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Sölden hosts opening of the 2026-27 Alpine Ski World Cup season
The 2026-27 Alpine Ski World Cup season commences this weekend on the Rettenbach glacier in Sölden, Austria. The opening events feature women's giant slalom on Saturday and men's giant slalom on Sunday.
Major storylines include Mikaela Shiffrin's shift in discipline focus, as the American star plans to reduce her slalom starts to prioritize giant slalom and super-G. On the men's side, Marco Odermatt enters the season as the favorite to defend his overall title, despite a recent minor muscle injury.
Several athletes are making notable returns or facing challenges. Slovakian skier Petra Vlhová returns to World Cup competition following a serious knee injury sustained in early 2024, though heavy snowfall and wind in Sölden have forced organizers to adjust the race schedule. Slovenian Neja Dvornik also returns after an 11-month hiatus due to injury. Croatian competitors Zrinka Ljutić and Filip Zubčić are also set to compete as the new season begins.
Entities
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde · Alpine Ski World Cup · Andreas Žampa · FIS · FIS Alpine Ski World Cup · Jana Gantnerová · Marco Odermatt · Mario Rafetzeder · Mikaela Shiffrin · Petra Vlhova · STVR · Sölden