The 2025 Alpine World Ski Championships: A Preview
The world’s best alpine skiers will descend upon Saalbach, Austria, from February 4th to 16th, 2025, to compete for the coveted titles at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. Saalbach, known for its challenging slopes and vibrant atmosphere, is set to host an exhilarating two weeks of racing across various disciplines. This year’s championships will feature a revamped schedule, with the traditional combined event being replaced by a team combined event and the individual parallel event being dropped altogether.
The competition will commence with the mixed team parallel slalom on February 4th. This fast-paced event, featuring teams of two men and two women, promises an exciting start to the championships. The speed events will then take centre stage, with the women’s and men’s Super-G races scheduled for February 6th and 7th, followed by the Downhill events on February 8th and 9th. These races will showcase the skiers’ nerve and technical prowess as they navigate the demanding Saalbach slopes at breakneck speeds.
The newly introduced team combined event will take place on February 11th and 12th for the women and men, respectively. This innovative event will pair a downhill specialist with a slalom specialist from each nation, testing their versatility and teamwork. The technical events will round out the championships, with the Giant Slalom taking place on February 13th and 14th, followed by the Slalom on February 15th and 16th. These events will demand precision and tactical skiing as the athletes battle for every hundredth of a second.
The Swedish Contingent and Their Medal Hopes
Sweden, traditionally a strong alpine skiing nation, is hoping to improve upon their disappointing performance at the 2023 World Championships, where they failed to secure any medals. The Swedish team for Saalbach includes a mix of experienced veterans and promising young talents. Sara Hector, the reigning Olympic champion in Giant Slalom and currently ranked second in the World Cup standings, is one of Sweden’s biggest medal hopes. After achieving several podium finishes this season, including two victories, Hector is aiming for her first individual World Championship medal in what will be her eighth appearance at the event.
Anna Swenn-Larsson, another strong contender in the Slalom, has also shown good form this season, despite a few inconsistencies. Kristoffer Jakobsen, a key figure in the Swedish men’s team, will be looking to make his mark in the Slalom after a mixed season that has seen him both achieve top-five finishes and suffer several DNFs. The team event represents another potential medal opportunity for Sweden, particularly if Jakobsen can maintain his form. Young talent Cornelia Öhlund, making her World Championship debut, is another exciting prospect for the Swedish team, particularly after impressive recent performances in the Slalom.
Adding to the narrative of the Swedish team is the return of speed specialist Felix Monsén, who has battled back from years of injury to compete at the championships. Monsén’s independent fundraising efforts to support his training have added another dimension to his comeback story. Despite the team’s potential, the recent financial struggles and internal turmoil within the Swedish alpine skiing federation have undoubtedly created a challenging backdrop for their preparations.
International Stars and Storylines to Watch
The 2025 World Championships are poised to feature a compelling mix of established stars and emerging talents. All eyes will be on American Mikaela Shiffrin, one of the most successful alpine skiers of all time, as she returns from an abdominal injury sustained in November. While her fitness remains a question mark, Shiffrin’s impressive record, including 99 World Cup victories and 17 Olympic and World Championship medals, makes her a force to be reckoned with. The potential for a dream team pairing with fellow American legend Lindsey Vonn in the team combined event has added further intrigue to Shiffrin’s return.
Vonn, who made a surprising comeback this season at the age of 40 after several years of retirement, has shown glimpses of her former brilliance and could be a factor in the speed events. On the men’s side, Marco Odermatt of Switzerland, the dominant force in the World Cup, is aiming for an unprecedented triple gold in Downhill, Super-G, and Giant Slalom. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, competing for Brazil, his mother’s homeland, is another exciting prospect, having already achieved several podium finishes this season. Federica Brignone of Italy, currently leading the overall World Cup standings, will also be a strong contender across multiple disciplines.
The introduction of the team combined event has created new possibilities and tactical considerations for the competing nations. The absence of the individual parallel event marks a shift in the championship program, with a greater focus on traditional alpine disciplines. The financial challenges faced by several national teams, including Sweden, highlight the ongoing economic pressures within the sport.
The Championship Landscape and Key Questions
The 2025 Alpine World Ski Championships promise to be a captivating showcase of skill, athleticism, and determination, with a blend of familiar faces and emerging talents vying for glory. The return of Shiffrin and Vonn, the dominance of Odermatt, and the emergence of athletes like Braathen and Öhlund create a dynamic narrative leading into the championships. The new team combined event adds an unpredictable element, while the absence of the individual parallel event represents a departure from recent World Championships formats. The backdrop of financial challenges and internal disputes adds another dimension to the competition, particularly for teams like Sweden.
Key questions remain: Can Shiffrin regain her peak form after her injury? Will Vonn’s comeback story continue with a medal performance? Can Odermatt achieve his historic triple gold ambition? Which nations will adapt best to the new team combined event? Will the younger generation of skiers make their mark on the championships? The answers to these questions will unfold on the slopes of Saalbach, promising an enthralling two weeks of alpine skiing action. Viewers can follow the action on Viaplay and TV6, witnessing the drama and excitement as the world’s best skiers battle for the coveted World Championship titles.
