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However, several stars will be missing from this traditional Austrian event that launches an Olympic season. An overview of expected participants and absences in the Ötztal.

Rettenbach glacier ready for the season opener

Following a positive snow inspection at the Austrian resort, the FIS has officially given the green light for the World Cup season opener. The giant slaloms will proceed as scheduled with the women racing on Saturday, October 25th and the men on Sunday, October 26th. The Rettenbach glacier already boasts a solid snow base, allowing numerous skiers to train there for several days.

Conditions are therefore looking optimal for this crucial event on the eve of an Olympic season, providing athletes with their first opportunity to compete against rivals after summer preparation. At altitude, 185 cm of snow depth is recorded on the glacier, guaranteeing ideal race conditions for these first runs of the season.

Shiffrin returns, several notable absences in the women's field

Top favourite Mikaela Shiffrin will be at the start on Saturday. The American with 101 World Cup victories has announced she will focus this season on technical events and giant slalom, foregoing downhills, including at the Olympic Games. Participation in Super-G remains undecided. After her heavy crash in Cortina last January, Shiffrin is targeting a sixth overall World Cup crystal globe that would tie her with Annemarie Moser-Pröll.

The women's field will, however, see several significant withdrawals. Two renowned Swiss skiers have announced their absence for different reasons. Michelle Gisin has chosen to refocus this season on speed events, stating it is unlikely she will compete in a giant slalom this season. Melanie Meillard prefers to concentrate on slalom, explaining that Sölden is particularly challenging with its steep, hard, and bumpy conditions, and that her FIS points are too low, forcing her to start far back in the field.

More concerning, Petra Vlhova and Federica Brignone will also be absent, both still recovering from injuries. Vlhova continues her rehabilitation while Brignone, who suffered a double tibial plateau fracture with displacement of the fibular head and an anterior cruciate ligament tear at the end of last season, is working on her return with the Olympic Games in her home country in mind. Their absence deprives the race of two major podium contenders.

Noël as spectator, Hirscher and Kilde missing in the men's field

On the men's side, an unexpected absence draws attention: Clément Noël, reigning Olympic slalom champion, will not participate in the Sölden giant slalom. "I'll be there in Sölden as a spectator, as I have two or three commitments there, but otherwise, I'm focusing on slalom for now," explained the Frenchman who trained well in giant slalom during the Ushuaia camp but ultimately changed his mind. He is now targeting the season's first slalom in Levi, Finland, on November 16th.

Marcel Hirscher, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament and only returned to on-snow training last month, is very unlikely to participate in Sölden, although his team has not made an official statement. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde will also be absent from the Austrian glacier. The Norwegian is returning from a 21-month break following his serious crash at the Lauberhorn in January 2024, which resulted in multiple injuries to his calf and shoulder.

On the other hand, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen will be present for his second season racing under the Brazilian flag. The Norwegian-Brazilian, who caused a sensation last season with his spectacular comeback at Sölden itself after announcing his retirement in 2023, has revealed high ambitions for this Olympic winter: not content with aiming for podiums in slalom and giant slalom, he will also compete in some Super-G races in hopes of capturing the overall World Cup crystal globe. Braathen already made history last season by becoming the first Brazilian and first South American to reach a World Cup podium in alpine skiing.

Kilde returns as planned in December at Beaver Creek

After announcing in October 2024 that he would miss the entire World Cup winter to undergo another surgery on his left shoulder, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is now following the established return schedule. The Norwegian is targeting a competitive return in early December at Beaver Creek, where two downhills and a super-G are scheduled from December 4th to 6th.

"I'm not finished yet, I still have several years ahead of me," Kilde told the Austrian press agency APA at a media event in Sölden. After resuming training in August during the Norwegian team's camp in Chile, the skier feels physically at 80%, although shoulder mobility remains 20% below normal. "Mikaela helps me every day. She's incredible. I'm very fortunate to be able to exchange with her daily," he confided, speaking about the support of his fiancée, American star Mikaela Shiffrin.

This gradual return, in line with medical forecasts established after his last surgery, is good news for the World Cup circuit just months before the Olympic Games, even if the road back to the top remains long for the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 downhill standings winner.