The Alpine ski season kicks off in Soelden, Austria on Saturday with the first FIS World Cup Giant Slaloms of the year taking place and we take a look at the potential stars of the slopes for this weekend and beyond.
Carlo Janka
One of the many stars of Swiss skiing, the 24-year-old walked away from Vancouver 2010 with the gold in the Giant Slalom and also has two world championship medals to his name from Val D’Isere in 2009. Aside from being defending overall World Cup champion, Janka is probably best known however for being the first man since Hermann Maier in 2000 to win three World Cup races in a single weekend – a feat that both he an Maier achieved in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Erich Spiess/Red Bull Photofiles
Erik Guay
The Canadian (pictured left) enjoyed a strong finish to last season when he became the first man from his country to win a crystal globe for any discipline since Steve Podborski in 1982, as he took the accolade in the Super G. Guay finished in the top-five twice in Vancouver 2010 and as the winner of the final two Super G’s of the season, he’ll be aiming to build on that momentum this season.
Maria Reisch
The German double Olympic gold medalist and all-round powerhouse will be a major threat to her close friend and rival Vonn’s chances of another overall World Cup title this season. Reisch has also been very vocal about her chances of adding to her single World Championship gold at her home slopes of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in February and who would bet against her?
Silvan Zurbriggen
Another of the Swiss team who is on the rise is 29-year-old Zurbriggen – a distant cousin of the great Permin Zurbriggen. He took the bronze medal in the combined in Vancouver 2010 and having made huge strides from 19th to third in the rankings last season, this could be a breakthrough season for the slalom specialist.
Erich Spiess/Red Bull Photofiles
Lindsey Vonn (pictured left)
Now into her second season on Head skis, the most successful female American skier of all time will surely be the one to beat this season after her Olympic gold medal in Vancouver. She is the three-time defending overall World Cup champion and although at her best on speed courses, Vonn will be looking to focus on the technical side as she bids for an overall World Cup four-timer.
Marcel Hirscher
This young Austrian is one to keep an eye out for in the Slalom and Giant Slalom this season after two victories in World Cups last campaign. The 21-year-old from Annaberg-Lungotz was the second highest ranked Austrian overall after Benjamin Raich last season in sixth place and big things are expected of him this season.
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Bode Miller (pictured left)
Quite simply the greatest American Alpine skier of all time. With 32 World Cup wins over all five disciplines and with 68 podiums and two overall titles to go with his five Olympic and five World Championship medals, Miller is a USA legend. He should be fit and raring to go this season after recovering from an ankle injury that saw him miss the end of last year.
Nicole Hosp
The 26-year-old Austrian former overall World Cup winner and World Championship gold medalist will be hoping for much better fortune in Soelden this year after crashing and incurring a season-ending right knee injury on this course in 2009. It was a year to forget for Niki as she also suffered a left knee injury in Croatia, but now back to fitness it will be interesting to watch how she performs.
Erich Spiess/Red Bull Photofiles
Aksel Lund Svindal (pictured left)
After spending the summer surfing, the 27-year-old Norwegian should be relaxed and ready to go again after enjoying a successful Vancouver where he walked away with three medals, including the gold in the Super G. Akselfinished fourth in the overall last season and memorably won it the year before by just two points from Benjamin Raisch. He also has three world championship golds to his name.
Viktoria Rebensburg
The 21-year-old is undoubtedly one of the rising stars of German skiing after her somewhat surprising victory in the Giant Slalom in Vancouver 2010. Vicky ended last season ranked 16th overall, but fourth in the Giant Slalom and the Olympic win was her first in international competition – not a bad time to claim your maiden success. Now fully recovered from a thumb injury she looks certain to be a threat in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in February.
Keep up to speed with all the action from Soelden at our dedicated event page
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