Saalbach World Cup finals 2024 Mina Fuerst Holtmann, Mikaela Shiffrin, Anna Swenn Larsson: GEPA pictures
Women’s World Cup Night Slalom in Saalbach Austria: Who’s Racing When, What’s at Stake, and How to Watch
Saalbach 2025 Women’s Slalom: Course & Key Storylines
The Ulli Maier course will host the final women’s race of the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships on February 15. With a start altitude of 1,279m, a finish at 1,060m, and a vertical drop of 219m, the track will push the world’s best slalom skiers to their limits.
This highly anticipated event features Switzerland’s Camille Rast and Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić, both aiming to challenge for gold. However, the biggest storyline is the return of Mikaela Shiffrin to individual World Championship racing. Shiffrin, already a gold medalist in the team combined alongside Breezy Johnson, looks to add another title in her signature discipline.
With a deep field of contenders and a demanding course, the women’s slalom promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the Saalbach 2025 World Championships.
Returning to Saalbach: Last Season’s Slalom Podium
Shiffrin returns to Saalbach as the defending winner from last season’s World Cup Finals, where she dominated the slalom and secured her eighth career World Cup slalom title. Norway’s Mina Fuerst Holtmann finished second, with Sweden’s Anna Swenn-Larsson in third.
That podium could provide insight into this year’s World Championship contenders. Holtmann has struggled to match her runner-up finish, with ninth in Flachau as her best result this season. Swenn-Larsson, however, has been a consistent force, reaching the podium twice—once in Killington and again in Kranjska Gora.
Shiffrin opened the season in winning form, taking the first two slaloms before an injury interrupted her campaign. She has since returned to competition, skiing one World Cup slalom in Courchevel as she builds back to top speed. Now, she looks to add another World Championship medal on the same slope where she won less than a year ago.
Updated Slalom Podium Winners
With seven World Cup slalom races completed this season, the competition has been fierce, with multiple athletes proving their ability to reach the podium. So far, nine different women from seven countries have earned top-three finishes, highlighting the event’s depth.
Here’s the complete list of World Cup slalom podiums leading into the Saalbach World Championships:
- Levi, Finland – Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), Katharina Liensberger (AUT), Lena Dürr (GER)
- Gurgl, Austria – Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), Lara Colturi (ALB), Camille Rast (SUI)
- Killington, Vermont – Camille Rast (SUI), Anna Swenn-Larsson (SWE), Wendy Holdener (SUI)
- Semmering, Austria – Zrinka Ljutić (CRO), Lena Dürr (GER), Katharina Liensberger (AUT)
- Kranjska Gora, Slovenia – Zrinka Ljutić (CRO), Wendy Holdener (SUI), Anna Swenn-Larsson (SWE)
- Flachau, Austria – Camille Rast (SUI), Wendy Holdener (SUI), Sara Hector (SWE)
- Courchevel, France – Zrinka Ljutić (CRO), Sara Hector (SWE), Lena Dürr (GER)
Key Contenders Heading Into Saalbach
With three victories this season, Ljutić enters the World Championships as the hottest slalom skier on tour. Despite missing races due to injury, Shiffrin remains a proven winner and will look to regain her dominance. Rast has won twice, making her another serious challenger, while Lena Dürr, Wendy Holdener, and Swenn–Larsson have shown consistency without claiming a victory.
The Saalbach World Championship Slalom will be a battle among the season’s best. Can Ljutić continue her winning ways? Will Shiffrin reclaim her place at the top? Or will a first-time world champion emerge? The final women’s race of the championships will provide the answers.
Top 15 Women’s 2024-25 SL World Cup Standings
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Top 15 Slalom Rankings: A Global Field
The top 15 slalom rankings highlight the sport’s international depth, with skiers representing nine different countries. Austria and Switzerland are in the lead with three athletes each, reinforcing their dominance in technical events. Sweden and the United States each have two representatives, showing their continued strength in the discipline.
Meanwhile, Germany, Croatia, Albania, Slovenia, and Canada each have one skier in the top 15, proving that elite slalom talent comes from a wide range of nations. This diverse field ensures that the battle for the World Championship title in Saalbach will be unpredictable, with athletes from both traditional powerhouses and emerging ski nations competing at the highest level.
A Look at the Top Five
At the top of the standings, Ljutić has established herself as the season’s most dominant slalom skier, winning multiple races and proving she can deliver under pressure. Rast has also secured multiple victories, showing she can handle the World Cup’s toughest slalom venues.
Holdener, a veteran with a history of podium finishes, has consistently stayed near the top, while Dürr has been a frequent contender, earning several podiums but still aiming for a breakthrough victory. Sara Hector, primarily known for her GS success, has stepped up in slalom this season, rounding out the top five with strong performances.
Shiffrin, the most successful slalom skier in history, is outside the top five due to the races she missed while recovering from injury. While she has already proven she can return to top form, she is not the clear favorite she would be at full strength. However, her experience and ability to rise to the occasion in championship events make her a serious contender.
