Sölden Alpine Ski World Cup 2026 schedule and races

Rettenbach Glacier Opening Races and Schedule

The annual winter sports calendar opens in the Austrian Alps under strict logistical planning, utilizing stored snow depots after natural snowfall proved scarce on the high-altitude slope. Over 30,000 spectators are expected across the weekend in the Ötztal resort town. Competition begins on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with the women’s giant slalom. The first run starts at 10:00 a.m. local time, followed by the second run at 1:00 p.m. The men take to the same 1,198-meter course on Sunday, October 25, 2026, adhering to the exact same 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. start times. Broadcasters ARD and Eurosport share live coverage rights, with ARD deploying commentators Tobias Barnerssoi for the women’s event and Bernd Schmelzer for the men.

Steep Slopes and High-Altitude Course Layout

Athletes face an unforgiving 1,198-meter course on the Rettenbach glacier, which sits at an elevation starting above 3,000 meters above sea level. The technical specifications of the venue include a start elevation of 3,040 meters and a finish line at 2,670 meters, creating a total vertical drop of 370 meters. Following a relatively flat opening section from the Rettenbachjoch toward the glacier edge, skiers plunge into the infamous steep pitch known as the Eisfall. That section reaches a maximum gradient of 68 percent, where racers hit speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour before traversing the rolling terrain of the final Elefantentränke section toward the finish.

Title Defenders and Missing Stars in Sölden

Austria’s Julia Scheib returns as the defending champion and primary favorite for the women’s race after capturing her maiden World Cup victory in Sölden last year and subsequently securing the small crystal globe in giant slalom. The women’s field will see the return of Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova, while Canada’s Valerie Grenier misses the opener following a training injury on the glacier. Italy’s Federica Brignone sits out the Sölden start for the second year as she continues her recovery following knee surgery that required the removal of screws and plates from her leg.

Odermatt Leads the Men’s Field

Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt anchors the men’s giant slalom field as the dominant force in the discipline, having claimed 29 of his 54 career World Cup victories in the event, including last year’s triumph on the Rettenbach glacier amidst challenging weather. Odermatt faces a strong challenge from competitors including Austria’s Marco Schwarz and Stefan Brennsteiner, alongside Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who captured the discipline title last season. The total prize purse for both the men’s and women’s competitions stands at 168,000 euros per race, distributed among the top 30 finishers, with 55,000 euros awarded to the race winner.

German Contenders on the Glacier

The German ski federation enters four women and six men into the opening weekend fields. On the men’s side, Anton Grammel aims to build on three consecutive top-ten giant slalom finishes from last season, while Fabian Gratz looks to match his fifth-place performance from Alta Badia. They are joined by Hannes Amman, Jonas Stockinger, slalom specialist Linus Straßer, and Alexander Schmid.