2025/26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup: Julia Scheib delivers home victory in giant slalom season opener, Shiffrin ends in fourth

 Austria’s Julia Scheib brought victory for the host nation in the women’s giant slalom World Cup opener in Sölden, finishing ahead of Paula Moltzan and Lara Gut-Behrami. Mikaela Shiffrin placed fourth after a strong second run

The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season roared into action on Saturday (25 October) in Sölden, Austria, where the women’s giant slalom delivered a fairytale start for the host nation.

A decade of waiting ended on the Rettenbach Glacier as Julia Scheib stormed to her first career World Cup win in the women’s giant slalom season opener in Sölden, Austria. The 27-year-old set the pace with a blistering first run, then held her nerve in the afternoon to finish in 2:16.51. Her triumph marked the first Austrian women’s home win at Sölden since 2014.

In the second run, she withstood the pressure of 16,000 spectators before celebrating the first World Cup victory of her career, a well-deserved reward after many years of setbacks.

She had long been considered a major talent, winning silver at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer and gold in the giant slalom at the 2018 Junior World Ski Championships.

But several illnesses, including mononucleosis, COVID-19, and a serious knee injury, set her back. Sölden, however, has treated the Austrian well. She earned her first World Cup podium on this course last year.

Paula Moltzan (USA) (+0.58 seconds) and women's Super-G Olympic champion Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) (+1.11) joined her on the podium.

Starting 20th after missing much of last season, Mikaela Shiffrin sat sixth after the first run and looked sharp on her return to GS World Cup action. Her clean second run briefly pushed her into the lead, but as the top seeds came down, she slipped to fourth.

The U.S. team fielded six skiers in the second run, the most they’ve qualified for a World Cup GS second run in nearly 30 years, and they traded the lead through the early part of the second run.

Reigning Olympic champion in the discipline Sara Hector finished ninth, while Italy’s hopes were dashed when Sofia Goggia crashed out on the first run.

This marks the first stop of the season on the road to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, now less than four months away.

How to watch the Soelden 2025/26 Alpine Ski World Cup