World Championship medalists Robinson, Brignone, Moltzan: GEPA Pictures
Women’s World Cup GS: Who’s Racing, When, and How to Watch
Sestriere: A Storied Ski Venue
Sestriere, a Piedmont, Italy ski resort, sits at 2,035 meters near the French border and is part of the Via Lattea ski area, offering 400 km of runs. Built in the 1930s by Giovanni Agnelli, it has a deep ski racing history, hosting World Cup events since 1967, the 1997 World Championships, and the 2006 Winter Olympics. After a brief absence, Sestriere returned to the World Cup circuit in 2016 and remains a key venue.
Sestriere GS Returns After Two Years
The women’s World Cup giant slalom returns to Sestriere, Italy, on Feb. 21 for the first time since Dec. 10, 2022. That day, Italian Marta Bassino thrilled the home crowd with a victory, edging out Sweden’s Olympic champion Sara Hector and Slovakian star Petra Vlhová.
Bassino, a consistent top-10 skier for six seasons and the 2021 GS title winner, has struggled this year. She has finished only twice, with a season-best seventh in Semmering, Austria. She enters Sestriere ranked 20th in the discipline standings.
The field will miss Vlhová, who remains sidelined. The Slovakian standout, who has six career World Cup GS wins, suffered a severe injury on Jan. 20, 2024, and has not raced since.
Shiffrin Set for Giant Slalom Return
Mikaela Shiffrin will return to World Cup giant slalom competition in Sestriere, marking her first GS race since crashing in Killington, Vermont, on Nov. 30. After sitting out the GS event at the World Championships, she reports that her training sessions have improved recently.
The five-time overall champion remains one of the sport’s most dominant technical skiers. If her training progress translates to race conditions, she could immediately contend for a top result. Ski Racing Media looks forward to seeing the living legend back in action, hoping she delivers another thrilling performance.
Who’s Earning Podiums This Season?
The 2024-25 World Cup giant slalom season has been led by Italy’s Federica Brignone and Sweden’s Sara Hector. Both have secured two wins, making them top contenders for the Crystal Globe. Brignone’s three podium finishes, including victories in Sölden and Semmering, highlight her consistency. Hector has also been in top form, winning in Killington and Kranjska Gora while adding another podium finish.
New Zealand’s Alice Robinson claimed her first GS win of the season in Kronplatz and has now earned four podiums. Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami and the United States’ Paula Moltzan joined her on the podium in that race. Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić, Albania’s Lara Colturi, and Austria’s Julia Scheib have also made podium appearances this season.
The Sestriere GS on Friday is a makeup race for one of the canceled events in Tremblant, Canada. It is the sixth GS of the season and the first of the four remaining on the calendar. This race also follows the Saalbach 2025 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships, where Brignone won GS gold.
World Cup GS Podiums This Season
Sölden, Austria: 1. Federica Brignone (ITA) 2. Alice Robinson (NZL) 3. Julia Scheib (AUT)
Killington, USA: 1. Sara Hector (SWE) 2. Zrinka Ljutić (CRO) 3. Camille Rast (SUI)
Semmering, Austria: 1. Federica Brignone (ITA) 2. Sara Hector (SWE) 3. Alice Robinson (NZL)
Kranjska Gora, Slovenia: 1. Sara Hector (SWE) 2. Lara Colturi (ALB) 3. Alice Robinson (NZL)
Kronplatz, Italy: 1. Alice Robinson (NZL) 2. Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) 3. Paula Moltzan (USA)
Top 15 Breakdown: Countries Dominating GS
Robinson (NZE) (300 points) leads the 2024-25 GS standings, just ahead of Hector (296), while Brignone sits in third (200). Brignone, however, claimed the GS world title in Saalbach, with Robinson taking silver and Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Paula Moltzan securing bronze.
Nine nations are represented in the top 15. The United States leads with three skiers, while Austria and Switzerland each have two. The remaining nations—Albania, Croatia, Canada, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden—each have one. Austria’s Ricarda Haaser, currently 15th, is out for the season after a super-G crash in Saalbach.
Rising stars Colturi (18), Ljutić (22), and Robinson (23) continue to challenge veteran contenders. With four GS races left, the Crystal Globe race remains wide open.
