When Paula Moltzan started the alpine skiing World Cup season with her best-ever performance in giant slalom, she pondered one thing: was she hitting her peak too soon? With the Milan-Cortina Olympics still over three months away, Moltzan considered the timing of her top form. She expressed her view that she was aiming to establish a solid foundation for future improvement rather than peaking prematurely.
While the World Cup season spans five months and is crucial for skiers, the opportunity to contend for Olympic medals arises only once every four years. The question arises: can skiers strategically plan their World Cup season to reach their peak performance in February for the Olympics, and is it their preference to do so?
Moltzan, the runner-up in the giant slalom to Austrian skier Julia Scheib, acknowledged the concept of peaking and emphasized the importance of tracking her progress with her coaches. She highlighted the significance of monitoring factors like recovery, skiing days, and workload to align her performance for the upcoming Olympics, aiming for an optimal level of readiness.
Meanwhile, two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin shared a different perspective, emphasizing the challenge of pinpointing a specific peak moment in ski racing. Shiffrin stressed the need for consistent high-level racing throughout the season, focusing on managing training, energy expenditure, and recovery to sustain performance levels steadily.
Diverse opinions exist regarding the feasibility and desirability of tailoring an entire World Cup season around the Olympics, which may involve competing in just one race for some skiers. Austrian skier Vincent Kriechmayr highlighted the importance of timing peak performance before the Olympics, citing key events like the downhills in Wengen and Kitzbuhel in mid-January as crucial preparation landmarks.
Coaching perspectives vary on the matter due to unpredictable elements that can influence performance, according to Roland Assinger, head coach of the Austria women’s team. Assinger emphasized the significance of adapting to the conditions on the day of the Olympics or world championships, noting that unexpected outcomes and surprise winners can emerge despite challenges faced throughout the season.
Athletes like Sofia Goggia and Lara Gut-Behrami echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need to approach each race with full commitment and effort, considering the sport’s outdoor nature and variability in conditions. Despite the upcoming home Olympics, Goggia maintained her standard preparation routine, focusing on giving her best performance daily.
As the 2022 Olympic super-G champion, Gut-Behrami announced her upcoming retirement but intends to approach the 2025-26 season like any other, prioritizing race-by-race progression to ensure peak form by February. On the men’s side, former overall World Cup champion Alexis Pinturault emphasized the potential for planned success, particularly when competing in a single discipline like giant slalom, after adjusting his focus due to past knee injuries.
In conclusion, while opinions vary on the strategic planning of a World Cup season leading up to the Olympics, athletes and coaches emphasize the importance of consistent performance, adaptability, and careful management of training and recovery to ensure optimal readiness for the pinnacle event.
