The upcoming Alpine Skiing World Cup season promises excitement with major comebacks like Marcel Hirscher and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, alongside notable retirements. New rules, such as mandatory airbags, enhance safety for competitors. The calendar features new venues and the much-anticipated World Ski Championships in Saalbach. Top athletes like Marco Odermatt and Mikaela Shiffrin aim for glory, while fans can catch live broadcasts of key races throughout the season.
Exciting comebacks, retirements, new regulations, and fresh racing venues – the anticipation for the Alpine Skiing World Cup season is at an all-time high. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming season.
Ski World Cup aficionados can agree that the 2024/25 season is shaping up to be an extraordinary one. Marcel Hirscher is making a return, representing the Netherlands, while Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen brings a vibrant samba spirit to the slopes. Beyond these notable comebacks, significant changes have occurred recently. As ski stars prepare to compete in Sölden, here’s a comprehensive look at what’s in store for this season.
Marcel Hirscher: A Surprising Return
Marcel Hirscher’s announcement to come out of retirement, alongside the newly Brazilian athlete Braathen, caught even the insiders off guard. The former skiing champion made headlines this summer by expressing his desire to race again. Shortly thereafter, the FIS introduced a new wildcard rule that permits Hirscher to participate in Sölden as the 31st racer. This rule is reserved for a select group of athletes who have achieved significant success and taken enough time away from competition—making it a possibility for future racers as well.
Notable Absences
While the return of Hirscher and Braathen adds star power to the season, several prominent athletes will be absent. Speed specialists Thomas Dreßen and Josef Ferstl unexpectedly retired during the last season. Additionally, other DSV athletes such as Andrea Filser, Katrin Hirtl-Stanggaßinger, Martina Willibald, and Nadine Kapfer have ended their careers over the summer. On the international front, Ragnhild Mowinckel, the two-time Olympic silver medalist from Pyeongchang 2018, will notably miss out.
Injuries also plague several competitors, with Marco Schwarz, Sofia Goggia, and DSV speed skier Andreas Sander facing delayed starts to their seasons. Aleksander Amodt-Kilde has had to withdraw from the entire season due to his injury.
Stefan Luitz canceled his participation in the season opener on short notice after suffering a ligament injury in his left hand, although he initially intended to race with a splint in the giant slalom on Sunday at Rettenbach Glacier.
Top Contenders for This Season
If Marco Odermatt can carry last season’s momentum into the 2024/25 winter, he may well secure the top podium spot, especially in giant slalom. The reigning champion, who excelled in last year’s overall standings, is poised to be a fierce competitor. French skier Cyprien Sarrazin aims to take the lead in the downhill events, while Manuel Feller and Linus Straßer emerge as strong candidates for slalom victories.
On the women’s side, Mikaela Shiffrin is returning after a lengthy injury layoff. Last season’s unfortunate fall cost her the overall title, which she will aim to reclaim from Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami. Shiffrin has shown remarkable versatility across giant slalom, slalom, and super-G, although she won’t be participating in the downhill races.
New Races and Calendar Changes
In addition to traditional venues like Kitzbühel, Schladming, Adelboden, and Wengen, this season introduces new locations. For the first time since 1977, the World Cup final will be held in Sun Valley, USA. The women will return to La Thuile, which they last visited in 2020, and Sestriere is also back on the schedule. Men’s events will debut in Hafjell, Norway, while Zermatt has been canceled following two unsuccessful attempts. Other venues, including Palisades Tahoe and Aspen in the USA, as well as Crans Montana for the women, have also been dropped from the calendar.
The Highlight: World Ski Championships in Saalbach
The World Championships will take place in Saalbach-Hinterglemm from February 4 to 16. Star competitors like Marco Odermatt, Mikaela Shiffrin, Lara Gut-Behrami, and Cyprien Sarrazin are expected to shine, as well as DSV representatives Linus Straßer and Lena Dürr who will seek top honors in slalom. Don’t miss BR24Sport as they provide live coverage of all award ceremonies at the championships.