ford has been on a determined journey back to peak performance. Currently ranked 20th in the 2024 season GS standings, Ford’s return to his best skiing adds an extra layer of excitement to the unfolding drama of the men’s World Cup GS season.

Leading the North American charge alongside Ford is River Radamus from the Stifel US Ski Team. Last season’s 20th rank is now a distant memory as Radamus storms into 2024, earning 44 points and earning the 14th spot. Despite a hiccup in Alta Badia, Italy, where he didn’t finish the first run, Radamus showcased his talent in Val d’Isere, France (10th), and the second Alta Badia GS (14th), proving his world-class speed in the gates.

Erik Read, representing Alpine Canada Alpin, has proven to be a dependable force in World Cup GS skiing, qualifying for four consecutive World Cup finals. While last season saw him earn 15th place three times, this season he has struggled to find his best GS. He did, however, start the season with a solid 19th place in Val d’Isere.

James “Jack” Crawford, the leading male overall North American ski racer, has made his mark in GS racing. Starting in the early thirties, Crawford finished 25th and 22nd in the Alta Badia World Cup GS races, showcasing his prowess and potential to break into the top thirty on the World Cup Start List. His journey in GS racing is one to watch, as this man can truly ski.

Looking forward

As the men’s World Cup GS season intensifies, fierce competition and thrilling moments unfold. Buckle up for an exhilarating ride as these athletes, including Tommy Ford, carve through challenging courses, aiming for glory and the title of giant slalom champion. The anticipation is high, and the quest for victory promises to deliver spectacular moments in the world of alpine skiing.

Men’s GS ranking and a look back at the ranks of North Americans last season

The excitement is intensifying for both genders. Federica Brignone leads the women’s charge but Shiffrin is making up ground. Simultaneously, in the men’s GS, Marco Odermatt’s brilliance and Tommy Ford’s return to excellence promise high-speed drama. The quest for GS glory unfolds, setting the stage for an intense battle among these exceptional athletes.