Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria – The Alpine skiing world championships are set to commence on Tuesday, and here’s an overview with all the essential details about this major skiing event held outside the Olympics, including how to watch and the competition schedule.
What are the Alpine skiing world championships? The championships, often referred to as the skiing “worlds,” take place every two years at various Alpine destinations. This year, the 13-day competition is hosted in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, located in the Austrian province of Salzburg. A total of 11 medal events will be contested this year, which include the four staple events of super-G, downhill, giant slalom, and slalom for both genders; a team parallel race; alongside new team combined events for men and women. The top three athletes in each event will receive gold, silver, and bronze medals. Notably, this competition takes place exactly one year before the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, adding to its significance.
Who are the prominent competitors? Lindsey Vonn is making a notable return to skiing after nearly six years away, equipped with a new titanium knee. She plans to participate in the super-G and downhill events on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. Mikaela Shiffrin is also back in the mix after recovering from a significant puncture wound caused by a crash in late November. She is slated to compete in giant slalom and slalom on February 13 and 15, respectively. Additionally, Vonn and Shiffrin might collaborate in the new team combined event on February 11. Among the elite male competitors, Swiss skier Marco Odermatt is expected to participate in nearly all events except the slalom.
How can fans watch the skiing championships? In the United States, viewers can stream the races live and on-demand through skiandsnowboard.live, with weekend events being broadcast on tape delay by NBC. In Canada, CBC will provide live coverage of the competitions. Meanwhile, European audiences can catch the action on Eurosport along with various national broadcasters.
What does the competition schedule look like? The championships will kick off with the team parallel event on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. local time (1415 GMT; 9:15 a.m. EST). The first individual race will be the women’s super-G occurring on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. (1030 GMT; 5:30 a.m. EST). The event will conclude with the men’s slalom on Sunday, February 16.
How do the world championships differ from the World Cup? The World Cup represents skiing’s “regular season,” running from October to March, featuring races across the Alps and the U.S. The World Cup pauses during the world championships and the Olympics, which are deemed the pinnacle events in the skiing calendar.
Important context surrounding the championships includes varied narratives such as Lindsey Vonn’s innovative titanium knee, which she believes could influence skiing trends, and Mikaela Shiffrin’s decision to prioritize her recovery rather than chase her 100th World Cup win. Recent competitions have also highlighted the resilience of athletes following injuries, such as Shiffrin’s return after a challenging period and various incidents impacting several racers.
With a rich slate of events and top-caliber athletes participating, this year’s Alpine skiing world championships promise to captivate and entertain skiing enthusiasts worldwide.
