Sara Hector Targets Strong Comeback at 2026 Alpine World Cup Season Opener in Sölden

Swedish alpine skier Sara Hector is set to kick off the 2026/2027 World Cup season in Sölden, Austria, with her sights on a stronger performance after a challenging start at the same venue last year. The women's giant slalom race is scheduled for October 24, followed by the men's race on October 25, both broadcasted on Viaplay.

Hector, who earned an Olympic silver medal, aims to surpass her ninth-place finish from last season's Sölden race. Despite mild knee issues during preseason, she feels well-prepared and recently made a key change by hiring Matteo Fattor as her serviceman, ending a six-year partnership with Reinhard Berbig. This adjustment is crucial for optimizing her equipment and settings ahead of the highly competitive season.

The Swedish team also features other promising skiers, including Cornelia Öhlund, who is recovering from a mild concussion but hopes to participate. Compared to her teammates, Hector stands out as the leading contender with 479 points in storslalom last season, consistently finishing in the top four except for Sölden.

Competition at Sölden remains fierce with rivals like Julia Scheib, the dominant storslalom leader last season, and Mikaela Shiffrin, known for her strong storslalom focus. However, the absence of stars Federica Brignone and Lara Gut-Behrami slightly reshapes the competitive field. Swedish men’s skiers also aim to qualify for the second run in their storslalom race on October 25, making the event a significant moment for Swedish alpine skiing.

With the season opener just days away, all eyes are on Hector and her team as they strive for a successful start and set the tone for the challenging 2026/2027 World Cup season.