Austria’s Julia Scheib delivered a breakthrough performance in Soelden on Saturday, capturing her first World Cup victory and ending a nine-year drought for Austrian women in giant slalom events. The season opener of the Alpine skiing World Cup marked a promising start for Scheib and an encouraging comeback for American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, who finished just off the podium in fourth place.
Scheib, 27, dominated the race on home snow, posting a combined time of 2:16.51 — 0.58 seconds ahead of U.S. skier Paula Moltzan. The victory came nearly a year after Scheib earned her first podium finish at the same venue, and it represented the first Austrian women’s giant slalom win since 2016. Last season’s super-G overall champion, Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, rounded out the podium in third, 1.11 seconds back.
Moltzan, 31, nearly claimed her first career World Cup win after a strong opening run placed her second behind Scheib. Though she almost stumbled briefly in her second run, she recovered, but Scheib’s final run secured the Austrian’s triumph. For Moltzan, it was her sixth career podium and her best-ever finish in a giant slalom, which strengthens her standing heading into the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Shiffrin’s fourth-place finish, her best result in the discipline in nearly two years, underscored a successful return from injury. Starting 20th due to her lower ranking after missing much of last season, the 30-year-old American climbed steadily, finishing sixth after the first run and improving two spots in the second. The result reflected steady progress following a crash last November that left her with serious abdominal injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Saturday’s performance was a milestone in Shiffrin’s ongoing recovery. The all-time World Cup wins leader, with 101 victories, described the day as a significant personal step. The finish also helped her regain points in the rankings, bringing her closer to the top group of starters. Teammate Nina O’Brien added another strong showing for the U.S., finishing sixth.
Shiffrin, who won the Olympic giant slalom gold in 2018, had not finished this high in the event since early 2024. Her improved confidence suggests a return to form in the discipline that once defined her versatility. Following her crash, Shiffrin focused primarily on slalom, winning gold in the team combined event at last season’s world championships, but struggled to rediscover her rhythm in giant slalom until now.
The Soelden result also signaled a wider resurgence for the American team, with two skiers among the top six. With the World Cup season now underway, Shiffrin plans to concentrate on her strongest events, which are slalom, giant slalom and team combined, while keeping the option open to race in super-G.
Additional slalom events are scheduled for mid-November in Levi, Finland, where Shiffrin will again be among the top contenders.
Sources: New York Times, NBC News
