Watching 1. The Starting Gate
The alpine skiing season opens in Sölden, Austria, where the White Circus begins, with Mikaela Shiffrin, the greatest skier of all time, who, despite her dominance, finishes fourth in the opening race. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde returns to competition at Copper Mountain after nearly two years away following a devastating injury that almost ended his career and his life. Supported throughout his recovery by his fiancée, Shiffrin, Aamodt Kilde balances the physical and mental aspects of returning to the snow. Also, once a teenage phenom who beat Shiffrin at 17, New Zealand's Alice Robinson faces Shiffrin yet again in the Copper Mountain giant slalom.
2. Under Pressure
In a sport dominated by Swiss and Austrian athletes, American Ryan Cochran-Siegle pushes to make his mark in downhill at Beaver Creek. Meanwhile, Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen reflects on a decision that once shocked the skiing world. After retiring at age 23, Pinheiro Braathen returned on his own terms, leaving Team Norway to race for Brazil. He speaks openly about growing up between two cultures and how embracing both has become his greatest strength. Meanwhile, the women's speed season begins in St. Moritz with the long-awaited return of American Lindsey Vonn from retirement in a downhill race for the ages.
3. Close to Home
French skier and former Olympic medalist Clément Noël details what it's like racing on his home course in Val d'Isère while showing off his wine collection - meanwhile, Mikaela Shiffrin and German skier Emma Aicher square off in Courchevel. Despite a delayed training day in Val Gardena, Italy's Dominik Paris highlights his love of heavy metal music in preparation for a downhill race against one of the world's best, Swiss skier Marco Odermatt.
4. Peaks and Valleys
At just 22, German skier Emma Aicher's trajectory is skyward, but competing across four disciplines, while boosting her overall World Cup points, takes a toll on her body and schedule. In Flachau, home of the iconic Legends Race, we meet Lara Colturi, preparing for her first Olympics. The journey then moves to the most historic events of the World Cup season, Wengen and Kitzbühel. The Swiss men's team prepares for press and hometown pride, while Aleksander Aamodt Kilde reflects intimately on this track, having survived a near-fatal crash here. Next is Kitzbühel, home of the legendary Streif. Dominik Paris, a three-time winner, gives fans a glimpse of his famed winner's gondola and the adoration that follows him in the streets. Marco Schwarz, riding the momentum of recent victories, is determined to extend his streak on home snow.
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5. The World's Stage
In the shadow of a horrific tragedy that shook the sport, Swiss favorite Camille Rast reflects on what Crans-Montana and its people mean to the community. The focus then shifts to the Olympic Games, the pinnacle of the sport. The men pack their bags for Bormio and the women for Cortina, with the world watching and national pride at its height. Can Lindsey Vonn add another Olympic medal to her legacy? Will Sofia Goggia or Dominik Paris deliver unforgettable moments on home snow? After the Olympics, the season's intensity carries on as the World Cup Finals approach. We visit Julia Scheib in the gym, as she sits neck and neck in points with Alice Robinson, each vying for the women's giant slalom crown. Across disciplines, Marco Odermatt fights to extend his dominance while the men's slalom remains one of the closest battles of the season.
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