‘It’s such a fun event’: Team Combined set to make a splash on World Championship debut in Saalbach

Lauren Macuga (USA/Rossignol) may be the best person to provide an insight as to what fans can expect when the brand new Team Combined event makes its major championship debut at Saalbach 2025, with the women taking center stage on Tuesday before the men race on Wednesday.

The proud winner of a women’s Super G bronze medal is one of the few skiers in either the men’s or women’s field to have already taken part in a Team Combined. And she cannot wait to do it all again.

“I had the honor of getting to do it back in that the Junior Worlds in St. Anton (January 2023) and it's such a fun event,” Macuga said of the format that sees one skier take on a Downhill run before handing over to their teammate for a Slalom run.

The 22-year-old added; "It’s a great way to bring back a Combined and keep it interesting. To spice it up, bring the tech and speed (skiers) together – we don't get that opportunity too often. It's cool that they found a way to keep Alpine Combined alive.”

Format and rules

The women’s and men’s events in Saalbach mark a significant milestone for the Team Combined en-route to its debut at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina.

Expanding on the concept of the individual Alpine Combined, teams must consist of one Downhill (or Super G) specialist and one Slalom specialist. Competitors can only start in one event, and team rosters must be finalized before the race draw, with no changes permitted.

Each participating nation can field up to four teams, with two athletes per team of the same gender.

Action gets underway with the women taking on a Downhill at 10:00 CET on Tuesday and then handing over to the Slalom specialists for their run at 13:15 CET. Both runs will be held according to the technical regulations for each discipline and they will always take place on the same day whenever possible, with exceptions determined by the Jury.

The starting numbers assigned for the first run will remain the same for the second run. The starting order for the second run is based on the results of the first run, with the top 30 competitors starting in reverse order. Importantly, a competitor will not be allowed to start the second run if their teammate was disqualified (DSQ), did not start (DNS), did not participate (NPS), or did not finish (DNF) in the first run.

The combined results are calculated by adding the run times of both team members. While no World Cup Start List (WCSL) or FIS points will be awarded, prize money will be divided equally between the two athletes on each winning team, as per World Ski Championships rules.

Check out the full set of rules here: https://assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/a6c5f09f81/wsc_rules-tc-2024_03-05-2024.pdf

Team dynamics take centre stage

The 40-year-old Adrian Theaux (FRA/Salomon) has seen and done just about everything in Alpine Skiing since making his World Cup debut back in 2024, but this new team concept has got his juices flowing.

“I am looking forward to it,” Theaux said in Saalbach. “Last year at the Junior Championships it was really nice. The guys said it was very nice to ski and the atmosphere and everything.”

While the veteran was lamenting the fact that his disappointing recent form meant that he is unlikely to be paired with France’s reigning Olympic men’s Slalom champion, Clement Noël (Dynastar), other speedsters were getting very excited by their prospective teammates.

“It’s a crazy Norwegian line-up in the Slalom. That’s the biggest luxury problem of all the teams, I guess,” Adrian Smiseth Sejersted (NOR/Atomic), winner of men’s Super G bronze in Saalbach, said with a grin.

“I’m thinking if I'm just inside two seconds there may be a medal because they (the phalanx of Norwegian men’s Slalom skiers) can beat everyone (by) a second or one-and-a-half if they have a good run.”

While Sejersted is pretty certain he will form a formidable partnership with Timon Haugan (NOR/Van Deer), winner of two World Cup Slaloms this season, he, like other ski fans, can't wait to see who other teams put up.

'A fantastic show'

This is exactly what prompted the introduction of this unique event.

“It will be interesting to see how teams strategize their lineups. We are excited about this product and will work hard to make it a fantastic show and be ready for its debut at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games,” Peter Gerdol, FIS’ Chief Race Director for Women, said. “It was trialed with great success at various Junior World Ski Championships.”

Malorie Blanc (SUI/Atomic) winner of the 2024 Junior World Ski Championships Team Combined will be hoping to double up in Saalbach. She will undoubtedly have a great partner, with the likes of seven-time world championship medalist, Wendy Holdener (SUI/Head) and current women’s Slalom World Cup standings leader Camille Rast (SUI/Head) confirmed participants.

The sort of line-ups that are set to delight everyone.

“We will see the best Downhill and Slalom skiers from each country,” Leif Haugen, athletes representative, said. “Subsequently, it will be a dramatic event for both spectators and athletes. Additionally, it will provide another medal opportunity.”

'Team Always Funny'

Austria’s hometown skiers have already ensured a great first week for the mass of fans in Saalbach, and the happy vibes look set to continue.

“Our team name is; ‘Team Always Funny’ because we are always smiling,” the newly crowned women’s Super G world champion Stephanie Venier (AUT/Head) said of her partnership with great friend Katharina Truppe (AUT/Völkl).

“I am only doing the Downhill but we are a team so I will be very nervous in the finish area when Kathi is racing the Slalom. It’s a new feeling. I like it.”

Meanwhile, fellow Austrian Katharina Liensberger (Rossignol) cannot wait to tap into the “positive energy” of her teammate Mirjam Puchner’s Downhill silver medal. It all makes for a pair of events that should light up Saalbach in the coming days as skiers chase yet more glory.

“At the moment, we don’t yet know exactly how the teams will be composed, but strategy will definitely play a key role,” Markus Waldner, FIS’ Chief Race Director for Men, said. “I think this new format could be really exciting to watch. Alpine skiing is mainly an individual sport, but athletes train together all year long as a team, so it’s great to have another discipline that brings out that team spirit.

“We’ll definitely see a lot of great emotions down in the finish!”