Sara Hector: GEPA Pictures
Women’s World Cup GS in Åre: Key Contenders, Standings & How to Watch
A Historic Challenge in Åre
The Women’s World Cup will returnto Åre, Sweden, for a giant slalom on Saturday, March 8. The race takes place on Störtloppsbacken, a slope with a deep history in alpine skiing. Åre has hosted World Cup races for decades, with its first women’s World Cup GS held on March 14, 1971. Austrian legend Annemarie Moser-Pröll won that race, adding to the venue’s historic past. The resort’s legacy stretchesback to the 1954 Alpine World Championships.
A Slope That Demands the Best
Störtloppsbacken challenges skiers with its mix of steep pitches and rolling terrain. The course drops 400 meters from start to finish, requiring technical skill and powerful turns. Over the years, Åre has adapted its slopes to match the evolving demands of World Cup racing, ensuring a test fit for the sport’s top athletes
A Home Race for Sweden
As Sweden’s premier World Cup venue, Åre carries extra significance for Swedish skiers. The home crowd always brings energy, creating an electric atmosphere as racers push for victory. With the world’s best competing, the stage is set for another thrilling GS showdown
U.S. GS Success in Åre
American skiers have left their mark on Åre’s historic slopes. Lindsey Vonn became the first U.S. skier to win a Åre World Cup giant slalom, claiming victories in 2009 and 2015. Mikaela Shiffrin has dominated slalom at this venue but secured an Åre GS victory in 2023, building on her remarkable record.
No Surprises in Sestriere
The last GS race in Sestriere, Italy, played out as expected, with familiar faces on the podium. Newly crowned World Champion Federica Brignone delivered a home victory for Italy, reinforcing her dominance this season. Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, the reigning World Cup GS champion, secured second place. New Zealand’s Alice Robinson, the World Championship silver medalist and current GS season leader, rounded out the podium in third.
With two GS races left, the battle for the Crystal Globe is tight. Robinson holds the lead, but Brignone and Gut-Behrami are closing the gap.
Who’s Earning Podiums This Season?
Italy’s Federica Brignone has dominated the 2024-2025 World Cup slalom season, securing four victories, including the last two World Cup GS races and the World Championships GS title. Brignone’s win rate is unmatched, winning four out of seven. Sweden’s Sara Hector has also been a top contender, 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 earned six GS podiums in seven races. Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami and the United States’ Paula Moltzan joined her on the podium in Kronplatz. Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić, Albania’s Lara Colturi, and Austria’s Julia Scheib have also made podium appearances this season.
World Cup GS Podiums This Season
| Race | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sölden, Austria | Federica Brignone (ITA) | Alice Robinson (NZL) | Julia Scheib (AUT) |
| Killington, USA | Sara Hector (SWE) | Zrinka Ljutic (CRO) | Camille Rast (SUI) |
| Semmering, Austria | Federica Brignone (ITA) | Sara Hector (SWE) | Alice Robinson (NZL) |
| Kranjska Gora, Slovenia | Sara Hector (SWE) | Lara Colturi (ALB) | Alice Robinson (NZL) |
| Kronplatz, Italy | Alice Robinson (NZL) | Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) | Paula Moltzan (USA) |
| Sestriere, Italy – Race 1 | Federica Brignone (ITA) | Alice Robinson (NZL) | Thea Louise Stjernesund (NOR) |
| Sestriere, Italy – Race 2 | Federica Brignone (ITA) | Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) | Alice Robinson (NZL) |
World Cup GS Podium Breakdown by Country
- Italy leads with four Brignone victories.
- Sweden has two wins (Hector) and one second-place finish.
- New Zealand has one win, two second-place finishes, and three third-place finishes (Robinson).
- Switzerland has two second-place finishes and one third-place finish (Gut-Behrami).
- The Stifel U.S. Ski Team has one third-place Moltzan finish.
- Croatia (Ljutić) and Albania (Colturi) each have one second-place finish.
- Austria and Norway have each secured one third-place finish.
Top 15 Breakdown: Countries Dominating GS
Nine nations are represented in the current GS standings. The United States leads with three skiers, followed by Italy and Switzerland, each with two. The remaining nations—New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Albania, Croatia, Austria, Canada, and Slovenia—each have one skier in the top 15.
Top 15 Women’s GS World Cup Rankings
Click images to enlarge
Top 5 GS Standings
| Rank | Skier | Nation | Points | Difference to Robinson (440) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alice Robinson | New Zealand | 440 | — |
| 2 | Federica Brignone | Italy | 400 | -40 |
| 3 | Sara Hector | Sweden | 361 | -79 |
| 4 | Thea Louise Stjernesund | Norway | 281 | -159 |
| 5 | Lara Colturi | Albania | 274 | -166 |
Robinson leads the GS standings with a 40-point cushion over Brignone. Hector sits 79 points back, making her a contender. However, the gap widens significantly after the top three, with Stjernesund and Colturi trailing by over 150 points.
