Mikaela Shiffrin kicked off the Alpine Skiing World Cup season with a strong fourth-place finish in the women’s giant slalom on Saturday, proving her off-season dedication to the discipline paid dividends. Racing from bib 20 on the challenging Rettenbach glacier, the 30-year-old American delivered two composed runs, landing just off the podium in the season opener.
The day belonged to Austria’s Julia Scheib, who claimed a shock maiden World Cup victory on home soil. The 27-year-old Rossignol skier set the pace with a blistering first run of 1:07.8 and held her nerve in the second to edge out American Paula Moltzan, who took second. Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami rounded out the podium, finishing 1.11 seconds behind Scheib.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Scheib told FIS media when asked if she anticipated her first World Cup win. “My feeling wasn’t even that great, but maybe that’s a good omen for the races ahead.” Scheib’s triumph marked the first Austrian women’s World Cup GS win since Eva-Maria Brem in 2016. Having secured third in Sölden last year—the first Austrian podium there since Nicole Hosp shared the win with Shiffrin in 2014—Scheib was acutely aware of the historical significance as she tackled her second run.
“I was so relieved when I crossed the finish line and saw the green light,” she said. “Winning the first race in front of my home crowd is just incredible. We celebrated together, and it’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
Shiffrin, who emphasized giant slalom as a key focus during her off-season preparations for the Olympic year, showcased her progress with a disciplined performance. While she missed the podium, her result signals a promising start to the season as she builds toward the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Moltzan’s runner-up finish highlighted a strong day for the U.S. team, while Gut-Behrami’s podium underscored her consistency as a top contender. The World Cup circuit now shifts focus to the next races, with Scheib’s breakthrough and Shiffrin’s steady opener setting the stage for an exciting season.
