The alpine air in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is electric this morning as the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup serves up one of the most anticipated races of the early Olympic season: the women’s slalom on the demanding Kirchenkar slope.
Mikaela Shiffrin, the undisputed Greatest Of All Time in technical skiing, rolls into Gurgl as the defending champion and red-hot favorite. Fresh off a commanding victory in Levi last weekend – her 102nd career World Cup win and a margin of nearly eight-tenths that reminded everyone why she owns the slalom record book – Shiffrin is hunting back-to-back triumphs to open the 2025/26 campaign.
But this isn’t a coronation. It’s a showdown.
Starting ahead of her with lower bibs are some of the brightest young talents in the sport, a generation that has spent years chasing the American superstar and is now knocking loudly on the door:
Wendy Holdener (SUI, bib 1) – the veteran Swiss technician with 35 career slalom podiums, hungry to reclaim the top step.
Lena Dürr (GER, bib 2) – consistent and aggressive, always a threat on steep pitches.
Zrinka Ljutić (CRO, bib 3) – the 21-year-old prodigy who claimed last season’s slalom crystal globe.
Anna Swenn-Larsson (SWE, bib 4) – a perennial podium contender looking to convert speed into gold.
And then Shiffrin herself in bib 5, ready to answer the bell.
Waiting in the wings are more rising stars: 19-year-old sensation Lara Colturi (ALB), who charged to second in Levi; Germany’s Emma Aicher, fresh off her first podium; and Swiss slalom world champion Camille Rast, who knows this Gurgl hill intimately after finishing third here last year.
The Kirchenkar course, starting above the treeline at over 2,400 meters, is notorious for its early-season ice, relentless pitch, and unforgiving turns. One mistake and the race is over – perfect for drama in an Olympic year where every point counts toward national quotas for Milano-Cortina 2026.
Shiffrin has owned this venue since it joined the women’s calendar, winning convincingly last season and looking even sharper now after a full off-season of training following her injury-disrupted 2024/25 campaign.
Can the veteran queen hold off the charging youth movement on her favorite Austrian snow? Or will one of the young guns finally dethrone the GOAT and announce a changing of the guard?
First run drops at 10:30 CET (4:30 AM ET). Strap in – this one is going to be epic. ⛷️❄️
(Live coverage on Peacock, Eurosport/Discovery+, and FIS platforms)
