The new alpine ski season traditionally starts with the two giant slaloms in Sölden. On Saturday (10:00 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. in BR and at Eurosport), the women could have their first hot duel between the dominators Mikaela Shiffrin and Petra Vlhova. For the men, German hopes rest on Alexander Schmid before the start at the Rettenbachferner.
Who are the favourites? US star Shiffrin and Slovakian Vlhova, overall World Cup winner of the 2020/2021 season, are considered to be the most complete drivers in the women's field - and therefore again the first contenders for the big crystal globe. Shiffrin was the tragic figure of the Winter Olympics last winter and went without a medal in Beijing, but won the overall World Cup for the fourth time. With her victory in Sölden she laid the foundation. The 27-year-old is both the hunted and the hunter at the same time: she is only eight more World Cup victories behind her compatriot Lindsey Vonn (82), twelve for the Swede Ingemar Stenmark (86), who is the leader in the all-time best list.
In the men's category, Marco Odermatt was the high-flyer of the previous season. The Swiss won the overall World Cup, plus the small crystal globe and Olympic gold in giant slalom. Staying at the top is likely to be even more difficult than getting up. Since the retirement of the outstanding Austrian Marcel Hirscher three years ago, no one has successfully defended the overall World Cup. Frenchman Alexis Pinturault, best of winter 2020/2021, and Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, who has been outfitted by Hirscher's ski brand since the summer, are among the favourites.
What to expect from the Germans? In the women's category, downhill vice world champion Kira Weidle and slalom specialist Lena Dürr, who narrowly missed out on an individual medal at the Olympics in February and finished fourth each, are the biggest hopes. She seems "very focused," says the new national coach Andreas Puelacher about Weidle. Just like Dürr, who finished on the podium in four World Cup slalom events last season, she also trained with the men in South America in the summer. In the giant slalom, things continue to look bleak.
For the men, the focus is primarily on returnee Thomas Dreßen. After a complicated knee operation and only one competition in the past two and a half years, the best German downhill skier and Kitzbühel winner of 2018 wants to attack again. Ex-ski star Felix Neureuther says about slalom specialist Linus Straßer, who triumphed in Schladming last winter: "If he continues to improve in terms of consistency, he will have a bomb season." Schmid is also about more consistency. According to Neureuther, the best German giant slalom player of the previous season is currently in "incredibly good shape".
What are the highlights? The first World Cup races across two countries are to take place on the Matterhorn. However, heat and lack of snow could prevent the men's descents from Zermatt (Switzerland) to Cervinia (Italy) on October 29th and 30th. A week later the women's races are scheduled there. The famous Hahnenkamm races in Kitzbühel are scheduled to take place on January 20th and 21st. The World Championships in Courchevel and Méribel (France) from February 6th to 19th and the World Cup final in Soldeu (Andorra) from March 15th to 19th will follow. In between, the men - despite the climate crisis - are going to North America for a second time this winter.
Which races take place in Germany? Three of the 43 men's World Cups are held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There is a night slalom on January 4th, a downhill on January 28th and a giant slalom on January 29th. The ladies do not drive on German soil.
