Zrinka Ljutic / GEPA pictures
Robinson dominates, Ljutic returns to form as Grenier ignites the home crowd
Robinson Extends Her GS Dominance
TREMBLANT, Québec — Alice Robinson delivered another commanding performance on Saturday, overpowering Tremblant’s terrain-heavy second run to win by 0.94 seconds and claim her sixth World Cup giant slalom victory. The 23-year-old New Zealander has now won two GS races in a row and moves into the lead of the 2026 GS season standings.
Tremblant isn’t steep, but it never stops moving. Rollers, blind transitions, and micro-terrain force athletes to stay ahead of the course. Robinson did precisely that. She expanded her first-run lead immediately and carried speed through every difficult section.
“I was really clear on how I wanted to attack the course and where I could push,” Robinson said. “Even with a gap, you still have to push really hard. Three tenths can go quickly. I’m really happy I could roll it through in these conditions.”
Her coach, Nils Coberger, praised her growth and conversion under pressure.
“She’s building really nicely… she won the first run, she won the second run in Copper, and here she won the race by nearly a second. We’re super stoked with how she’s developing.”
Robinson is skiing with the authority of a seasoned favorite — and looks increasingly dominant.
Ljutic Delivers a Breakthrough Second Place
Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic, only 21, produced her most complete GS race yet to finish second. The reigning slalom globe winner carried confidence from the top, skied clean through the middle, and found enough speed to secure her second World Cup GS podium.
“I had so much fun skiing, especially in the second run,” Ljutic said. “My GS is consistent, it’s there, and when I trust myself it’s always the nicest to ski.”
Her father set the first run. When told his reaction — “I told you she got it” — she smiled.
Ljutic’s result confirms she is evolving from a slalom specialist into a two-discipline threat.
Grenier Thrills Tremblant With a Home Podium
Canada’s Valerie Grenier produced the day’s loudest moment. She started with a narrow advantage over Camille Rast, lost time in the middle section, then fought back brilliantly on the flats and final rollers to cross into the lead with three racers remaining. The Tremblant crowd exploded.
“To do this at home, it’s such a dream. I can’t get over it, I have no words.”
— Valerie Grenier
“Val is a good competitor and a good friend of mine. To see her do so well after her injury, it’s always nice.”
— Zrinka Ljutic
“Two years ago I put a lot of pressure on myself. This year I wasn’t thinking about it as much. I wasn’t letting the outside world get in my head.”
— Valerie Grenier
Her teammate Britt Richardson was overwhelmed.
“I was crying 30 seconds ago. She’s worked so hard to come back. It’s so cool to see.”
Grenier secured her first podium since returning from injury — and her first on Canadian snow. The finish-area reaction was the emotional centerpiece of the afternoon.
How the Final Eight Decided the Podium
With the snow firming and speeding up, the drama intensified.
- Clara Direz (FRA) briefly took the lead.
- Camille Rast (SUI) immediately overtook her with clean, balanced skiing.
- Grenier then blasted through the lower rollers to claim the lead and ignite Tremblant.
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) attacked hard early and skied a much cleaner top pitch, but the dark visibility on the flats cost her speed. She finished 0.65 back, locking in a home-snow podium for Grenier.
“I felt very aggressive on the second run. The visibility was so dark it felt like skiing at night without any lights… I cleaned up the top pitch, but I mistimed a few things on the flats and you lose speed so fast when it’s that flat. All in all the day was super positive.” — Mikaela Shiffrin
- Ljutic delivered a powerful, confident run to take a 0.60-second lead, securing her podium.
- Robinson followed with another dominant, composed run — widening her margin in every sector — to seal the victory.
Only Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund failed to finish the second run.
A Day Defined by Big Moves
The second-run surface encouraged risk and rewarded it.
- Roberta Della Mea (ITA) soared 14 places to finish 9th, the biggest movement of the day.
- Estelle Alphand (SWE) jumped 6 spots to finish 7th.
- Nina O’Brien (USA) climbed 8 places to 10th.
- Nina Astner (AUT) also moved up 8, finishing 18th.
- Paula Moltzan (USA) charged 7 spots to finish 13th, recovering from a mistake-heavy first run with fast, attacking skiing.
The leader’s chair changed constantly early in the run — Colturi, Astner, Della Mea, and Alphand all held the top spot — a sign of how well the course held.
A Strong Day for North American Women
Four North Americans finished inside the top 15 — an impressive showing given the technical demands of Tremblant’s terrain.
Canada:
- Valerie Grenier — 3rd, a powerful home-snow podium
- Britt Richardson — 15th, strong skiing with room to grow on the second run
- Cassidy Gray — 27th, skiing aggressively but punished by mistakes she openly acknowledged
Stifel U.S. Ski Team:
- Mikaela Shiffrin — 6th, clear signs she is climbing back toward GS podium form
- Nina O’Brien — 10th, +8 with confident, balanced skiing
- Paula Moltzan — 13th, +7 and fast after a tough first run
“I’m back in the top 15, and that’s really exciting. A few races ago I was fighting just to make the second run. Now I’m building, fighting for top fives, and hopefully soon podiums.” — Mikaela Shiffrin
Grenier’s podium, Shiffrin’s continued GS progress, and big moves from O’Brien and Moltzan anchored a strong day for North American women, setting up a high-energy rematch on Sunday.
GS results
Click images to enlarge
Run Analysis of the Podium and North American Qualifiers
About the Author: Peter Lange
