Past champions predict the rest of the Alpine skiing season

We have gathered a select group of Alpine skiing’s greatest names and asked them to get out their crystal balls (globes) and share their thoughts as to which skiers will be grabbing the headlines throughout the rest of the Audi FIS World Cup season.

From Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) facing serious competition across the board to young Swiss speedster Alexis Monney forcing his way to the top, it may not be quite what you think… Check it out and please share your predictions on our social media channels. We will meet again in March to see who was right!

Right, let’s start with the big question, who will be crowned the overall Audi FIS World Cup champions this season?
Tina Maze (TM): I am very exited about the shape Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) is in and maybe there could be an interesting battle for the big Globe with Mikaela Shiffrin. On the men’s side I believe Marco is the name to win the overall Globe - the question is which; Odermatt or Schwarz?

Aksel Lund Svindal (ALS): Definitely see Mr Odermatt as the big favourite on the men’s side. I think both Schwarz and (Aleksander Aamodt) Kilde (NOR) and (Henrik) Kristoffersen (NOR) will challenge him, but he is the guy to take down. He needs a good season, it’s not going to be easy, but he is the favourite. On the female side, Shiffrin. I mean history just shows that she is the best athlete this sport has ever had and I would be very surprised if anyone else can win that Globe ahead of her.

Ivica Kostelic (IK): On the female side, I would say the fight for the great Crystal Globe will be between Gut-Behrami and Shiffrin but I think it’s going to be tighter than last year. This is also what I predict for the men’s side, it’s going to be between Marco Schwarz and Odermatt and it’s going to be tight.

Johan Clarey (JC): On the men side no doubt for me Odermatt will be hard to beat for the big Globe. I don’t see any contenders able to catch him even if I’m very curious about Marco Schwarz’s results. On the women side the battle will be very exciting. It could be very tight this time between many. Shiffrin still favorite but (Federica) Brignone (ITA), (Petra) Vlhova and Gut-Behrami will have something to say.

And what about the small globes, who is going to claim those?
TM: Petra Vlhova has been flying, she is definitely on fire. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde will be definitely the one to beat on speed tracks. Everyone is pushing everyone. This is the great thing about sport. Competitors make you stronger.

ALS: It’s way more open. I am not going to answer that actually!

IK: Slalom between Vlhova and Shiffrin. GS between Gut-Behrami and maybe Federica Brignone. Speed should be dominated by Sofia Goggia (ITA) but (Ragnhild) Mowinckel (NOR) maybe super G.

Men’s side, slalom I would say Schwarz probably. We even may see a new name there in slalom. GS, that’s hard to predict, (Alexis) Pinturault (FRA) maybe. Speed, that’s also quite open but I would say Odermatt super G and then downhill, it’s hard to say, I really don’t know.

JC: Men,  SL : (Clement) Noel (FRA), contender Kristoffersen. GS: Odermatt, no contender. SG: Odermatt, contender Pinturault. DH: Kilde, contender Odermatt.

Women, SL: Vlhova, contender Shiffrin. GS: Brignone, contender Shiffrin. SG: Gut-Behrami, contender Elena Curtoni (ITA). DH: Goggia, no contender.

Which relatively unknown skier will burst out of the pack and make a mark this season?
TM: Lara Colturi (ALB). She and her team are working hard, she is talented. The combination is perfect. I hope they will find the right balance for success.

ALS: There are still a lot of fans out there that don’t know our own Norwegian (Alexander) Steen Olsen (NOR). He’s going to pull some more tricks out of his sleeve this year. I mean we saw him last year but I think he will do even more.

IK: Steen Olsen on the men’s side and (Zrinka) Ljutic (CRO) on the female side.

JC: Alexis Monney (SUI) is the rising star to watch.

And who are the other rising stars of the future fans should be looking out for?
TM: I will point out two young Slovenian racers. One comes from the village where I was born and his name is Miha Oserban, then Rok Aznoh,  who is also a young Slovenian racer. I wish them strong, important seasons.

ALS: Athletes skiing for smaller nations, there’s definitely a change, these young athletes are different. They are rising stars just as much because of how they act and how they express themselves, not just how fast they are.

IK: Probably Emma Aicher (GER) and then (Hanna) Aronsson Elfmann (SWE) and I see that this young Swiss downhiller, Monney, he’s also very fast for his age.

JC: We will see Ali Nullmeyer (CAN) on her first podium in slalom. Nils Allegre (FRA) also a first podium in super G.

Which races through the rest of the season are you most excited about?
ALS: For sure Wengen, Kitzbuhel and Kvitfjell.

IK: As in my skiing days, I am most excited about Wengen and Kitzbuhel.

JC: I am very excited to watch Kitzbuhel and Adelboden, my two favorite races by far.