Alpine Skiing
Alpine Ski World Championships Saalbach: must-know facts and insider tips
Discover the thrill behind the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025 in Saalbach. From insider facts to surprising trivia, get ready to dive into the secrets of this legendary winter sport event.
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For the uninitiated, let's just make it clear what we're all so excited by this week: the Alpine Ski World Championships is a global competition organised by the International Ski Federation (FIS). It takes place every two years and sees the very best skiers in the world come together to compete across all the key alpine disciplines to crown a world champion in each. This year, all the action is happening in Saalbach in the Austrian Alps, just south-west of Salzburg.
In Saalbach, the energy is contagious, with racers feeding off the crowd's excitement. The presence of passionate fans makes the World Cup races on the Zwölferkogel even more thrilling, with athletes commenting on how the roar of the crowd boosts their performance. With its international charm, the town attracts visitors from around the world. The superstars are also quick to celebrate their victories with the fans, creating unforgettable moments all around.
Want to be in the know about what's going down? The Red Bulletin has put together some facts and trivia to give you the inside scoop: whether it’s the history of the area as a winter sports hub, the quirks of the championship itself, or surprising tidbits about the athletes. Get ready to impress with your insider knowledge about this legendary sporting event:
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The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025 in numbers
Vonn's comeback will continue to be a compelling storyline
© Johann Groder/Red Bull Content Pool
- 15,000 spectators have seats in the arena at the finish slope, with many other guests spread directly along the course.
- 4,200 volunteers from all over the world have applied to work as helpers and make the 2025 World Cup an unforgettable experience for visitors.
- A new 7.8km-long emergency access route has been built between nearby Vorderglemm and Hinterglemm to guarantee continuous free passage for emergency services during the event. The Glemmtal valley will then benefit from this addition in the long term: it will later be used as a bike and pedestrian path along the Saalach, expanding the area's recreational offerings.
- At the steepest point, the East slope, downhill racers must tackle a gradient of 73 percent.
- In 1991, local Salzburger Didi Ziesel became the stadium announcer at the Sonnen-WM (World Cup) on the microphone. In 2025, he'll join forces with Fieberbrunn's legendary presenter Stefan Steinacher to provide live information and entertainment at the finish area.
- The municipality of Saalbach-Hinterglemm covers an area of 125km², but only about 4km² are used for skiing.
The Zwölferkogel gets its name because the sun shines above it at noon
© Christian Wöckinger/saalbach.com
The 12er Kogel lift can get 3,500 people per hour to the top
© Andreas Putz/saalbach.com
15,000 noisy fans can pack into the finish area
© Andreas Putz/saalbach.com
- 3,500 people can be transported to the summit per hour via the 12er Kogel lift. New additions to the Skicircus infrastructure are the 12er Nord in Hinterglemm, the Streuböden lift and the Zillstatt lift in Fieberbrunn.
- Two new bus terminals in Hinterglemm simplify access to the World Cup. The 2025 World Cup is a green event, so to offer sustainable alternatives to individual transportation, the Maishofen-Saalbach train station has been modernised and made accessible for all.
- 100 percent of the ski area will be available for use by all guests during the World Cup.
- The cheapest tickets are 25€ ($26 USD) for standing places for the team combined events for both women and men.
- The Ski Circus offers 260km of cross-country trails for those looking to take a break from skiing – 150km of these are in Saalfelden Leogang, and 100 km are in Fieberbrunn.
- 250,000m³ of water are used for making snow on the World Cup mountain. The water is collected in two reservoirs, fed by meltwater and rain.
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Become a World Championships insider
Pinheiro Braathen's first comeback season yielded podiums, but no wins
© Erich Spiess/Red Bull Content Pool
The Zwölferkogel, which means '12 Peak', stands at 1,984m tall and is nestled in the stunning Pinzgauer Grasberge, part of the majestic Kitzbühel Alps. Geologically, the Pinzgauer Grasberge (along with the entire Eastern Alps) belong to the Greywacke Zone. The mountain gets its name because at noon the sun shines directly above its peak.
In 2025, over 600 athletes from more than 60 countries will compete for gold, silver, and bronze at the World Championships, all on a single mountain: every race will take place on the Zwölferkogel. The technical events feature significant vertical drops, as the ski stars discovered during the World Cup Finals in 2024. As overall World Cup winner Marco Odermatt shared: "The giant slalom course is fairly flat, but extremely long, making it very, very challenging for us."
Marco Odermatt will have his sights set on World Championship glory
© Johann Groder/Red Bull Content Pool
The giant slalom course is fairly flat, but extremely long, making it very, very challenging for us
To ensure safety on the Zwölferkogel, the track in the upper section has been widened at two points. But don’t worry – no trees were cut down; existing ditches were simply filled in.
There's a special advantage for the Austrian athletes: The Zwölferkogel has been an official test track for the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) since the 2016/17 season, allowing speed specialists to train and test to their heart's content.
Between 150 and 250 people are involved in ensuring the smooth execution of the races and the perfect condition of the slopes, depending on the event.
The winners will be celebrated at the Medal Plaza, right in the heart of the pedestrian zone in Hinterglemm. The 900m stretch is the very epicentre of the World Championships, with many of the top stars staying in the hotels that line the area.
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How to follow the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025?
Zrinka Ljutić is in the form of her life heading into Saalbach
© Erich Spiess/Red Bull Content Pool
This article was originally published in The Red Bulletin in collaboration with Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Get the inside scoop on the 2025 Ski World Championships – straight from the slopes to your screen! Want to know more? Check out the event details here!
Inside the mind of a champion: Mikaela Shiffrin's path to victory – behind the scenes with The Red Bulletin
Get ready for an inspiring deep dive with the greatest skier of all time, Mikaela Shiffrin, as she reveals how she finds peace amidst the chaos of competition and reflects on her unforgettable win in Saalbach – listen now on SNOW & TALK with Alina Marzi on Spotify:
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