Ski World Cup Live Updates

The women’s giant slalom in Sölden is starting late!

Julia Scheib will be the first ÖSV woman to take the start!(Bild: GEPA)

Here we go again! Today marks the start of the women’s giant slalom in Sölden. The start of Saturday’s opening race in the Alpine Ski World Cup has been pushed back by half an hour. Accordingly, the first run will begin at 10:30 a.m., and we’ll be reporting live (see live updates below).

The first run of the women’s giant slalom on the Rettenbachferner will now begin at 10:30 a.m., with the final run—originally scheduled for 1:00 p.m.—set to start at 1:30 p.m.

The reason is work being done on the course. According to FIS, this work also delayed the skiers’ course inspection by 30 minutes early Saturday morning.

Here’s the live ticker:

Here are the current standings:

Julia Scheib won five out of ten World Cup giant slaloms last winter, securing the crystal globe. The closest competitors to the now 28-year-old were Camille Rast (SUI), Sara Hector (SWE), Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), Alice Robinson (NZL), and Paula Moltzan (USA). In Sölden, last year’s winner wants to start “fresh” today. “There are a lot of favorites. I’ve seen others already, and I’m not the only one who can be fast.”

Julia Scheib(Bild: APA/EXPA/ JOHANN GRODER)

“Not a faster turn, but a more consistent one,” says team coach Martin Sprenger, acknowledging the Styrian’s improvement over the summer. The string of successes last winter had not been foreseeable. “I knew she was good, but she was still very prone to mistakes and too impetuous. Julia has made tremendous progress. She now has a feel for what 60 percent is and what 80 percent is—how much it takes. 60 isn’t enough; 80 is perfect.”

With greater consistency, she can attack better and push the limits even further, Scheib explained. On the Rettenbachferner, for example, the steep slope presents a section unlike any other found on the World Cup circuit. “You have to ski with precision there. One mistake, and you’ll need a few gates before you’re back on track. The key is the exit into the flat section.” Sölden has knocked her out in the past as well. Last year, she tried a different approach. “That worked out very well for me, and I’ve taken that with me.”

New team spirit and internal competition
, the second-best Austrian in the 2025–26 discipline standings, was a distant 17th. Stephanie Brunner, followed by Nina Astner (24th) and Katharina Liensberger (28th), who will miss the season opener due to injuries. Brunner, who has repeatedly been set back by such setbacks, made a good impression in training; Sprenger sees a new approach in her—thanks in part to her collaboration with mental coach Mathias Berthold. Victoria Olivier also impressed; like the debutantes, she will be assigned a later start number. “Let’s see what happens. We’re missing the middle of the pack,” said Sprenger, addressing the string of injuries that has once again struck Lisa Hörhager (ankle).

Stephanie Brunner(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

The team’s restructuring and the addition of speed skier Nina Ortlieb were received very positively. “There’s a great team spirit. I think we’re a model group in that regard. I can also learn a thing or two from some of the others. For me, it’s great when there’s an exchange of ideas and questions are asked. It’s also in my best interest for others to keep improving,” said Scheib. Ortlieb is also a helpful person off the course. “She gives good tips on speed skiing and has an incredible feel for long turns.”

Nina Ortlieb(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

Ortlieb has brought the group closer together; she’s very sociable and gets everyone fired up, explained Sprenger. “In training, everyone pays more attention to each other and learns from one another. Last year, they weren’t paying attention to what Julia was doing; this year, they are paying attention, and Julia is being challenged,” said the giant slalom coach, who also referred to Scheib’s Super-G ambitions as a win-win situation brought about by the new team dynamic.

Four Sölden debutantes
Internal, healthy competition helps each one take a step forward, according to women’s head coach Johannes Zöchling. “That’s exactly what makes the difference—the exchange among us helps us improve. We travel as a team, we train as a team. It’s perfectly fine to help each other out. Between the starting gate and the finish line, each skier has to do it on her own.” Now it’s time to show in Sölden just how much potential each of them has. High start numbers await, and the condition of the course and the course of the race remain uncertain—overcoming these challenges will be key.

Joining the experienced skiers Scheib, Brunner, Franziska Gritsch, and Ricarda Haaser on the roster are Olivier (22/8 giant slaloms so far/twice placed), Sölden debutantes Natalie Falch (22), who will be competing in her first World Cup giant slalom, Elena Riederer (21/5 giant slaloms so far, never placed), Valentina Rings-Wanner (21, 2 giant slaloms so far, never placed), and Leonie Raich (21, 1 giant slalom so far, not placed).