Five takeaways from the Para Alpine World Ski Championships

The Maribor 2025 Para Alpine World Ski Championships offered fans a thrilling preview of what to expect at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, with exciting competition across both the giant slalom and slalom events.

Here are the key takeaways from the Para alpine skiing World Championships:

Italy is the team to beat

The hosts will be a significant force in the technical events at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Italy claimed three of the 12 gold medals in Maribor, with Giacomo Bertagnolli securing two in the vision impaired category and Rene’ de Silvestro winning the giant slalom sitting category.

On 9 February, Bertagnolli took gold in the men’s giant slalom with guide Andrea Ravelli, and the folowing day, the duo clinched another victory in the men’s slalom. 

“I just wanted to have a really good race, and I did. We had to fight for this gold medal, so I’m super happy that we won today,” Bertagnolli said after winning his first gold in Maribor. 

“This year is a very important year because next season is the Milano Cortina Paralympic Games, and I want to be ready. This (win) reminds me that I just need to keep pushing and try to improve because if I keep doing that for another year, I will be very good.”

In the men’s giant slalom, de Silvestro finished with a 0.67-second advantage over defending champion Jesper Pedersen of Norway. De Silvestro claimed the lead after the first run and improved his time in the second run.

“The win today is really important for me because I can say that I’m a world champion,” de Silvestro said. "I'm out of words. I'm just really, really happy. Today I was so confident, and I knew I could do it."

“This victory makes me think that I can really be on the podium in important events. (Milano Cortina 2026) is a home Games and all my family will be there. It’s something that makes me on fire.”

Arthur Bauchet and Ebba Aarsjo are unstoppable

France’s Arthur Bauchet and Sweden’s Ebba Aarsjoe were unbeaten in the standing category. 

Bauchet, who won three gold medals at Beijing 2022, dominated the men’s standing events. He won the giant slalom event and shared the podium with French teammate Jules Segers, who took bronze. Alexis Guimond of Canada claimed silver.

“My mind is full of happiness,” Bauchet said. “We did a great job with the French team, and we managed to be in the battle since the first run, and it worked for Jules and me. It’s great to share a podium with a teammate. It’s always great.

“Thank you to the team for this victory. It’s always great to win because it shows that the preparation worked. I had an incredible season, so I will keep the same preparation for Milano Cortina, and I hope to have the same result in the GS (giant slalom) at Milano Cortina.”

The following day, Bauchet was the only athlete in the men’s slalom standing category to clock under a minute in both runs. The 24-year-old athlete claimed his 12th world title and extended his unbeaten record in World Cup and World Championship technical races to 17.

Meanwhile, Aarsjo captured her third consecutive standing slalom world title on 10 February, two days after winning the giant slalom. She is now an eight-time world and two-time Paralympic champion. 

“It was fun. I feel my skiing was quite good and I’m happy. It’s sunny and nice,” Aarsjo said after her giant slalom victory. 

Meet Kalle Ericsson, Canada’s rising star

Kalle Ericsson is set to be among the medal favourites at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics, which open on 6 March 2026. The Canadian, who made his World Cup debut in the 2023-2024 season, won two silver medals in Maribor.

On 9 February, Ericsson and guide Sierra Smith finished just 0.32 seconds behind four-time Paralympic champion Bertagnolli in the men’s giant slalom vision impaired category. Ericsson led after the first run, but Bertagnolli came from behind. 

“I feel really good. I’m super happy. This is a great result from my first world champs. Obviously, I’m a little upset that I let my lead position go in the second run, but still super proud of the skiing we did today,” Ericsson said after the race. “I left it all out there and did what we could.”

Ericsson claimed the silver medal in the men’s slalom with a two-run total of 2:00.56, finishing 0.25 second behind Bertagnolli.

The Aigner sisters continue family legacy

Veronika Aigner, guided by her sister Elisabeth, pulled off a technical double in the women’s vision impaired category. Three years ago, the Aigner siblings, along with their brother Johannes and sister Barbara, won a total of nine medals at Beijing 2022.

“I was aggressive on the second run. The first run was safe, but the technique was good. On the second run, I pushed very much, and it was good,” Veronika, a two-time Paralympic champion, told FIS after the race. 

Johannes, who finished on the podium in all five Para alpine skiing events at Beijing 2022, also competed in Maribor. He finished fourth in both the men’s giant slalom and slalom vision impaired categories.

Momoka Muraoka makes triumphant return

Japan’s Momoka Muraoka returned to the World Championship podium after a two-season break to focus on wheelchair racing. In the women’s sitting giant slalom, the 27-year-old athlete clocked a two-run total of 2:17.96, securing a 1.74-second victory over Germany’s Anna-Lena Forster. 

Forster won the women’s slalom sitting category on 11 February as her fan club members cheered at the finish line. It was her fourth consecutive slalom crown and a 10th world title overall. 

When asked by FIS what she told herself ahead of her second run, the German three-time Paralympian said, “I said, ‘You can do this. You’re the best. Just go and put everything in.’ I’m happy now.”
She said she would celebrate the win with a “dinner and then a party.”