As the crisp Canadian air fills with the roar of crowds and the hum of chairlifts, the PwC Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup kicks off a high-stakes doubleheader at Mont-Tremblant, drawing the world’s elite women’s field to the iconic Flying Mile course. The spotlight shines brightest on American sensation Mikaela Shiffrin, the 30-year-old double Olympic champion who’s chasing her first giant slalom podium of the season amid a whirlwind Olympic campaign.
Today’s action explodes with the Women’s Giant Slalom Run 1 at 11:00 a.m. local time (5:00 p.m. CET), followed by Run 2 at 2:00 p.m. local (8:00 p.m. CET). Tomorrow’s schedule shifts slightly earlier, with the second GS set for 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. local starts, promising 200 points on the line each day for the taking. With positive snow control confirmed this week, organizers are buzzing about pristine conditions that could favor the technical precision Shiffrin is renowned for.
Shiffrin, already the all-time leader with 104 World Cup victories – including a record 22 in giant slalom – arrives in Tremblant atop the overall standings with 368 points, a commanding 90-point buffer over Albania’s rising star Lara Colturi (278). Her slalom dominance has been unmatched this season, marked by three straight wins in Levi, Gurgl, and a emotional home triumph at Copper Mountain last weekend, where she notched her 104th career victory exactly one year after a gut-wrenching crash sidelined her for two months. That Copper slalom masterclass, where she edged Lena Dürr by 1.57 seconds, underscored her mental fortitude and raw speed on short skis. But GS? That’s the lingering puzzle piece.
This season’s giant slalom campaign has been a grind for the Vail, Colorado native. A determined fourth in the opener at Sölden set high hopes, only for a 14th-place finish at Copper to leave her hungry for redemption. Currently sixth in the GS discipline standings with 68 points, Shiffrin trails leader Alice Robinson of New Zealand (who claimed victory in Copper) and Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund (105 points). “It’s been a process of rebuilding that confidence in the longer turns,” Shiffrin reflected post-Copper, hinting at tweaks to her Atomic setup and line choices. Her 22 GS wins – the most by any woman in history – prove she’s no stranger to the discipline, but after skipping the 2025 Worlds GS defense due to lingering mental echoes from last year’s Killington injury, Tremblant represents a pivotal reset.
The field is stacked with threats and storylines. Defending GS Crystal Globe winner Federica Brignone of Italy, who dominated early before a season-ending leg injury in April, sits out, opening the door for challengers like Robinson, who’s won twice already and leads the discipline. Sweden’s Sara Hector lurks fourth overall in GS (79 points), while American teammates Paula Moltzan (third in GS at 80 points) and Nina O’Brien (sixth at 64) bring North American depth that could light up the leaderboards. On home soil, Canada’s Valérie Grenier – a podium threat with her steady technique – eyes a breakthrough after 11th in Sölden and 12th in Copper, backed by young gun Britt Richardson.
Tremblant’s electric atmosphere adds fuel to the fire. The 2023 edition saw Shiffrin snag bronze in both GS races, feeding off the bilingual cheers cascading down the hill. “When you can hear the crowd from the start, you’re like, ‘Well, there’s people down there and they’re really excited!'” she said then, praising the fair yet fervent vibe. This weekend, with 15,000 fans expected and 300 volunteers on deck, the energy could propel her – or anyone – to glory. As one of four straight North American tech races (sandwiching Copper’s GS and SL), it’s a continental showcase primed for upsets.
For Shiffrin, now engaged to Norwegian racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and eyeing Milano Cortina 2026 gold, the stakes transcend points. A strong Tremblant showing could vault her GS ranking, balance her season, and silence doubts about her post-injury form. “Everyone on the circuit is pretty tired and ready for a nap,” she joked after Copper, but her eyes betray the fire: this is prime time to strike.
Tune in via NBC/Peacock in the U.S., or Eurosport across Europe, as the battle for GS supremacy unfolds under Quebec’s snowy skies. With Shiffrin’s legacy on the line, expect carving edges, daring lines, and perhaps a podium roar that echoes into Olympic spring.
