FIS Ski Cross World Cup Val Thorens preview: Schedule, top athletes, and how to watch live

Skiers to watch at the FIS Ski Cross Val Thorens World Cup

The battle for the 2023/24 women‘s Crystal Globe came down to the final race, with Sochi 2014 champion and Beijing 2022 silver medallist Marielle Thompson just finishing ahead of Marielle Berger Sabbatel to claim her first ski cross title since 2017.

The two Olympians are primed to do battle once more in the French Alps this weekend, but keep an eye out for Beijing 2022 champion Sandra Naeslund , too. The Swede missed the majority of last season with a knee injury, but she’s now returning to a venue where she’s dominated throughout her career.

However, it was Daniela Maier who triumphed in Val Thorens in 2023/24, winning the second race of the season and with it the first World Cup victory of Maier’s career. The Beijing 2022 bronze medallist is a real threat to top the podium again this weekend and shared her love of the French course with FIS-SKI.com.

“Val Thorens is a track that I really like – it’s twice as important for me because it’s a track I love and the first race,” she said.

“I’m excited about my form if I’m honest. It’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster; I had really good training days where I was fast, but in some cases in the same camps I had bad days, or not-good days.

“But I think that when I am wearing the start bib again and I’m on snow, I can do my routines and then I’m back and hopefully I am in good shape. I am really excited to be back at the races and have fun.”