After a seven-month wait, the 2024-25 FIS Ski World Cup is back, with the curtain-raiser event in Sölden just days away. Aside from the always-thrilling skiing action, a few key storylines have heightened the excitement this year. Mikaela Shiffrin is eyeing her 100th World Cup race victory and a potential sixth overall title, while Lara Gut-Behrami is gearing up to bring her best defense tactics to stop her.

However, none of this would have been possible had Shiffrin not recovered from her disastrous downhill crash in January. While she was fortunate to heal quickly, several other skiing favorites have spent the year caught in a cycle of uncertainty. But are they finally free from the grip of injury and ready to be back in action at the FIS Ski World Cup? Here’s what you can expect.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde

No one’s forgetting Aleksander’s brutal downhill crash in Wengen, which required him to be airlifted from the scene. After falling to the bottom of the run and crashing into the nets, Kilde sustained severe injuries, including a dislocated shoulder and a calf laceration. He even endured days without sensation in his legs. However, after undergoing surgery and spending months in rehab with his girlfriend, Mikaela Shiffrin, Kilde is finally looking in better shape.

In fact, Mikaela recently confessed that he was even getting back to the sport, “And the very end, in July, I was gonna go skiing, and then he was gonna actually also go skiing. And that’s when we found this infection.” Yes, in July 2024, Kilde’s angry infection sent him back to the hospital, requiring six weeks of IV antibiotics to be given via a PICC line.

Thus, he is currently away from Shiffrin and continues to rest and recover, while she is back at to the snowy circuit. And it’s highly unlikely that he returns this FIS Ski World Cup.

Petra Vlohva

Surprisingly, in one of the 2023-24 FIS Ski World Cup home races in Jasna, Petra Vlohva injured herself after skidding out and hitting the B net with great force. As a result, both her ACL and MCL were torn, and her right knee had to be operated on, which dashed her hopes of surpassing Shiffrin in Slalom, despite trailing by just 25 points.

Her coach, Mauro Pini, confirmed that her recovery had been progressing according to plan, until the world caught a glimpse of her back on the slopes in August. Pini also mentioned that she had received the go-ahead from her doctors. As of early October, Petra was training diligently in Argentina, and the reigning Olympic Slalom Champion is expected to put on a great show.

Sofia Goggia

2023-24 of the FIS Ski World Cup was truly injury season. Apart from the alpine skiing power couple, Italian speedster Sofia Goggia also faced a setback when she broke two bones in her right leg, bringing her season to an unexpected halt. The injury didn’t occur during a race, but while she was training for a giant slalom in Ponte di Legno. Her right leg crashed into a gate, and she had to undergo immediate surgery in Milan.

After a metal rod was inserted in her leg, secured with seven screws, Sofia Goggia faced a grueling few weeks of recovery. At one point, she even contemplated retirement. Despite the physical and mental challenges of the ordeal, Goggia made an earlier-than-expected return to the sport in June, surprising even the medical experts.

And as of now, it is confirmed that Goggia is set to return to racing this season, as her right tibia and tibial malleolus are no longer painful. She will kick off her campaign with the FIS Ski World Cup Speed events in Beaver Creek. Although, she hasn’t wrapped up her rehabilitation fully. She recently said, “I’ll put my skis back on probably in the next few weeks, I’ll go skiing for two days in the open field, I’ll see how it goes with the boot, then little by little…” She was also spotted at the Atomic Media Day event 2024. Thus, all of these are positive indications.

Alexis Pinturault

January 2024 was an unfortunate month for French skier Alexis Pinturault, whose Super-G race ended in heartbreak. Similar to Aleksander Kilde, Pinturault injured himself at Wengen after a botched landing at the Silberhorn jump. His left knee was severely injured, suffering ruptured cruciate ligaments and damage to the internal meniscus, necessitating knee surgery.

However, by August, the new dad and three-time Olympic medalist was back to his usual skiing routine. He completed a three-week training camp in Argentina while preparing for the FIS Ski World Cup. Throughout October, he plans to refine his skills in Switzerland, specifically in Saas-Fee and Zermatt. This training aims to elevate his performance to peak levels before the Beaver Creek events commence, where he will compete in the Giant Slalom, Super-G, and Downhill disciplines.

Wendy Holdener

The 5x Olympic medalist Wendy Holdener is also set to make her comeback in this FIS Ski World Cup. In December of last year, Holdener fractured one of her ankles after colliding with the safety nets at full speed. She underwent surgery in Zurich, but her resilient spirit shines through as she prepares to return to the snow this season.

While we await the return of these talented athletes, it’s great news that starting in the 2024-25 season, all elite racing events—primarily the World Cup, World Championships, and Olympic Games—will require the use of airbags. This decision comes in response to the surge in injuries seen last season. With safety measures now in place, are you eager to see your favorites return to the white circus? Let us know in the comments below!