World Cup

The Saalbach 2025 FIS Alpine World Championships GS promises an intense battle on a long, demanding course featuring the legendary Ochsenritt section. With Marco Odermatt, Alexander Steen Olsen, and other top contenders vying for the world title, the race will test endurance, precision, and tactical skill. North American skiers, including River Radamus and Erik Read, aim to make an impact, while recent World Cup podium trends suggest a tight fight between Norway, Switzerland, and Austria. Here’s everything you need to know about the race preview, start list, and how to watch live.

Federica Brignone was crowned the 2025 GS World Champion in Saalbach, delivering a dominant performance to claim her long-awaited gold. Alice Robinson secured silver, making history with New Zealand’s first World Championship medal, while USA’s Paula Moltzan earned bronze—her first individual World Championship podium. Read how the dramatic second run unfolded.

Italy’s Federica Brignone dominated the first run of the Women’s Giant Slalom at the Saalbach 2025 FIS Alpine World Championships, showcasing precision and power to build a 0.67-second lead over New Zealand’s Alice Robinson. Paula Moltzan of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team delivered another strong GS performance, sitting third at 1.24 seconds back. The challenging terrain and long course demanded endurance, creating significant time gaps across the field. With the top 30 set to race in reverse order for the second run, the fight for podium positions promises a thrilling finish.

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team has named 16 rising stars to represent the United States at the 2025 FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, from Feb. 27 to March 6. The roster features a mix of accomplished NorAm and World Cup competitors, including Elisabeth Bocock, Liv Moritz, and Stanley Buzek, along with promising newcomers. With a strong history at Junior Worlds, the U.S. aims to build on past success, competing in downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and team events.

The Women’s GS at the Saalbach World Championships features a fierce battle on Zwölferkogel. Alice Robinson leads the standings, with Sara Hector and Federica Brignone in close pursuit. North Americans Paula Moltzan, Nina O’Brien, and Valérie Grenier aim to contend, while rising stars Lara Colturi and Zrinka Ljutić look to make an impact. Expect tight racing, aggressive tactics, and a thrilling fight for gold.

Zrinka Ljutić is gearing up for the Saalbach 2025 World Championships after a breakout World Cup season. With multiple slalom victories and growing confidence, Croatia’s rising star is ready to take on the world’s best. Can she turn her momentum into championship success?

Switzerland Sweeps Men’s Team Combined at Saalbach, USA 1 Just Misses Podium

Switzerland dominated the first-ever Men’s Team Combined at the Saalbach World Championships, sweeping the podium in a historic finish. Loïc Meillard’s clutch slalom run secured gold for Switzerland 1, while Tanguy Nef’s strong performance locked in silver for Switzerland 2. Switzerland 4 completed the sweep with bronze, holding off USA 1’s Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Benjamin Ritchie, who finished just 0.69 seconds off gold in fourth. The race came down to the slalom, where technical precision determined the winners in a thrilling debut for this new event.

The first-ever Men's Team Combined World Championship title is on the line in Saalbach, where skiers battled shifting fog and challenging conditions in the downhill. Switzerland’s Alexis Monney set the fastest time, giving teammate Tanguy Nef a slight edge heading into the slalom. Franjo Von Allmen of Switzerland 1 finished just 0.02 seconds behind, setting up a showdown with Loïc Meillard. Italy’s Dominik Paris left Alex Vinatzer with 0.46 seconds to make up, while Austria’s Daniel Hemetsberger gave Fabio Gstrein a 0.95-second deficit. Norway’s Timon Haugan and France’s Clément Noël will need to charge hard, with 1.05 and 1.15 seconds to erase, respectively. With the start order reversed from the downhill, the race will come down to execution under pressure. Every turn matters, and the fight for gold is about to begin.

The Men’s Team Combined debuts at Saalbach 2025, introducing a fresh test of speed and technical skill in Alpine skiing. This new event pairs downhill and slalom specialists, with their combined times determining the winner. As athletes and fans experience the format for the first time, its success could shape the future of multi-discipline competition at the sport’s highest level.

Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson of the Stifel US Ski Team win in the debut Team Combined at the 2025 World Championships.

Lauren Macuga of the Stifel US Ski Team wins the downhill, setting her team for a U.S. gold in the first Team Combined.

The Women's Team Combined makes its World Championships debut on Feb. 9 in Saalbach, introducing a format that pairs a downhill skier and a slalom skier from each nation, with their combined time determining the winner. This event, set to feature at the 2026 Olympics, replaces the Mixed Team Parallel and aims to boost TV viewership. While its World Cup future remains uncertain, this week’s competition will test its appeal and competitiveness. The downhill starts at 4:00 a.m. Eastern, followed by slalom at 7:15 a.m. Eastern, with live coverage on Ski and Snowboard Live in the U.S. and CBC Sports in Canada.

Mikaela Shiffrin, the most successful ski racer in history, has made the tough decision to skip giant slalom at the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach, Austria, citing the need for more time to recover from injury. However, she will compete in the team combined event alongside newly crowned downhill World Champion Breezy Johnson, embracing the opportunity to race with her longtime friend. Shiffrin remains committed to slalom and continues working toward her full return.

Lauren Macuga and Kajsa Vickhoff Lie celebrated their shared bronze medals in the 2025 World Championship super-G with family, friends, and an electrified crowd in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria. Their emotional journeys—Macuga’s breakout performance and Vickhoff Lie’s comeback—highlighted the power of perseverance and team support. From heartfelt messages exchanged with family to the overwhelming joy of standing on the podium, their success resonated beyond the racecourse. With devoted fans, strong camaraderie, and Olympic dreams on the horizon, their stories reflect the essence of ski racing’s competitive spirit and deep personal connections.

Von Allmen seized his moment, proving that the next generation of Swiss downhill racers is ready to dominate. With fearless precision and relentless aggression, he attacked every section of the Schneekristall/Zwölfer course, pushing to the absolute limit. As he crossed the line in first, the Swiss fans erupted, celebrating yet another World Championship gold. Even the Austrian crowd, despite their heartbreak, acknowledged the brilliance of his run—a performance that cemented Switzerland’s grip on the speed events and left no doubt that Von Allmen is a force to be reckoned with.

Downhill skiing is the ultimate test of speed, power, and nerve, where athletes rocket down the mountain at 140 km/h, teetering on the edge of control. The 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach will push them to their limits on the Schneekristall/Zwölfer course—a track designed to reward fearlessness and punish hesitation. With defending champion Marco Odermatt leading the charge and key contenders like Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Cameron Alexander sidelined, the race for gold is wide open. Will Switzerland extend its downhill dominance, or will a new challenger rise to claim victory?