The 2026/27 alpine ski world cup season opens on the Rettenbachgletscher in Sölden, Austria, featuring a weekend of giant slalom events for women and men, as reported by sueddeutsche.de.
Rettenbachgletscher Prepares for Opening Races
Competitors face a 1.1-kilometer course on the Rettenbachgletscher situated over 3,000 meters above sea level, featuring a maximum gradient of 68 percent at the Eisfall steep section and 370 vertical meters. According to sueddeutsche.de, preparations required distributing snow stored in five depots built up during the previous spring and protected over the summer due to limited natural snowfall on the upper mountain. laola1.at reported that piste chief Isi Grüner noted three distinct rolls before the finish line designed to test technical precision down to the final seconds.
Women Open the Weekend Slate
The women’s giant slalom took place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with the first run starting at 10:30 and the final following at 13:30. Germany’s Emma Aicher delivered an unexpected podium finish, climbing from ninth place after the first run to finish third—marking her career-best result in giant slalom competition. From the Austrian perspective, Julia Scheib entered the giant slalom as the defending winner. The women’s award ceremony took place in the evening at 18:30 at the Giggijochbahn parking lot, followed by the bib draw for the men’s race.
Men Take to the Glacier Slopes
The men contest their giant slalom on Sunday, October 25, 2026, with the first run scheduled for 10:00 local time and the second run at 13:00. The event coincides with the end of daylight saving time in Europe, as clocks roll back one hour from 3:00 to 2:00 in the night between Saturday and Sunday. Switzerland’s Loic Meillard and Austria’s Stefan Brennsteiner are also listed as victory candidates. Germany fields four women and six men, including Lena Dürr alongside Fabiana Dorigo and Jessica Hilzinger, for whom reaching the second run would be a success. Anton Grammel and Fabian Gratz represent the German men following notable past performances, joined by Hannes Amman, Jonas Stockinger, slalom specialist Linus Straßer, and injury-plagued Alexander Schmid. The men’s award ceremony is held directly at the glacier immediately after the race.
ARD and Eurosport Broadcast Races Amid Weather Risks
Public broadcaster ARD provides live coverage in Germany, going live on Das Erste from 9:55 for the first run and returning at 12:45 ahead of the second run, featuring commentary from Bernd Schmelzer alongside former racer Felix Neureuther for the men’s race, while Eurosport broadcasts all races across the season on free-to-air television and via subscription streaming on HBO Max. Both sueddeutsche.de and laola1.at noted that shifting wind conditions or unexpected snowfall could alter schedules, interrupt runs, or force cancellations, with high winds posing potential challenges specifically during the men’s event.
Worth a look
