Alpine Ski Racing 26-27 World Cup Tour Starts Saturday at Sölden
Alpine Ski Racing 26-27 World Cup Tour Starts Saturday at Sölden
Published : 23-Oct-2026 11:33
The first FIS World Cup al[pine ski races of the 2026/27 season are set to take place this weekend after about 20cm of fresh snowfall in the last few days at Sölden in Austria.
Every year, the world's elite skiers kick off the World Cup season with two Giant Slalom races on one of the steepest courses on the circuit down the Rettenbach Glacier.
The women traditionally race first, on the Saturday, the men on the Sunday. There's also plenty of festivities with a comprehensive side program as we'll as the chance to hit the slopes for those in resort and to cheer and party.
The world's elite, including top stars like Mikaela Shiffrin, Marco Odermatt, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen and last year's Austrian winner Julia Scheib, are already making their final practice runs on the glacier ahead of the season opening event
.
Freddy, one of the three ski racing brothers in the Carrick-Smith family, is set to compete for the British team in Sunday's race.
The slopes on Rettenbach Glacier have been open for public skiing and ski team training session since the beginning of October .
Conditions on the race course are the result of meticulously planned preparation which include snow farming combined with high performance snow-making systems operated by Bergbahnen Sölden, which together aim to guarantees a compact and race-ready base.
"We were able to ensure the races only thanks to 60,000 m³ of snow stockpiled in the spring specifically for the World Cup course. I would like to thank the excellent team of Bergbahnen Sölden, who have perfected the art of snow farming," says Isi Grüner, Race Course Director, who added, "Aside from snow-making, our experienced team can now complete all the work on the racecourse without needing night shifts. Again this year, the course is highly demanding, particularly on the steepest section. With three wave-like bumps leading into the finish area, the excitement remains high right to the end."
The races will be free to view in many countries around the world but it appears the only way to easily watch live in the UK is via TNT Sports which charges £31 a month for a subscription.
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