Kranjska Gora Women's Alpine Ski World Cup Races Preview

Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. Picture: Tourism Kranjska Gora

Next weekend, the first races of the 2026 Alpine Ski World Cup, a Giant Slalom and a Slalom, will be held at Kranjska Gora.

Kranjska Gora is an alpine resort in Slovenia, near the mountains and glacial lakes of Triglav National Park. The Upper Sava Valley, one of the most beautiful Alpine valleys, lies in the north-westernmost part of Slovenia, right next to the tri-border with Austria and Italy.

The Golden Fox, which has been known as one of the most important competitions in the Women's World Cup since 1964, began as a symbol of success and top-notch organization in Maribor. Kranjska Gora was sometimes an alternate location for Maribor's Golden Fox races. The last competitions held in Maribor were in the 2018-2019 winter season.

Due to a series of years with bad snow conditions and unpredictable winter conditions, the relocation of the Women's World Cup races from Maribor to Kranjska Gora does not only mean a change of location, but also a symbolic transition into a new era of women's alpine skiing in Slovenia. With the newly officially renamed Audi FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup for Women, Kranjska Gora, the Slovenian venue will be firmly anchored in the World Cup calendar.

The Audi FIS Alpine Skiing Women's World Cup Kranjska Gora will further enhance Slovenia's reputation as a top winter sports destination in the years to come. International visitors to Kranjska Gora will be able to enjoy the beautiful nature of the Julian Alps and the excellent ski infrastructure.

The cable cars and 18 ski slopes are strung along the slopes of the Vitranc Mountain from Kranjska Gora to Planica, at altitudes ranging from 800 m to 1215 m above sea level.

Due to its blind turns, challenging terrain, and spectacular finish, the Podkoren racecourse is one of the most challenging slopes on the Women's calendar.

Racecourse facts:

• Start Elevation: 1230 m (Giant Slalom) 1035 (Slalom)

• Finish Elevation: 850 m (Giant Slalom) 836 (Slalom)

• Vertical Drop: 380 m (Giant Slalom) 199 (Slalom)

• Max. slope: 59 % (Giant Slalom) 47 % (Slalom)

• Min. slope: 18 % (Giant Slalom) 21 % (Slalom)

Kranjska Gora (SLO)

January 3rd Giant Slalom / Women 10:00 CET 1st run 13:00 CET 2nd run

January 4th Slalom / Women 09:30 CET 1st run 12:15 CET 2nd run

Kranjska Gora has hosted 14 women’s World Cup Giant Slalom races. The first event, held in 1976, was won by Swiss skier Lise-Marie Morerod. Only six Women’s Giant Slalom races were held in Kranjska Gora between the 1975-1976 and 2017-2018 winter seasons, but since 2019-2020 the venue has hosted at least one each season.

The Slovenian ski resort hosted 13 women’s World Cup Slalom races. The first in 1976 was won by

Lise-Marie Morerod, with1976 Olympic Slalom champion Rosi Mittermaier in second.

Last season, Sara Hector returned to the top of the podium in Giant Slalom for a second time. Hector was super consistent and extremely aggressive on a difficult and exigent Podkoren slope. The Swedish skier celebrated her 7th Alpine Ski World Cup victory ahead of Lara Colturi (+1.42) and Alice Robinson (+1.52). Julia Scheib finished fourth after setting the fastest time in the second run, moving up nine places from 13th.

This was the biggest winning margin for any Women’s Giant Slalom race last season, the seventh-biggest winning margin for a women’s Giant Slalom race this century, and the second-biggest Giant Slalom winning margin ever in Kranjska Gora after Mateja Svet’s 1.66s win ahead of Vreni Schneider in 1988.

Mikaela Shiffrin has won two World Cup Giant Slalom events in Kranjska Gora (2018 and 2023). The only other females to record multiple World Cup Giant Slalom wins in Kranjska Gora are Marta Bassino (two in 2021), Sara Hector (2022 and 2025), and Valerie Grenier (2023 and 2024). If Shiffrin, Hector, or Grenier win (Bassino is absent with injury), they will become the first skier to win three Women’s Giant Slalom races in Kranjska Gora.

If Sara Hector wins, she will become the second women’s skier after Marta Bassino to win back-to-back Giant Slalom races in Kranjska Gora.

Alice Robinson won in 2020 to become the youngest Women’s Giant Slalom winner in Kranjska Gora at age 18 years and 76 days.

In 2025, Zrinka Ljutic won the Slalom on Kranjska Gora in dominant fashion after setting the fastest time in both runs. The Croatian beat Wendy Holdener by 0.16 seconds after the two were tied for the best time in the first run. Anna Swenn-Larsson rounded up the podium in third place, 1.19 seconds off the pace.

With three consecutive Slalom wins 2020, 2022, and 2024), Petra Vlhova is the only skier to have won more than one Women’s Slalom race in Kranjska Gora. Of the 10 women who have won just once in Kranjska Gora, two are active skiers: Mikaela Shiffrin in 2018 and Zrinka Ljutic in 2025.

Kranjska Gora Winners:

2025 Slalom Zrinka Ljutic (CRO)

2025 Giant Slalom Sara Hector (SWE)

2024 Slalom Petra Vlhova (SVK)

2024 Giant Slalom Valerie Grenier (CAN)

2023 Giant Slalom Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)

2023 Giant Slalom Valerie Grenier (CAN)

2022 Slalom Petra Vlhova (SVK)

2022 Giant Slalom Sara Hector (SWE)

2021 Giant Slalom Marta Bassino (ITA)

2021 Giant Slalom Marta Bassino (ITA)

2020 Slalom Petra Vlhova (SVK)

2020 Giant Slalom Alice Robinson (NZL)

2018 Slalom Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)

2018 Giant Slalom Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)

2014 Slalom Frida Hansdotter (SWE)

2012 Slalom Michaela Kirchgasser (AUT)

2012 Giant Slalom Tessa Worley (FRA)

2007 Slalom Marlies Schild (AUT)

2007 Giant Slalom Nicole Hosp (AUT)

1991 Slalom Petra Kronberger (AUT)

1991 Slalom Natasa Bokal (JUG)

1991 Giant Slalom Vreni Schneider (SUI)

1988 Slalom Mateja Svet (JUG)

1988 Giant Slalom Mateja Svet (JUG)

1983 Slalom Erika Hess (SUI)

1976 Slalom Lise-Marie Morerod (SUI)

1976 Giant Slalom Lise-Marie Morerod (SUI)