Fresh off a dominant victory in Levi, Mikaela Shiffrin heads to Gürgl this weekend as the defending champion, looking to extend her perfect start to the 2025–26 World Cup slalom season in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive early-season races in years.
The high-alpine Austrian venue, famous for its dependable November snow and steep, rhythmic fall line, hosts the second women’s slalom of the Olympic campaign on Saturday, November 22. Shiffrin, who won both runs in Levi by a commanding 1.66 seconds, arrives with momentum and history on her side: she topped the Gürgl podium last season ahead of then-18-year-old Lara Colturi (Albania) and Switzerland’s Camille Rast.
Levi confirmed that the next generation is no longer knocking on the door — they’re stepping onto the podium. Colturi, who celebrated her 19th birthday with second place in Finland, and Germany’s Emma Aicher, 22, who claimed her maiden slalom podium in third, announced themselves as genuine threats. Add in 21-year-old Croatian Zrinka Ljutić — the reigning slalom crystal globe holder — and reigning world slalom champion Camille Rast, and Shiffrin faces perhaps the deepest and most talented chasing pack of her career.
2024 Gürgl Slalom Podium Recap
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)
Lara Colturi (ALB)
Camille Rast (SUI)
2025 Levi Slalom Podium
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)
Lara Colturi (ALB)
Emma Aicher (GER)
American women continue to set the early pace in the Nations Cup, leading with 374 points thanks to Shiffrin’s win and Paula Moltzan’s runner-up finish in Sölden’s giant slalom. The U.S. depth will be on display again in Gürgl with Shiffrin, Moltzan, AJ Hurt, Nina O’Brien, Liv Moritz, and rookie Annika Hunt all on the start list.
Canada, meanwhile, will be eager to rebound after a tough Levi opener where none of their five starters reached the second run. 2023 world slalom champion Laurence St-Germain makes her season debut alongside Ali Nullmeyer, Amelia Smart, and others, hoping to repeat last year’s solid Gürgl results (St-Germain 11th, Nullmeyer 18th).
The Gürgl course is expected to reward commitment and precision. With the first run set by American coach Janne Haarala and the second by Canada’s Francis Royal, small mistakes will be heavily punished on the fast, high-altitude slope.
Race Schedule (Saturday, November 22)
First run: 10:30 CET / 4:30 a.m. EST / 1:30 a.m. PST
Second run: 13:40 CET / 7:40 a.m. EST / 4:40 a.m. PST
Where to Watch
USA: Peacock
Canada: CBC Sports
UK: Discovery+
As the road to the 2026 Cortina Olympics accelerates, every hundredth in Gürgl will matter for World Cup points, Olympic qualification quotas, and national-team selection. Shiffrin remains the favorite, but the margin for error has never been thinner.
