FIS Alpine Ski World Cup action returns this weekend with Mikaela Shiffrin, Paula Moltzan, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen and more racing into Gurgl, Austria for the second men's and women's slalom events of the season.

The start list is headlined by Shiffrin (who else?). The 30-year-old obliterated her competition in Levi, Finland last Saturday, finishing 1.66 seconds ahead of runner-up Lara Colturi (ALB) and 2.59 seconds in front of third-place finisher Emma Aicher (GER).

The margin of victory was Shiffrin’s largest in nearly two years. It also was her 65th slalom World Cup win (a record), 102nd overall across disciplines (also a record) and her ninth reindeer (winners receive a live reindeer as a prize), tying only Santa Claus for most all-time in the history of reindeers.

Through two World Cup events of the 2025-26 season, the GOAT already is looking like her pre-Killington crash self. Even worse news for her opponents, she's returning to a venue where she triumphed a year ago. 

Shiffrin (150 points) holds an early lead in the overall World Cup rankings, and trailing right behind her in second is teammate Moltzan (130 points). Cup points carry extra significance during Olympic years, such as this one, since they ultimately determine the number of athletes each country is allowed to send to the Games.

Moltzan, a veteran on the U.S. Ski Team, is zooming out of the 2025 starting gates. She claimed second in the season opener in Soelden and then the wooden spoon (fourth) a few weeks later in Levi, despite early-race struggles. 

"After a challenging first run, I knew I needed to shift into another gear to find a lot of time," the 2022 Olympian reflected. "I am super happy with my skiing second run, I felt like I was able to make some of my best turns." 

The 31-year-old is poised for a breakout season, and she’ll look to keep the momentum going. 

Americans Nina O’Brien and AJ Hurt, who took sixth and 13th respectively in Soelden, received disappointing DNFs in their first runs in Levi and hope to bounce back.

Katie Hensien and Elisabeth Bocock remain out due to injuries. Hensien endured a minor ankle fracture after hitting into a gate during practice before Levi, while Bocock pulled a groin muscle. Bocock eyes the upcoming U.S. World Cup events at Copper Mountain and Beaver Creek for her return.

A non-American name to keep an eye on is Lara Colturi. The 19-year-old from Albania hasn’t won a World Cup event in her young career, but she’s steadily climbed the rankings since 2023 and earned the prestigious Longines Rising Ski Star distinction in 2025 for best woman skier under 21 years old. She's proven why this season, grabbing 2nd in Levi and 7th in Soelden before that. 

Zrinka Ljutic (CRO), the 2024-25 slalom World Cup winner, also is expected to compete.

On the men’s side, Braathen (BRA) charges into Gurgl after a historic weekend in which he became the first Brazilian ever to win a World Cup race. The 25-year-old, who formerly represented Norway, has his sights set on also becoming the first Brazilian to win a medal (in any sport) at the Winter Olympics.

Clement Noel (FRA), 2024's winner in Gurgl, took second in Levi and will aim to build on the podium finish.

Meanwhile, it's been a rough start to the season for the American men. Out of the five technical racers competing in Levi, one DNF’d their first run, two didn’t qualify for a second run and a fourth DNF’d their second run. 

Cooper Puckett, the lone semi-bright spot for the U.S. who scored his first World Cup points with a 26th-place finish, won't be racing. It will be up to Ben Ritchie, Jett Seymour and Luke Winters to get the Americans back on track.

Henrik Kristoffersen, the 2024-25 men’s slalom World Cup Crystal Globe winner, is set to hit the slopes, as well.

Live coverage of World Cup action in Gurgl starts with the men’s event on Saturday at 4:30 a.m. ET on Peacock. Here’s the full schedule for the weekend, which includes the women’s event simulcasting on Peacock and the new-look NBCSN.