Shiffrin vs Aicher: Women’s Slalom Finals Start List Sets Stage for Overall Title Fight

Katharina Truppe / GEPA picture

How and when to watch. In this article you will find the full women’s slalom start list, field analysis, season standings, and key contenders most likely to challenge for the podium.

The final women’s slalom of the 2025–26 World Cup season arrives in Lillehammer, decided but with the overall crystal globe still in play. The race could mathematically decide the overall title; it will certainly shape whether the battle carries into the final day or ends here.

Mikaela Shiffrin is in control. She has dominated the slalom discipline all season, already securing the crystal discipline globe and consistently separating herself through excellence and execution at the limit. That consistency has built a cushion in the overall standings and puts her in the strongest position heading into the Finals.

Still, Emma Aicher remains firmly in contention. The German starts ahead of Shiffrin — a small but real advantage on a surface that could break down as the field progresses. That position gives Aicher the chance to establish the pace early and force the issue.

However, Shiffrin holds the net advantage. As the most successful slalom skier in history, she has repeatedly shown she can deliver under pressure regardless of conditions or start position. Even starting behind Aicher, she remains the skier to beat.

What does Shiffrin vs Aicher mean for the overall title?

Wednesday’s giant slalom will close the women’s 2026 World Cup season, and the expectation is that the overall title could come down to that final race.

However, this slalom could change everything. Mikaela Shiffrin leads Emma Aicher by 45 points, and if that margin reaches 100 points or more, the overall crystal globe is decided before the final day.

• 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin — 1,286 pts
• 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher — 1,241 pts (−45)

If Shiffrin extends the gap but keeps it under 100 points — or if Aicher closes it — the fight goes to Wednesday.

The stakes are clear: extend the fight, or end it.

Women’s World Cup Slalom Podium Table 2025–26

Note: Olympic results are included for context but do not count toward World Cup standings.

What does the season tell us?

Mikaela Shiffrin’s dominance defines the season — she owns the majority of wins in a campaign with just 2 race winners, 8 podium athletes, and 6 nations represented.

Podium distribution underscores that control: 🇺🇸 USA 10, 🇨🇭 Switzerland 7, 🇩🇪 Germany 4, 🇦🇱 Albania 4, 🇦🇹 Austria 1, 🇸🇪 Sweden 1.

Top 5 Women’s Slalom World Cup Standings (after Åre)

1st 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, 1995, Atomic, Oakley) — 1028 pts
2nd 🇨🇭 Camille Rast (SUI, 1999, Head) — −376
3rd 🇨🇭 Wendy Holdener (SUI, 1993, Head) — −510
4th 🇦🇹 Katharina Truppe (AUT, 1996, Völkl) — −567
5th 🇺🇸 Paula Moltzan (USA, 1994) — −621

Shiffrin has already secured the slalom crystal globe — the first discipline title clinched this season — reinforcing her control over the discipline.

Top 7 WCSL Slalom – Start Order Context

This is the key group to watch — the podium will almost certainly come from these seven, and this list shows exactly when the strongest contenders will leave the start.

• Bib 1 🇦🇹 Katharina Truppe (AUT, 1996, Völkl) — WCSL SL Rank 4
• Bib 2 🇨🇭 Wendy Holdener (SUI, 1993, Head) — WCSL SL Rank 3
• Bib 3 🇦🇱 Lara Colturi (ALB, 2006) — WCSL SL Rank 6
• Bib 4 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003, Head) — WCSL SL Rank 7
• Bib 5 🇺🇸 Paula Moltzan (USA, 1994) — WCSL SL Rank 5
• Bib 6 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, 1995, Atomic, Oakley) — WCSL SL Rank 1
• Bib 7 🇨🇭 Camille Rast (SUI, 1999, Head) — WCSL SL Rank 2

USA – Stifel U.S. Ski Team

• Bib 5 🇺🇸 Paula Moltzan (USA, 1994) — Buck Hill / Ski & Snowboard Club Vail / Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy, University of Vermont 2x All-American — World Cup SL Rank 5
• Bib 6 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, 1995, Atomic, Oakley) — Ski & Snowboard Club Vail / Burke Mountain Academy — World Cup SL Rank 1

Alpine Canada

• Bib 20 🇨🇦 Laurence St-Germain (CAN, 1994) — University of Vermont, three-time All-American — World Cup SL Rank 21

Rising storylines to watch

Italy’s Anna Trocker enters as one of the most intriguing names in the field. The 17-year-old swept both slalom and giant slalom at the Junior World Ski Championships, earning her place in both events at the Finals.

Meanwhile, Lara Colturi continues to build one of the strongest early careers in the sport. Still just 19, she qualifies for her third consecutive Finals and will compete in both slalom and giant slalom, reinforcing her place among the next generation of contenders.

What’s at stake?

This race will not likely decide the overall title outright — but it will define the path to it.

Aicher’s earlier start position gives her a chance to apply pressure. Shiffrin’s form gives her control. The slalom will extend the battle to Wednesday’s giant slalom — the final race of the season — or bring the overall title to an end.

Everything points to a finish that could come down to the last day.

Or it could end here.

Sascha SORIO (SWE) will set the first run, followed by Alessandro COLTURI (ALB) setting the second.

Women’s Slalom — Start Times and How to Watch

Sunday’s slalom takes place on January 25th. Run one begins at 5:30 a.m. EDT / 2:30 a.m. PDT, with run two at 8:30 a.m. EDT / 5:30 a.m. PDT. Fans in Great Britain can watch the first run at 9:30 and the second at 12:30.

• United States: Live and replay coverage on Ski and Snowboard Live
• Canada: Stream on CBC Sports
• Great Britain: Both races air live on Discovery+

Daily Program

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First Run Starlist women’s GS