Most Improved of the Alpine Skiing World Cup Season so Far

The Alpine skiing World Cup began its 2015-16 season without some of the sport's biggest and most successful names in tow.

Through injury (Anna Fenninger), retirement (Nicole Hosp, Mario Matt and Kathrin Zettel) and less strictly defined absence (Tina Maze and Bode Miller are both on leave), the deficit in experienced talent felt more pronounced than in some years.

Some of those making the most of these absences take their place in the following look at the most improved competitors of the World Cup season so far.

A few here would almost certainly have progressed regardless. Some have capitalised to take wins and impressive placings that might not have come their way otherwise.

Though not a definitive grouping of those to develop (see the honorable mentions section for a few more of a considerable list), all help tell the story of a compelling few months of competition thus far.

First up, the first of three Norwegians to make this list.

Henrik Kristoffersen introduced himself to a wider Alpine skiing audience with his win in the Schladming night slalom in 2014.

Two years on, there was little surprise at the 21-year-old’s latest victory in the famous Austrian race. His superior second run showcased a consistency and confidence his rivals are struggling to match right now.

Kristoffersen’s fourth in a row in slalom took his victory tally for the season to six, few coming close during his successful charge through the January classics. In the sole break to this run—Marcel Hirscher’s first place in Santa Caterina, Italy, at the beginning of the month—he still finished second.

The Norwegian’s challenge to Hirscher’s dominance in the discipline has seen him already exceed his preceding, highest wins total of three. Between his attempts to extend that 180-point lead and the resumption of giant slalom competition (one did not finish sandwiched by two podiums there so far), there should be plenty opportunity to add further to the number.

Kristoffersen’s boyish charm is still present, but it has been augmented by a steelier edge. One that, with compatriot Aksel Lund Svindal’s own tilt being ended prematurely by injury, could possibly sustain him in usurping Hirscher for the overall World Cup too.

Kristoffersen’s possible emergence as the preeminent male slalom skier has been comparable to Mikaela Shiffrin’s on the women’s side. He does not have a haul of medals and globes to match the American’s yet, but in his current form, you would not bet against his collection increasing quickly.

Shiffrin’s current injury has opened the door for others to stake claim for victories in her absence. One of whom is Kristoffersen’s fellow Norwegian, Nina Loeseth.

The 26-year-old’s talent has taken more nurturing than her precocious compatriot’s. But off the back of a first-podium place last season and ending last year with some promising higher placings, Loeseth began 2016 with her first World Cup win.

Only Shiffrin’s dominant pre-injury double in Aspen has been won by a bigger margin than Loeseth’s first-place finish in Santa Caterina. Her time of one minute, 58.77 seconds beat nearest-place challenger Sarka Strachova by over a second (1:58.77).

Topping the slalom or giant slalom standings is unlikely now with just a few races to go. Loeseth will hope to add to her podium placings and perhaps lay down a marker for further improvement next season.

Petra Vlhova's season has been one of hits and misses. Happily for the Slovakian, the disappointment of three failures to qualify and one DNF have been more than balanced out by the better results.

Just 20, Vlhova has already secured her first top-level win, impressively holding off home favourite and current slalom leader Frida Hansdotter's charge in Are, Sweden.

Two third-place finishes in the Austrian resorts of Lienz and Flachau have further contributed to a period of learning experiences Vlhova should benefit from immensely long term. Equal parts hard-earned lessons and confidence-boosting achievements.

With Veronika Velez Zuzulova within 100 points of Hansdotter and Vlhova a potentially helpful spoiler in the slalom mix, it could prove a memorable final couple of months for Slovakia.

As Lindsey Vonn and Lara Gut duel for the overall World Cup title, Cornelia Huetter has been high among the best of the rest in their predominant battleground of the speed disciplines.

Though still awaiting her first win, the 23-year-old’s six podium places have made it an already career-best campaign.

Her efforts see her currently sitting third in the downhill standing and second in the super-G. She's still mathematically within reach of the on-song leader Vonn, though she's aware getting ahead of the women’s all-time wins leader may require some (mis)fortune one way or the other.

Huetter’s breakthrough has gone some way to compensating for the absence of injured team-mate Fenninger too.

While not quite the rival the reigning overall champion would have been to Vonn and Gut, Huetter is ensuring Austria have a player in the game. With the experienced accrued this year, she will certainly keep the returning Fenninger on her toes heading into 2017.

One of the older skiers included on this list, Guillermo Fayed has not had the best few weeks.

The classic Wengen, Kitzbuehel and Garmisch Partenkirchen downhills have slowed the 30-year-old’s previously encouraging form. Finishing no higher than 21st in all three (he also suffered a DNF in the super-G in Austria), the prospect of him improving on 2015’s career-best third in that discipline’s final table has been damaged.

Should he need a boost, Fayed can look back to his pre-Christmas results as a reminder of his capabilities. That downhill sequence of fourth, third and second—from Lake Louise in Canada to Val Gardena in Italy, via Beaver Creek—had him battling fearlessly with the likes of Svindal, Kjetil Jansrud and Hannes Reichelt.

It was among the best mini-runs of form of the Frenchman’s career.

Finding a way back to that level could yet sustain his admirable progression from a lowlier World Cup competitor to a comparatively major player—perhaps in the process leading him to that elusive first win.

You had to feel for Bostjan Kline.

From his bib number of three, the Slovenian had held first place for the best part of an hour. Seeing off downhill favourites such as those mentioned on the previous page, a maiden career win in Garmisch was so close.

He said otherwise afterwards, per the FIS, but seeing the 30th man down, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde's move ahead must have hurt. His huge moment snatched away brilliantly but cruelly.

Instead it was Kilde who got the glory.

The 23-year-old is another like Kristoffersen for whom there have been high hopes for some time. Already this season he had reiterated his potential with a third in the Val Gardena super-G.

Those ahead of him that day were Svindal and Kjetil Jansrud (as pictured above). The former was absent in Germany following his season-ending injury in Kitzbuehel, Austria; the latter was still waiting at the end for Kilde. Judging by the reaction, Jansrud may have been happier than anyone for his countryman's success.

Another Attacking Viking filling the void momentarily left behind by Svindal? Kilde may not be quite ready for that, but the indications are he will only strengthen their already fearsome ranks.

Start as you mean to go on. Federica Brignone did so with her first-ever World Cup win in the season-opening Soelden giant slalom and, while not replicating that result since, is firmly in the hunt for the discipline title.

Third in Aspen, Are and Flachau, the only time the Italian did not do better than fifth was the pre-Christmas stop-over in France, at Courchevel.

That DNF has not killed Brignone’s chances, but she will need to finish strongly to move up from fourth and challenge leader Eva-Maria Brem (another enjoying an improved season after her own first win last time around).

If nothing else, the 25-year-old former GS world champion is on the cusp of proving again she can contend for such honours in the future.

Marco Schwarz: His third place in the Madonna di Campiglio slalom gave a glimpse of a technical specialist Austria will hope can compete with Hirscher and add to the country's success in the coming years.

Ana Drev: In giant slalom, the Slovene has given the country something to cheer about in Tina Maze's absence. Two second-place finishes in January, including at home in Maribor, could yet be followed by more this season.

Larisa Yurkiw: The Canadian has joined Huetter in giving Vonn a hint of a challenge in downhill. Second in that hunt, she will hope her improved consistency secures her at least a top-three finish come World Cup finals week.