The 2024–25 FIS Ski World Cup promises to be an affair that could go down as historic. Not only will this year’s tournament enhance its efforts toward protecting the environment, but it could potentially be the event where Mikaela Shiffrin bags her 100th World Cup victory. Understandably, as a skiing fan in the USA right now, it feels palpable in terms of anticipation. But Shiffrin won’t be the only highlight of the upcoming WC season.

The season-opener of its year’s FIS Ski World Cup will take place at the iconic Rettenbach glacier slope ski course in Solden, Austria, on October 26. And no, we won’t be able to watch and cheer for the 97x World Cup race winner Shiffrin there. However, the legendary course will have plenty to offer to satiate the thirst of even the most ardent skiing fans. So, what do you need to know to prepare yourself for the skiing extravaganza that commences this Saturday?

Start your FIS Ski World Cup journey at an iconic racecourse

Every year, the Rettenbach Glacier attracts thousands of skiing enthusiasts from all over the world to witness the elite stars of the sport kickstart the October fiesta. The ladies will start the race in the first giant slalom of this year’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup. Thanks to the high altitude of the location, winter starts here as early as autumn, and by the time the stars and fans arrive, we hope to see the entire area covered in white snow.

According to the official website of the event, Solden.com, the first run down the glacier will take place at 10 am on Saturday, followed by the second run at 1 pm. The men will begin their World Cup journey on Sunday.

With a vertical drop of 370 meters (starting alt: 3040m, finishing alt: 2670m), the Rettenbach offers the skiing athletes to show their best technical skills while also prompting them to meander through the gates on the racecourse. Depending on the slope, something between 41 and 56 gates is to be expected to make the race a challenge for the participants. Naturally, everyone’s trying to get as many practice sessions as possible before the big rumble. “The slope is in excellent condition and praised by all the teams. Final touches will be made in the coming days, and everything points to a perfect start for the season,” said Markus Mayr, the Race Director, World Cup Women Technical Events, according to an Instagram post by the official FIS account.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the first time that the top-tier skiing World Cup arrived at this pristine Austrian location. And since 2000, it has marked the official beginning of the FIS Ski World season. Thanks to the vehement efforts and ambitious vision of Jack Falkner, Solden was becoming more visible within the skiing community. Among the three possible locations that were suggested as possible World Cup courses, only the first was granted the status by the FIS Congress in 1990. The giant slalom here was initially planned to be held every two years, but since the millennium, the Rettenbach has become the norm. So how do you get here to soak up the atmosphere?

How to reach the hallowed grounds?

To reach Solden, travelers will have to catch a flight to the nearest airport at Innsbruck. The distance between Innsbruck and the municipality where Rettenbach is situated is 85 km (approx. 53 miles) and takes about 1 hour by car. Flights via Salzburg and Munich are also available, but these airports take longer to clear customs and are also much further away from the Tyrol region of Austria. Direct train routes can also help the visitors reach Ötztal-Bahnhof directly. From the train station at the entrance of the valley, bus services can be availed to reach Solden.

On both Saturday and Sunday, additional buses will be there to ferry the fans from Solden to the FIS Ski World Cup site and back. If you’re looking for a place to stay for a thrilling weekend in Austria, there are also plenty of options so that your visit can be made more memorable at the scenic location. So, will you be among the skiing fanatics who will be spotted in the crowd in a week’s time? Tell us your plans for this year’s FIS Ski World Cup and which locations you plan to catch the action at with a comment!