European Cup 2024/25 Season recap: Rising stars and World Cup tickets

As the dust settles on another thrilling European Cup season, it's time to highlight the athletes who made their mark and secured a key advantage for the 2025/26 World Cup season. This year’s top performers not only walked away with discipline titles and overall glory but also earned coveted World Cup start spot.

The top three athletes from the overall standings have secured a fixed World Cup spot in every discipline (Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom, and Slalom). Additionally, the top three finishers in each discipline now hold a fixed place on the World Cup for that discipline in the upcoming season. Let’s take a closer look at the names to remember.

Overall Standings – Women

1. Nadine Fest (AUT, Head) – Born in 1998, Fest dominated again this year, winning the overall, super-G, and downhill titles. She’s a consistent force in the European Cup, with past victories in 2017, 2020, and 2023. With 91 World Cup starts and over 40 top-30 results, her best finish so far was 5th in a Super-G in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 2022.

2. Victoria Olivier (AUT, Head) – The 2004-born Austrian enjoyed her best season yet, finishing 2nd overall, 3rd in downhill, 4th in giant slalom, and 6th in super-G.

3. Janine Schmitt (SUI, Kästle) – Born in 2000, Schmitt followed up her 2024 overall and super-G titles with a 3rd place overall finish this year. She was also 6th in downhill and 4th in super G. She has 8 World Cup starts, with a best finish of 17th.

Overall Standings – Men

1. Oscar Andreas Sandvik (NOR, Head) – Born in 2004, Sandvik enjoyed a phenomenal season, winning the overall title and the slalom standings, while also finishing 3rd in the GS standings. He already has 10 World Cup starts under his belt and scored his first World Cup points with a 15th place in Hafjell this March.

2. Lenz Haechler (SUI, Nordica) – The 2003-born Swiss skier topped the GS standings and finished 2nd overall. He has 5 World Cup starts to date but has yet to crack the top 30.

3. Alban Elezi Cannaferina (FRA, Rossignol) – Born in 2003, he previously won the overall and slalom standings in 2022. This season, he claimed 3rd overall, 4th in both GS and super-G. He’s competed in 7 World Cups, with his best finish being 11th place in GS race in Hafjell this March.

Downhill Standings – Women

1. Nadine Fest (AUT, Head) – (See Overall section for bio)

2. Carmen Spielberger (AUT, Atomic) – Born in 2002, she celebrated her best season to date, including her World Cup debut.

3. Victoria Olivier (AUT, Head) – (See Overall section for bio)

Downhill Standings – Men

1. Livio Hiltbrand (SUI, Fischer) – Back-to-back Europacup downhill winner in 2024 and 2025. Born in 2003, he already has 7 World Cup starts and twice finished in the top 30.

2. Alessio Miggiano (SUI, Head) – Born in 2002, this was his breakthrough season, capped by a 2nd place in the DH standings and 5th overall.

3. Felix Hacker (AUT, Atomic) – Born in 1999, Hacker was injured in January and missed the second half of the season, but his strong start held him in 3rd position of the discipline.

Super-G Standings – Women

1. Nadine Fest (AUT, Head) – (See Overall section for bio)

2. Stefanie Grob (SUI, Rossignol) – Born in 2004, Grob followed up a strong GS season last year (2nd) with a standout Super-G campaign. Despite 18 World Cup starts, she’s still seeking her first top-30 result.

3. Sara Allemand (ITA, Rossignol) – Born in 2000, Allemand improved her SG ranking from 6th in 2024 to 3rd this year. She has yet to debut in the World Cup.

Super-G Standings – Men

1. Vincent Wieser (AUT, Salomon) – Born in 2002, Wieser followed up last season’s 3rd overall finish by winning this year’s SG title. He has 10 World Cup starts and three top-30 finishes.

2. Marco Abbruzzese (ITA, Head) – Born in 2002, he had his best season yet.

3. Andreas Ploier (AUT, Fischer) – Born in 1997, Ploier’s steady progression paid off after placing 5th in 2022 and 4th in 2023. He claimed 11th place in Crans Montana this season in the World Cup.

Giant Slalom Standings – Women

1. Nina Astner (AUT, Fischer) – After podiums in 2022 and a 5th in 2024, Astner topped the GS standings this season. With 36 World Cup starts, she scored her only points in Kranjska Gora in 2023 (26th).

2. Vanessa Kasper (SUI, Head) – Competing in European Cups since 2016, Kasper had her best result this year. With 35 World Cup starts, she has seven top-30 finishes.

3. Hilma Lövblom (SWE, Head) – Winner of this title in 2023 and 3rd in 2021. She has 36 World Cup starts to date.

Giant Slalom Standings – Men

1. Lenz Haechler (SUI, Nordica) – (See Overall section for bio)

2. Eirik Hystad Solberg (NOR, Fischer) – Born in 2002, Solberg pivoted from slalom success to a strong GS showing. With 20 World Cup starts, he scored points in his debut at Kitzbühel in 2024 with an 18th place.

3. Oscar Andreas Sandvik (NOR, Head) – (See Overall section for bio)

Slalom Standings – Women

1. Marion Chevrier (FRA, Atomic) – Six-time top-30 finisher in the World Cup.

2. Eliane Christen (SUI, Head) – After many injuries and modest past results, Christen found her form with two World Cup top-15 finishes this season.

3. Aline Danioth (SUI, Head) – Coming back from her fourth ACL injury, Danioth boasts strong results: 10th at the Beijing Olympics, 6th at the 2023 World Champs, and four World Cup top-10s.

Slalom Standings – Men

1. Oscar Andreas Sandvik (NOR, Head) – (See Overall section for bio)

2. Simon Rueland (AUT, Fischer) – Born in 1997, Rueland has been steadily rising through the European Cup ranks. After finishing 10th in the slalom standings last season, he made a clear step forward this year to secure 2nd place. He has 21 World Cup starts and scored once some World Cup points.

3. Jesper Pohjolainen (FIN, Head) – One of Finland’s most promising tech skiers, Pohjolainen was born in 2001 and has gradually made his way into the European Cup spotlight. He finished 3rd in this season’s slalom standings and already has 16 World Cup starts to his name, but has yet to score any World Cup points.

These athletes have proven themselves among the elite of the European Cup, and their consistent performances earned them more than trophies — they now have guaranteed starts on skiing’s biggest stage. Expect to see many of them make an impact when the World Cup season returns.