Race Talk: Alpine stars open up on the eve of the season

With the start of the 2026/27 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season less than 24 hours away in Sölden, Austria, some of the biggest names in the sport held court on Friday during FIS Race Talk.

The third edition of the interview show, hosted by FIS TV Director and renowned Alpine skiing commentator Nick Fellows, whetted the appetite for this weekend's Giant Slalom races and the huge season to follow.

New approaches for Overall champions Shiffrin and Odermatt

Mikaela Shiffrin (USA/Atomic) shocked many in the ski racing world when she announced earlier this month that she would take a step back from her best discipline, Slalom, to focus more on Giant Slalom and Super G.

On Friday, she expanded on her decision to ski fewer Slaloms this season, less than a year after winning the Olympic title and nine out of the 10 World Cup Slaloms, in addition to her sixth Overall title.

"Since the beginning of my career, I felt like at some point, there might be a little bit of a shift in my schedule," she said. "But for so long, I was doing the same thing and I always felt motivated to do the same thing.

"After the last season, my motivation maybe shifted a little bit. And I think, honestly, it's just my job to listen to that and to hear what my body is saying, hear what my mind is saying."

Five-time defending men's Overall champion Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli) has also tweaked his approach this season, although not as dramatically as Shiffrin.

Addressing the fact that he has not yet won the famous Kitzbühel Downhill race, Odermatt said he had perhaps wanted it too much in the last couple of seasons.

"It's still very high on my list, but probably also got a little bit lower. I've been focusing on this the last two years, (but) I couldn't achieve it.

"So now I'll probably take it a small step back. I achieved many other things, so it won't change my whole career. But for sure, emotionally, it would be amazing to win this race one day."

And while a home world championships in Crans-Montana in February might be Odermatt's biggest focus this year, he'll still attack the entire season at full steam ahead.

"We have all the other big races right before with Adelboden, Wengen, Kitzbühel," he said. "So there is no place to save some energy."

Globe Brothers: The lifetime bond that unites Pinheiro Braathen and McGrath

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (BRA/Atomic) and Atle Lie McGrath (NOR/Head) have known each other since they were 12 years old, with their early friendship sealed by a regrettable fire hose incident, and now they are entwined forever as 2025/26 Globe winners — Braathen in GS, McGrath in Slalom.

"It's crazy that ever since (childhood), we've skied together," McGrath said. "And we've just followed each other throughout all the ranks, through junior racing, FIS racing, Europa Cups.

"And then all of a sudden, last season, we were standing there at the World Cup Finals in Hafjell, fighting for Globes and then getting one Globe each. So it's just kind of surreal the way it all has turned out so far."

Pinheiro Braathen said it's the lows over the journey, more so than the highs, that have helped create his deep bond with McGrath.

"When you go as far back as I and Atle do, you've built something that goes way beyond the pistes," the Brazilian said. "We were connected through skiing, but we grew into something way more important and way deeper than that."

"You get to share those beautiful moments where everything flourishes together and you get to be happy for one another.

"But probably even more importantly, it's those moments where it is the polar opposite, right? Being able to share that journey ever since age 12 makes everything that we battle it out for today so much more special."

Pirovano and Scheib strive to back up their new-found success

Laura Pirovano (ITA/Head, Downhill) and Julia Scheib (AUT/Rossignol, Giant Slalom) will enter the 2027 season in unchartered territory as defending small Globe champions after their sensational 2026 seasons.

Pirovano, for her part, hasn't spent any time thinking about what it will be like to be the hunted instead of the hunter as the season gets underway.

"Not at all," she said. "As I said many times, I like to stay focused on the present. So I don't like to think, 'Oh, my God, will I feel the pressure? Oh, my God, how will it be to be the one with the red bib on?'"

Scheib also isn't fazed by the extra pressure that might come her way this season.

"It's something new for me, of course," she admitted. "But right now, it's OK with the pressure or the nervousness. I'm more nervous right now (doing the interview)."

Perhaps the biggest adjustment for both skiers is not managing expectations, but their new-found fame.

"I think you have to learn how to manage it, because you have to get used to it a little bit, but it's a beautiful thing," Pirovano said about being recognized more often than before.

Scheib is more used to stardom, coming from Alpine skiing-mad Austria, but she has reached another level now, and enjoys inspiring the next generation.   

"You feel the energy, and when the kids look at you, and they have the sparkle in their eyes, this is so special and beautiful, and one of the best feelings I ever had," she said.

Rising stars Colturi and Hallberg primed to take the next step

The FIS Longines U23 Rising Stars from last season, Lara Colturi (ALB/Head) and Eduard Hallberg (FIN/Fischer), are both knocking on the door for their first World Cup wins.

For 19-year-old Colturi, her biggest improvement this year may come from the fact that she spent the off-season training and not going to school, as she had to do in years past.

"I put 100% of my energy (on skiing) during the summer," said Colturi, who has still managed an impressive seven World Cup podiums already in her young career.

"I knew that that was the missing piece of the puzzle because before I had high school, so during the summer I had to be focused on school. But, now I'm fully focused on skiing."

Hallberg, now 23, scored three Slalom podiums last season and isn't worried that his first victory hasn't arrived yet.

"I think it's just part of the journey — it just gives me extra hunger," he said. I like this little chasing feeling, and I'm going to do everything to try to achieve it."

Watch the full 2026/27 edition of Race Talk here.