Alpine skiers prep for next test

Alpine skiing’s finest are well aware that this current pause in proceedings – there are 21 days between the season-starter in Sölden and the next Audi FIS World Cup action in Levi on 15-16 November – is just about the final chance to breathe before February’s Olympic Winter Games.

But how they are spending this quiet ahead of the exciting storm varies hugely, with everything from sight-seeing to podcasting, and solo-time to party-time taking centre stage. Along with the odd bit of training, of course…

Shiffrin: ‘Efficiency, efficacy, and transparency’

The joy on Mikaela Shiffrin’s (USA/Atomic) face after she took a “huge step forwards” in Sölden in her on-going quest to return to her Giant Slalom best had barely faded before the most successful World Cup skier in history was asserting her gratitude for “a good block of training between Sölden and the following races when things really ramp up”.

Fourth in that opening race was Shiffrin’s best World Cup GS race in just under two years and reflects a change of approach that the 30-year-old has pledged to work non-stop on.

Shiffrin will race Slalom in Levi and Gurgl, Austria (22 November) before heading back for a North American swing – a return to the fast-paced tour life that the USA megastar is relishing.

“I feel like my team is going into this season in a really unified manner, something different than I've maybe even ever experienced,” she said. “The most important thing that I'm trying to work on right now is being consistent in my communication with those around me.”

Communication is a clearly an issue the double Olympic champion feels passionately about, having also used the break in racing to launch her own podcast: What’s the Point with Mikaela Shiffrin.

Stjernesund: ‘It simplified what’s important to work on’

Shiffrin’s GS and Slalom rival Thea Louise Stjernesund (NOR/Rossignol) is another intent on using these moments to bed in significant change.

After two seasons in which the Norwegian finished inside the top-10 16 times on the World Cup circuit but claimed just two podium places – plus missed out a GS bronze medal at the 2025 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships by one-hundredth-of-a-second – she hit the slope in Sölden determined to “widen” her “comfort zone” and “accept failure” as a price of success.

A fast and free-flowing effort in run two was just the blueprint she was looking for, before heading to Levi early with the rest of the Norwegian women’s tech team.

“It simplified what’s important to work on for the next races,” said Stjernesund, who finished fifth in Sölden, thanks to the sixth quickest run-two time. “It’s not about the perfect turn right now, it’s about mentally going for it.

“Yes, I had my skis up in the air in some places. Yes, the turns were not perfect everywhere, but I really am happy with the second run's mentality and how I really tried. I'm happy that I dared to do that in a race, because there’s no way around it, really. I have to do it in a race.”

Kilde: ‘In 30 days I’ll be skiing Downhill’

For Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR/Atomic) every day that passes between the official season opening in Sölden and the first men’s World Cup Downhill, in Beaver Creek, USA on 4 December is another tick in the box.

Having been in the “deepest, darkest place” following his crash in Wengen in January 2024, the 2020 Overall World Cup champion has managed the “rollercoaster” of emotions involved in long-term recovery and can finally see the light.

“I was in the wheelchair, and in 30 days I’ll be skiing downhill fully. I’m super happy to be saying those words,” Kilde said before heading to the USA to complete his final preparations.

While adamant that he is “not done living life as a skier” the 33-year-old has learned so much from the past 22 months.

“Showing vulnerability, pushing boundaries, and trying to get back to a lifestyle as an athlete after being through something like this, it’s quite remarkable,” he said. “And something I’m going to take with me for the rest of my life.”

With two Olympic and two world championship medals, plus five World Cup Globes all eyes will naturally be on one of the all-time great speedsters. The man himself is just as fascinated to see what he can produce.

“I need to try first, figure out where I am, and as soon as I have a good feeling, I can start pushing. Hopefully I’m fast, you never know,” he said. “If things run smooth, I’ll be at the Olympics, fighting for things I want to fight for, which is medals. If I need more time, I need more time.”

One thing for certain is that he and fiancée Mikaela Shiffrin will not be taking time off just now to focus on the next generation of skiing superstars…

Sun, sea, snow & Olympic rings

Meanwhile, it’s been a mixture of hardcore holidaying and hardcore training for much of the rest.

The five-time Olympic medallist Wendy Holdener (SUI/Head) has been around plenty long enough to decide that what she needs most before really getting going with the 16th season of her remarkable career is some great food, movies and a hot tub.

Her USA rivals clearly agreed wholeheartedly, although perhaps it wasn’t all R&R for those who joined Keely Cashman in Mallorca...

After all AJ Hurt (HEAD), one of six USA skiers to finish inside the top 20 in Sölden, admitted the coaches were “turning a blind eye” to what she and her teammates might get up to on the notorious party island.

Paula Moltzan (USA/Rossignol) – second in Sölden – was not with them, having popped back to Vermont for a flying visit home. So flying in fact that she included 36 hours in New York, attending the US Olympic Committee’s 100 day to go until Milano-Cortina 2026 event.

The Olympic rings have featured prominently in Marco Odermatt’s (SUI/Stöckli) itinerary too. The reigning GS champion headed to Athens for a quick break, and, of course, swung by the place where it all began…

For the British men’s team it has been all work, with training in Kåbdalis, Sweden – where they would have bumped into World Cup winner Albert Popov (BUL/Head).

World Cup debutants look ahead with relish

Finally, there are four skiers for whom life has forever changed since Sölden.

Hannes Amman (GER/Rossignol), Pietro Tranchina (MAR), Freddy Carrick-Smith (GBR/Dynastar) and Shaienne Zehnder (SUI/Rossignol) all now know what it is like to compete at the very top of the sport, having finally made their World Cup debut.

Perhaps Tranchina best summed up just what means.

Like his Moroccan rival, Amman wants more, having got a taste for life at the top.

“For sure, it was a good place to start my World Cup career,” the German said. “Let’s see how many World Cups I get (this season) I am looking forward to them.”

Britain’s Carrick-Smith – part of a trio of brothers who have been lighting up the international junior scene – had so much to say about his first elite senior race that he went on a podcast:

One thing is for certain; life should get easier for the quartet from now on.

“This World Cup to start is the most difficult,” Switzerland’s Zehnder, a two-time Youth Olympic medallist, said with a laugh. “I didn’t ski my best but it was difficult. I hope there’s more to come.”