Top 15 Women’s GS World Cup Rankings
Click images to enlarge
Nations Cup: Women’s GS Standings
The United States leads the Women’s Giant Slalom Nations Cup with 506 points, maintaining an edge over Switzerland (436) and Italy (423). Sweden (361) and Austria (338) round out the top five, with all three nations still in the fight for podium positions.
Beyond the top five, Norway (315), New Zealand (300), Albania (198), Croatia (192), and Canada (184) complete the top 10. The U.S. remains the most consistent team with three skiers inside the top 15, while Italy, Switzerland, and Austria continue to deliver strong performances.
With four GS races remaining, the battle for the Nations Cup remains tight, and every point will be critical in the race for the title.
Nations Cup GS Standings
Sixty-five women representing 17 countries are set to compete in the World Cup Giant Slalom in Sestriere, Italy, on February 21.
Amir Ljutić (CRO) set the first run, and Jean Noel Martin (FRA) will set the second run.
North American Contenders: U.S. and Canadian Standouts
Stifel U.S. Ski Team
The U.S. team continues to showcase its strength in giant slalom this season, with three skiers inside the top 15 and a fourth making a strong push up the standings. Moltzan has moved into 7th place, surpassing teammate Nina O’Brien, now 12th. Katie Hensien holds 14th, maintaining her steady presence among the world’s best.
AJ Hurt, despite missing early-season races, has climbed to 23rd, proving her ability to gain ground quickly. The team’s depth strengthens further with the return of Mikaela Shiffrin, now ranked 26th, set to race GS for the first time since her crash in Killington on Nov. 30. With four GS races left, the U.S. remains a formidable presence in the discipline.
Elisabeth Bocock earned her first career GS points this season and is currently ranked 43rd, marking another promising step forward for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s young talent.
Additionally, Liv Moritz will join the U.S. roster in Sestriere, looking to earn her first World Cup points.
Alpine Canada Alpin Women
Valérie Grenier leads the Canadian GS squad, ranking 12th despite missing the season opener in Sölden. A two-time World Cup GS winner, she remains a consistent podium threat.
Britt Richardson, ranked 18th, earned a career-best seventh in Kronplatz, proving she can compete with the world’s best. Cassidy Gray, ranked 41st, has also added valuable points for Canada this season. Justine Lamontagne will join the Canadian roster in Sestriere, looking to gain experience on the World Cup stage.
All three will be looking to climb the ranks in Sestriere.
North American Women With 2025 World Cup GS Points
North American Women Racing GS
- Bib 1, Paula Moltzan, Stifel USST, University of Vermont, Ski and Snowboard Club, Vail, Oakley
- Bib 8, Mikaela Shiffrin, Stifel USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Atomic, Oakley
- Bib 9, AJ Hurt, Stifel USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, HEAD
- Bib 12, Nina O’Brien, Stifel USST, Burke Mountain Academy
- Bib 15, Valérie Grenier, ACA, Club de Ski Mont Tremblant
- Bib 22, Britt Richardson, ACA, Calgary Alpine Racing Club, Burke Mountain, Academy, Oakley
- Bib 28, Katie Hensien, Stifel USST, University of Denver, Rowmark Ski Academy, SHRED
- Bib 33, Elisabeth Bocock, Stifel USST, Rowmark Ski Academy
- Bib 35, Cassidy Gray, ACA, Team Panorama, Atomic
- Bib 61, Liv Mortiz, Stifel USST, University of Denver, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail
- Bib 65, Justine Lamontagne, Mount Sainte-Anne, Montana State University
What’s at Stake?
With only four giant slalom races left this season, every point matters in the race for the Crystal Globe. Alice Robinson and Sara Hector are locked in a tight battle at the top of the standings, while Federica Brignone, fresh off her World Championship victory, looks to gain ground.
For Mikaela Shiffrin, this race marks her return to GS after missing several events due to injury. How she performs in Sestriere could set the tone for her push through the final stretch of the season.
Meanwhile, national team battles are also heating up. The United States leads the Nations Cup standings, but Switzerland and Italy remain in contention. For many racers, strong results here could solidify their rankings and set them up for the final GS races ahead.
How and When to Watch
The first run starts at 4:30 a.m. Eastern and 1:30 a.m. Pacific Time, with the second run following at 7:30 a.m. Eastern and 4:30 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
Click the images to enlarge or download.
First Run Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
