- Backstage
- Events
Para ski elite visiting Saalbach
Following the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships Saalbach 2025, Saalbach continues to be a stage for international elite sport. From 11 to 17 January 2026, the focus shifted to the Para Alpine Skiing World Cup and to athletes who powerfully demonstrated that world-class performance is not defined by norms, but by performance, precision and courage. The slopes of the Glemmtal are well acquainted with the pressure of major moments. Where the world’s best alpine skiers most recently battled for medals at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, the challenge now was about hundredths of a second, World Cup points and perfectly executed lines. Speed, technique and mental strength were required, just as on any major stage of ski racing, for everyone who crossed the starting line here.
On the Schneekristall course, women and men competed for World Cup points in Super-G and Downhill at the FIS Para Alpine Skiing World Cup. At the center of attention were two duos from the same family: Johannes Aigner with his guide Nico Haberl, and Veronika Aigner with her sister Elisabeth Aigner as guide. Both teams embody Para Alpine skiing at the highest level, demonstrating a partnership in which trust, timing and absolute precision are decisive for success.
For Johannes Aigner, Saalbach is a place filled with positive memories. Back in 2023, he won all four World Cup races here, and this year once again the victories in both Downhill and Super-G in the Vision Impaired category went to the Aigner family. “I basically always associate Saalbach with something positive,” Johannes says. “I really like the courses, they’re a bit more challenging. And we’ve been able to celebrate many successes here. Naturally, you connect that with a place.” Together with guide Nico, everything fell perfectly into place in race mode: clear calls, high speed and a shared rhythm.
Veronika Aigner’s connection to Saalbach is different, but no less intense. Few years ago, she suffered serious knee injuries here, memories that still remain. “Honestly, I don’t have entirely positive memories of this place. Fantastic slopes, beautiful village, but back then I pretty much destroyed both my knees here,” she says openly. During the first training run, those memories immediately returned, especially approaching the final jump. “That’s when I realized it was still very present in my head.” As a result, the training run on site was approached with caution. In the races, however, the duo found their rhythm again and went on to secure multiple victories together. Despite a small fall beyond the finish line in the first downhill, all runs remained injury-free. “Lisi just said, ‘Please not again!’” Veronika recalls with a laugh.
What defines the Saalbach course from a sporting perspective was summed up by the athletes themselves at the end. Asked to describe the track in three words, they agreed:
“Challenging,” said Elisabeth.
“Fast,” added Johannes.
Veronika laughed and said, “Loss of control.” She quickly followed up with a smile: “Well, it’s not that bad.”
Saalbach once again proved that great sporting moments can have many faces. The demand for performance remains the same, regardless of who is at the start. With the Aigners’ strong winning streak, highlighted by Johannes Aigner’s 50th World Cup victory, hopefully plenty of positive moments were added in Saalbach. This weekend marked another milestone for the Aigners. Together, the family’s record now stands at 120 World Cup victories, with 64 achieved by Veronika and 51 by Johannes.
While the Para Alpine Skiing World Cup week has come to an end, the racing winter in Saalbach is far from over. With the FIS Alpine European Cup Speed Finals still to come this season, more racing action awaits in the Glemmtal. Saalbach thus remains a venue for top-level ski racing.
