Petra Vlhová’s long-awaited return to the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup has been delayed by 30 minutes after heavy snowfall and strong winds forced race organizers to alter the schedule on the Rettenbach glacier, Sportnet reported.

Weather Disruptions Force Schedule Changes on the Rettenbach Glacier

Organizers of the traditional women’s giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, adjusted the Saturday program after adverse weather conditions deposited a large volume of fresh snow across the slope, driven by severe winds. The first run of the giant slalom was pushed back from its original start time of 10:00 local time to 10:30 local time, according to Sportnet. Pravda added that the second run was likewise moved back by half an hour to 13:30 local time.

The morning disruption sets a dramatic stage for the opening event of the 2026–2027 alpine skiing season.

Vlhová Returns to the World Cup After a Two-Year Absence

For Vlhová, the delayed start marks her first World Cup appearance in two years and nine months.

Although she made a brief competitive appearance at the Milano Cortina 2025 Winter Olympic Games in February—competing in a team combination alongside Katarína Šrobová and finishing 20th in the individual slalom—Sölden represents her official return to the week-in, week-out grind of the World Cup tour. Reflecting on her readiness before stepping into the starting gate, Vlhová told STVR: First of all, I am very happy. I also feel stress because I haven’t been at the start for a long time, and in giant slalom even longer. It will be demanding, but I’ve known that since I decided to fight. I am happy to be here and I can’t wait.

Vlhová boasts a strong historical record in Sölden, having finished third in the giant slalom on three separate occasions: in 2020, 2021, and 2023, according to Sportnet reporting.

Starting Position and Protected Ranking Rules for the Slovak Star

Because of her lengthy absence from the tour, Vlhová dropped out of the elite top-15 seeded draw. Podľa aktualizovaných pravidiel Medzinárodnej lyžiarskej federácie (FIS), ktoré nadobudli účinnosť 1. júla 2026, sú zranení športovci pri návrate ohodnotení systémom penalizácií, ako uvádza Spravodajský portál RTVS.

With a pre-injury World Cup Start List (WCSL) standing of 14th in giant slalom and a four-spot penalty applied for her extended layoff, Vlhová was calculated into an 18th-place protected ranking. However, because she holds over 500 total WCSL points across disciplines, FIS rules advanced her position directly behind the elite top 15, slotting her into start number 18 on the official sheet, as outlined by Aktuality.

Before her on the starting order, Germany’s Emma Aicher drew start number 16 and Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener drew number 17. New Zealand’s Alice Robinson opened the race with bib number one, followed by Austria’s Julia Scheib and Sweden’s Sara Hector.

A Transformed Global Competition Landscape Awaits

Most notably, Swiss skier Camille Rast established herself as a dominant force by winning the world slalom title in the 2025 season, claiming a silver medal at the Olympic Games, and emerging as a primary challenger to American star Mikaela Shiffrin. At the same time, Shiffrin altered her tactical approach by stepping back from a regular full-time schedule in slalom, opening new pathways at the top of the standings.

Live television coverage of the Sölden races is broadcast by STVR Šport, with textual online updates provided by Sportnet.