Loïc Meillard Chases Crystal Globes Ahead of Sölden Season Opener
Alpine skier Loïc Meillard enters the 2026–2027 World Cup season targeting discipline globes in slalom and giant slalom following a summer training block in Chile. At 29 years old, the Swiss skier from Hérémence prepares for Sunday’s opening giant slalom in Sölden aiming to convert consistent podium finishes into his first major discipline titles.
Summer Base Replaces Injury-Hit Preparation
Last year’s preparation was hampered by back pain, but Meillard rebuilt his foundation with daily on-snow sessions in Chile. While conditions varied between aggressive and icy surfaces, the training block allowed him to refine his technical execution. Cette fois, j’ai skié tous les jours malgré des conditions changeantes,
Meillard noted, stating that technical work is progressing incrementally rather than fixing every situation at once.
Balancing New Fatherhood With Elite Travel Schedules
Entering the new season as a father, Meillard approaches the rigors of the winter World Cup circuit through advance mental preparation. Because alpine ski calendars are published months ahead of time, he manages the inevitable departures from home despite the personal challenge. C’est évident qu’il y a toujours un petit pincement au cœur de laisser sa famille derrière soi, mais cela fait partie de mon travail,
Meillard explained regarding the upcoming winter travel.
Chasing Missing Crystal Globes After Close Contention
Despite an extensive career palmarès that includes being an Olympic and world champion in slalom, Meillard has collected only one crystal globe—the parallel discipline trophy awarded in 2020. The Swiss competitor finished on the giant slalom season podium for three consecutive years, narrowly missing the discipline title last season and the slalom globe two years prior. J’aurais pu remporter le globe la saison dernière d’ailleurs, et celui du slalom il y a deux ans,
Meillard said. Le niveau est là, les possibilités le sont aussi, mais c’est à moi de faire le job maintenant.
Sölden Kickoff and Avoiding Early Season Pressure
Rather than setting rigid numerical targets for the upcoming campaign, Meillard focuses on his starting readiness. Le but, c’est comme chaque année, d’essayer chaque course de savoir au départ qu’on a le ski pour aller jouer tout devant et qu’on a les cartes en main,
he said. The Valaisan turns 30 on October 29 and approaches the opening races with perspective, acknowledging that an off day is not catastrophic as long as the underlying speed remains competitive against rivals such as Marco Odermatt.
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