Austria’s Julia Scheib showcased her skiing prowess at the women’s World Cup giant slalom season opener in Solden, Austria, outperforming American skier Paula Moltzan, who narrowly missed her first career win. The U.S. ski team delivered a strong performance with Mikaela Shiffrin placing fourth and Nina O’Brien in sixth, alongside four other Americans in the top 20.
Scheib extended her lead from the first run by 1.28 seconds to clinch the victory by 0.58 seconds, marking the Austrian women’s team’s first World Cup GS win since 2016. Lara Gut-Behrami secured the third spot, finishing 1.11 seconds behind Scheib, with Shiffrin trailing by 1.42 seconds.
Expressing relief, Scheib described the weight lifted off her shoulders upon seeing the green light, highlighting the pressure of being the last racer. Moltzan expressed her excitement at achieving a career-best result, emphasizing the difference between training and race performance.
Shiffrin, the 2018 Olympic GS champion, made a strong comeback after starting 20th due to a lower GS ranking following last season’s injury. Despite room for improvement, Shiffrin expressed satisfaction with her performance, aiming for further progress.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Val Grenier kicked off her season with an 11th-place finish, narrowly missing the top 10. Shiffrin, still recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder after a previous crash, acknowledged the importance of regaining a competitive mindset for future races.
The event saw some challenges, including Sofia Goggia’s fall in the first run and injuries sidelining top Italian skiers Federica Brignone and Marta Bassino. The men’s giant slalom event is set to take place on the same hill the following day.