Julia Scheib delights Austrian crowd with third World Cup win as Shiffrin places sixth

Mikaela Shiffrin finished sixth in the women’s World Cup giant slalom in Semmering, Austria, on Saturday, as local favorite Julia Scheib thrilled home supporters by securing her third victory of the season.

Mikaela Shiffrin competes in the women’s World Cup giant slalom in Semmering, Austria on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025.
Marco Tacca/AP photo

Scheib, who entered the current campaign without a single World Cup win to her name, produced a stunning second run to leapfrog first-run leader Sara Hector and claim the top spot. The 27-year-old Austrian delivered a blistering performance in the final section of the course, stopping the clock at a combined time of 1 minute, 56.46 seconds.

Swiss racer Camille Rast also impressed, climbing three positions during the second run to take second place, finishing just 0.14 seconds behind Scheib. Sweden’s Sara Hector, the reigning Olympic champion in giant slalom, completed the podium in third after being unable to hold onto her early advantage.

First-run leader Sara Hector reacts after sliding into second during the World Cup giant slalom in Semmering, Austria on Dec. 27, 2025.Giovanni Auletta/AP photo

Speaking afterward, an emotional Scheib admitted the result exceeded her expectations. She described the course as extremely demanding, noting the rough and bumpy surface made it difficult to maintain rhythm. Crossing the finish line, she said, brought a sense of relief more than anything else, especially in front of an enthusiastic Austrian crowd.

While Shiffrin has been dominant in slalom this season—winning all four races she has entered—the same success has not translated to giant slalom. Saturday’s sixth-place finish marked her 10th consecutive World Cup GS race without reaching the podium. This represents her longest stretch outside the top three in the discipline since the early years of her career, between 2010 and 2013.

Austria’s Julia Scheib, center, winner of an alpine ski, women’s World Cup giant slalom, celebrates with second-placed Switzerland’s Camille Rast, left, and third-placed Sweden’s Sara Hector, in Semmering, Austria, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025.Giovanni Auletta/AP photo

The American star showed flashes of promise earlier in the season, finishing fourth at the opening giant slalom in Sölden on October 25. However, inconsistency followed, including a 14th-place result at Copper Mountain in November. More recently, she placed sixth and fourth in back-to-back GS races in Tremblant, Canada, on December 6 and 7. Despite the struggles, Shiffrin remains competitive overall and currently sits fifth in the giant slalom standings.

After the opening run in Semmering, Shiffrin found herself in eighth place, trailing Hector by 1.16 seconds. Hector had set the pace with a sharp opening run of 57.15 seconds. Fellow American Paula Moltzan was the top U.S. skier after the first run, sitting in sixth.

Conditions on the Panorama slope proved challenging throughout the day. The hard-packed snow and uneven surface caused problems for several top racers. Among those affected was super-G crystal globe leader Alice Robinson, who has already won two giant slalom races this season. Robinson was one of 19 skiers who failed to finish the first run, exiting the competition early as the course punished even small mistakes.

Shiffrin delivered a clean and controlled second run, skiing smoothly from top to bottom. However, she lacked the aggressive, direct approach needed through the middle section to make up significant time. While she did manage to recover some ground late in the run—posting the fifth-fastest time in the final segment—it was not enough to challenge for a podium place.

Robinson’s exit opened the door for Scheib to take the lead in the giant slalom standings. With her home-soil victory, the Austrian now sits atop the discipline rankings, marking another milestone in what has already become a breakthrough season.

Scheib described the moment as overwhelming, saying she could hear the roar of the crowd as she entered the final portion of the course. That energy, she explained, helped her commit fully to the skis and attack the last gates without hesitation. While eager to maintain her momentum, Scheib also revealed plans to shift some focus toward super-G in the coming weeks, suggesting her ambitions extend beyond technical events alone.

Among the American contingent, young skier Kjersti Moritz gained valuable experience despite failing to finish. Making just her fourth World Cup appearance, the 21-year-old from Vail posted the 26th-fastest time in the opening sector and reached 45th position through the second split before skiing out of the course on her first run. Moritz made her World Cup debut at Copper Mountain in November and followed it with two technical starts in Tremblant. Earlier this month, she returned to Copper and captured a NorAm Cup giant slalom victory, highlighting her potential at the continental level.

Paula Moltzan’s day ended abruptly during the second run. The American caught an edge while crossing a rut midway down the course and suffered a heavy fall, forcing her out of the competition. A.J. Hurt was the only other U.S. skier to qualify for the second run. Competing in her first race since the slalom event in Gurgl on November 23, the 25-year-old finished 21st.

Paula Moltzan crashes during the second run on Saturday in Semmering, Austria.Marco Tacca/AP photo

With the giant slalom concluded, attention in Semmering now turns to Sunday’s slalom race. Shiffrin, unbeaten in the discipline this season, will once again enter as the favorite as she continues to build momentum toward the heart of the Olympic year.

Further updates from Semmering are expected as competition continues.