With such a deep and competitive field, the Saalbach World Championship Slalom is shaping up to be a thrilling battle for gold.
One hundred sixteen women from 52 nations will start the women’s 2025 Saalbach Alpine Ski World Championships slalom.
Klaus Mayrhofer (AUT) has set the first run, and Sascha Sorio (SWE) will set the second.
North America’s 2024-25 World Cup Slalom Rankings
North America’s 2024-25 World Cup Slalom Rankings
Stifel U.S. Ski Team
Mikaela Shiffrin
Shiffrin has won two World Cup slaloms this season, bringing her career total to 62. With her recent Team Combined gold alongside Breezy Johnson, she now holds eight World Championship gold medals and has claimed eight World Cup slalom season titles.
At full strength, she would be the clear favorite, but she has pushed her recovery to compete because she loves the World Championships. While not at 100%, she is still Shiffrin—and that alone makes her a top contender. She has raced in all six of the last World Championships.
Paula Moltzan
A former University of Vermont All-American, Moltzan is now the 2025 World Championship bronze medalist in giant slalom. Her best World Cup slalom result this season was sixth in Flachau, and she has two career slalom podiums. Currently ranked 13th, she is a serious contender.
She has competed in three World Championship slaloms (2015, 2019, 2021), with a best finish of 18th. She is skiing well and ready to challenge the field.
Katie Hensien
A first-team All-American at the University of Denver, Hensien has set a personal best for slalom points this season with two regular season races still ahead. Her top finish was 12th in Kranjska Gora, and she is currently ranked 37th in the slalom standings.
She has competed in two World Championship slaloms (2021, 2023), finishing 26th in 2023.
AJ Hurt
At 24, Hurt is the youngest of the four Stifel U.S. Ski Team slalom skiers. After missing the season’s opening three slalom races, she is ranked 44th in the standings. She earned a slalom podium in Kranjska Gora last season, but her best result this year is 18th in Semmering.
This marks Hurt’s World Championship debut, as she has never competed in a World Championship Slalom before.
Alpine Canada Alpin – Women
Laurence St-Germain
The reigning slalom World Champion, St-Germain claimed the title in Méribel 2023. A first-team All-American at the University of Vermont, she has battled injuries this season but has still competed in six of seven World Cup slaloms. Her best result was seventh in Killington, and she is currently ranked 14th in the season slalom standings.
She has raced in three previous World Championship slaloms (2019, 2021, 2023), finishing sixth in 2019 before securing the title in 2023.
Ali Nullmeyer
A former All-American at Middlebury College, Nullmeyer has struggled with back pain, limiting her to four of the seven World Cup slaloms this season. She posted her best result in the final race before the World Championships, finishing 13th in Courchevel, and is currently ranked 27th in the season slalom standings.
She has competed in three World Championships (2017, 2021, 2023), with her best finish coming in 2023 in Méribel, where she placed 12th.
Amelia Smart
A five-time All-American and two-time All-Academic Team selection at the University of Denver, Smart has competed in all seven World Cup slaloms this season. Her top finish was 17th in Flachau, and she is ranked 33rd in the season slalom standings.
She has raced in three previous World Championships (2019, 2021, 2023), with 22nd being her best finish in 2019.
The Final Chapter in Saalbach
The 2025 Saalbach World Championship Slalom will bring the women’s competition to an intense conclusion. The battle for gold remains wide open with a deep and competitive field. Ljutić enters as the season’s most dominant slalom skier, but Shiffrin, Rast, and Dürr are all proven contenders.
Slalom racing is always unpredictable, with the smallest mistakes making the most significant difference. On the demanding Ulli Maier course, precision, adaptability, and nerves of steel will determine the next World Champion. As the final women’s race of these championships, it promises to be a thrilling fight to the finish.
North American Women Racing Slalom in Killington
- Bib 3, Mikaela Shiffrin, Stifel USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Atomic, Oakley
- Bib 13, Paula Moltzan, Stifel USST, University of Vermont, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Oakley
- Bib 16, Laurence St-Germain, ACA, University of Vermont, Mont Sainte-Anne
- Bib 18, Ali Nullmeyer, ACA, Middlebury College, GMVS, Atomic
- Bib 28, Amelia Smart, ACA, Windermere, University of Denver, Atomic
- Bib 31, AJ Hurt, Stifel USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, HEAD
- Bib 36, Katie Hensien, Stifel USST, University of Denver, Rowmark Ski Academy, SHRED
How and When to Watch
The first run starts at 3:45 a.m. Eastern and 12:45 a.m. Pacific Time, with the second run following at 7:15 a.m. Eastern and 4:15 a.m. Pacific Time.
U.S. audiences can watch the race live or as a replay on Ski and Snowboard Live.
Sports enthusiasts in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports.
Daily Program and First Run Start List
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First Run Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
