An ÖSV favorite and a comeback on the Zauberberg

The traditionally short Christmas break is over, the ski ladies are off Semmering for World Cup points. Before finally being floodlit again on Sunday (14.15/17.45). Slalom will be driven, will take place on Saturday Giant slalom on the program (10 a.m./ 1 p.m./ live ORF 1). The focus is primarily on these women.

• Julia Scheib This has been rare in recent years: an Austrian woman is one of the top favorites in the giant slalom. Julia Scheib was also quick last year. But this year the 27-year-old became a winning runner. With the results 1, 2, DNF, 1, the Styrian is only 12 points behind Alice Robinson in the RTL standings and could take the lead with a win. “My goal is clear: As always, I will attack fully,” says Scheib. “Not just to deliver a top performance, but also to set our sights on the red jersey.”

• Mikaela Shiffrin The American is not only the best skier in the world. Mikaela Shiffrin is also Miss Semmering. The 30-year-old has won there seven times and her win rate at Semmering is 64 percent. She competed in six giant slalom races on the Zauberberg, winning four of them. This year too she is the clear favorite to win the big crystal ball.
• Alice Robinson Things are currently going like clockwork for the 24-year-old New Zealander. Alice Robinson leads the World Cup standings in giant slalom. After finishing 8th in Sölden, she followed up with places 1, 1 and 3. Most recently, she became the first ski racer from the southern hemisphere to win a speed competition with the Super-G in St. Moritz.

• Ricarda Haaser They were emotional days for the Haaser family at the 2025 World Ski Championships. While brother Raphael won gold and silver in Saalbach, Ricarda had to go under the knife with a torn cruciate ligament and medial meniscus. She has yet to make her planned comeback at the speed events in St. Moritz. The time has come at Semmering: Eleven months after the accident, the 32-year-old is competing in a race again.

The Austrians

In addition to Scheib and Haaser, they start for Austria Nina Astner, Stephanie Brunner, Victoria Bürgler, Franziska Gritsch, Katharina Liensberger, Victoria Olivier, Elena Riederer and Valentina Rings-Wanner.