With two races left, the battle for the GS Crystal Globe remains tight among the top three, while those further down will need big performances and luck to close the gap.
Nations Cup: Women’s GS Standings
Italy leads the Women’s Giant Slalom Nations Cup with 714 points, but the race remains tight. The United States sits just 22 points behind with 692, keeping the battle for the top spot wide open.
Switzerland holds third with 612 points, still within striking distance if its top skiers deliver strong results in the final races. Austria (466 points) and Sweden (464 points) are locked in a close fight for fourth, separated by just two points.
With two GS races remaining, every run will be critical in deciding the Nations Cup standings.
Nations Cup GS Standings
Fifty-six women representing 18 countries are set to compete in the World Cup Giant Slalom in Åre, Sweden, on March 8.
Karin Harjo (USA) set the first run, and Thierry Marguerettaz (ITA) will set the second run.
North American Contenders: U.S. and Canadian Standouts
Stifel U.S. Ski Team
The U.S. squad remains one of the deepest in women’s giant slalom, with three skiers inside the top 15 and a fourth ranked 16th.
Paula Moltzan now sits 8th in the GS rankings, making her the top American. She is the only U.S. skier with a GS podium this season and recently claimed the World Championship bronze medal in Saalbach 2025. Nina O’Brien holds 11th place, continuing to be a strong presence in the discipline.
AJ Hurt has climbed to 15th, proving her ability to gain ground quickly despite missing early-season races. Katie Hensien has dropped to 16th after a DNF in the second Sestriere race but remains a consistent force in GS.
The team’s depth extends even further with the return of Mikaela Shiffrin, now ranked 29th. While she has yet to rediscover her aggressive attacking confidence in GS, a breakthrough could be imminent. The U.S. team remains a force in the discipline with two races left in the season.
The 2025 Junior World GS bronze medalist, Elisabeth Bocock, 19, has qualified in three of her six World Cup GS starts this season, scoring points twice. Now, she’s ready to compete and build on her strong 2025 performances in Sweden.
Alpine Canada Alpin Women
Valérie Grenier leads the Canadian GS squad, ranking 12th despite missing the season opener in Sölden. She has finished inside the top 15 in all four of her completed races, narrowly missing the podium in Semmering with a 4th-place finish. A two-time World Cup GS winner, Grenier remains a consistent podium threat.
Britt Richardson, now ranked 18th, continues to prove she can compete with the world’s best. She secured a career-best 7th place in Kronplatz and showed her potential in the second Sestriere GS, sitting third after the first run before a DNF in the second run.
Cassidy Gray, ranked 43rd, has also contributed valuable points for Canada this season. With Grenier leading the way and Richardson rising, Canada’s GS squad remains a growing force on the circuit.
North American Women With 2025 World Cup GS Points
North American Women Racing GS
- Bib 3, Paula Moltzan, Stifel USST, University of Vermont, Ski and Snowboard Club, Vail, Oakley
- Bib 9, AJ Hurt, Stifel USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, HEAD
- Bib 10, Valérie Grenier, ACA, Club de Ski Mont Tremblant
- Bib 12, Nina O’Brien, Stifel USST, Burke Mountain Academy
- Bib 15, Mikaela Shiffrin, Stifel USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Atomic, Oakley
- Bib 21, Britt Richardson, ACA, Calgary Alpine Racing Club, Burke Mountain, Academy, Oakley
- Bib 26, Katie Hensien, Stifel USST, University of Denver, Rowmark Ski Academy, SHRED
- Bib 34, Elisabeth Bocock, Stifel USST, Rowmark Ski Academy
- Bib 36, Cassidy Gray, ACA, Team Panorama, Atomic
What to Watch For in Åre
With just two races left in the World Cup giant slalom season, every point in Åre is critical. The fight for the GS Crystal Globe remains fierce, with Robinson, Brignone, and Hector still in contention. Robinson leads the standings, but Brignone and Hector are within striking distance, making this race a must-watch for the season title battle.
Beyond the fight for the top spots, many racers are racing for one last chance to qualify for the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho. Only the top 25 in the season standings earn a spot in the final GS of the season, making Åre a do-or-die race for those hovering around the cutoff. Expect aggressive skiing from athletes trying to break into or secure their place in the top 25.
The Nations Cup battle is also heating up, with Italy and the United States separated by just 22 points. Both teams will be aiming for big results in Åre to take advantage of the season finale.
With a demanding giant slalom slope and World Cup Finals qualification on the line, Åre promises to deliver high-intensity racing from start to finish.
How and When to Watch
The first run starts at 3:30 a.m. Eastern and 12:30 a.m. Pacific Time, with the second run following at 6:30 a.m. Eastern and 3:30 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
