Alpine stars celebrate post season in style

School is officially out for the planet’s best Alpine skiers but most have yet to drag themselves off the slopes.

From finding new races to compete in (and win) to letting down (or puffing up) their hair and even finding time for a little team bonding, the Audi FIS World Cup stars have been doing it in style since drawing the season to a close in Saalbach last month.

Here is a flavour of just what has been going on:

It’s been back to the ‘80s for two of the season’s superstars.

And given the colours on show, it was lucky four-time Globe winner Marco Odermatt (SUI) had such big shades on when he took to the Swiss slopes in Titlis for the annual celebration of fluorescent, baggy goodness and wild partying.

But if anything over the border in Courmayeur Federica Brignone (ITA) took it one step further.

Fresh from the best season of her life, the Italian not only nailed the amazing hair and lipstick, she also showed off her skills on that true icon of the decade; the beloved monoski.

For much of their bonding week in nearby Cortina D’Ampezzo, the Swedish women’s team looked as though they were just about having as much fun as Brignone.

Although the Olympic 2026 venue may still be reverberating with the shrieks as the likes of Anna Swenn Larsson and Hanna Aronsson jumped in the Alpine lake…

Many of the Italian women’s team have been together too, gathering for the inaugural Elena Fanchini Day.

With loads of kids events, plenty of smiles and no doubt the odd tear or two, not to mention the heartfelt support of Sofia Goggia, Elena Curtoni and many more, it was a fitting tribute to the former world championship silver medallist.

Not all the World Cup skiers have felt ready to put away their race suits, with plenty heading to the USA for the conclusion of the World Pro Ski Tour.

Home hero Paula Moltzan (USA) grabbed the headlines by snatching the Super Slalom World Championship title, while Same Maes (BEL) just pipped Raphael Haaser (AUT) to the men’s gold. The two men also snared the Overall title, alongside Jan Zabystran (CZE).

It was not all competition though…

Swiss teammates Arnaud Boisset – still riding high from his first World Cup podium achieved at the Finals in Saalbach – and Tanguy Nef taking advantage of being States-side to head into the desert and find their speed on four wheels.

Ana Bucik (SLO) has also been without her skis, although the Slovenian at times looked like she was missing them, as she took part in a gruelling three-day army training exercise.

While the setting looks beautiful, the grin on her face as she returned to ‘civilisation’ says it all. 

Remarkably, Joan Verdu (AND) has been grinning too. Despite taking on 800km and 13,600m of ascent during eight days on cycling in Mallorca.

The meals do like they somewhat made up for the hardcore nature of the rides!

One more mention must go to Odermatt. The man who won 13 World Cup victories in 2023/24 put a full-stop on his season with a final weekend out on his home slopes for the Stoeckli Ski Festival.

And it turns out his talents even extend to making Aperol Spritz.

But it was left to the man who won the only Globe to escape Odermatt to give them all a true taste of what is to come now the holidays have hit. Bare-foot fishing in the sunshine, Manuel Feller’s grin was almost as big as when he sealed the season-long slalom title.

And from the size of his catch, clearly everything is going right for the Austrian right now.

Happy holidays all!