Fascinating parallel races in prospect at Alpine Worlds

The 47th FIS Alpine World Ski Championships have so far been all about the combined and classic speed disciplines. But action on the Courchevel-Meribel slopes takes a different turn this week as the world’s best race for glory in the team, men’s, and women’s parallel slalom events.

Parallel racing offers a change of pace and demands a switch in strategy, and provides a unique opportunity for athletes to compete in a team event as they usually focus on individual results and competing against the clock.

Alpine skiers are used to going for glory in one or two efforts down the slope on a race day, concentrating all their energy for a quick burst. The parallel events turn that idea on their head, however, as racers must push themselves to their limit multiple times during the event.

If that was not enough, the course is shorter than usual slalom events which makes getting a rhythm more difficult.

The team event follows a completely different format compared with most FIS Alpine races, in which the fastest time rules.

Participating nations are seeded in a bracket based on Nations Cup rankings prior to the world championships.

Teams consist of a maximum of six competitors (four team members and two substitutes), including at least two men and two women. In each heat, two teams race side-by-side four times. The skier to cross the finish line gains a point for their team, and the first team to three points advances to the next round.

If the contest is tied at two-a-piece, the team with the fastest combined time between their quickest male and female skier progresses.

Austria beat Germany in the mixed team parallel gold medal final at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, and have also been the most successful nation at previous world championships, taking three golds and three silvers. Norway, bronze medallists in Beijing, should also be in contention for a medal having won the world title two years ago in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Other contenders should include the United States, who finished fourth in Beijing, as well as Slovenia and Switzerland.

Women’s and men’s parallel races were contested at world championship-level for the first time at Cortina 2021. The format for the individual events works in a similar way to the team, with knockout-style brackets. Skiers go head-to-head down a giant slalom course, and the first one to cross the line advances to the next round. With 16 skiers in the field, four wins will clinch the title.

Marta Bassino (ITA) and Katharina Liensberger (AUT) skied to a dramatic tie in the final of the women’s parallel at the 2021 world championships in Cortina. The two shared the top of the podium, as giant slalom specialist Mathieu Faivre (FRA) took the men’s title.

Skiing superstar and current World Cup overall leader Marco Odermatt (SUI) will be the favourite if he enters the competition. The Swiss ace has won four of the six giant slalom World Cup events this season, and has already claimed gold at these world championships, delivering an imperious performance to win the downhill title on Sunday 12 February.

Odermatt’s teammate Loic Meillard (SUI) and the Norwegian youngster Lucas Braathen (NOR) claimed the other two giant slalom World Cup races so far this season and should figure for the medals if they compete in the parallel event.

On the women’s side, Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) has been on an absolute tear. Amidst her unreal winning streak, during which she has claimed her 85th World Cup victory as she closes in on the all-time record held by Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark, she has grabbed five giant slalom wins already this season. Shiffrin would be an obvious gold-medal contender if she decides to chase more world championship glory in the parallel.

Many other names could figure in that pursuit for the top of the podium. Reigning champion Bassino won December’s Sestriere giant slalom and has the experience to navigate the knockout format.

The bracket competition always provides fireworks and will be a highlight on the schedule in the French Alps.

The team event takes place on 14 February, with the men’s and women’s parallel competitions taking place on 15 February.