New Stars Emerge At Alpine JWC In Tarvisio

The recently concluded FIS Junior World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy proved that the future is not only bright, but undeniably exciting for Alpine skiing.

Over eight days of thrilling racing nearly 400 athletes – between the ages of 15-20 – representing 60 nations went head-to-head in northern Italy’s Julian Alps with seven different nations represented on the top step of the podium.

Traditional powerhouses Austria and Switzerland fought it out at the very top, finishing with seven medals each. Although, both were edged out in the gold medal stakes by France, who claimed three of the 11 titles on offer. While German, Swedish and Norwegian skiers also grabbed gold, indicating the rainbow spread of success.

But it was hometown favorite Giorgia Collomb (ITA) who arguably claimed the moment of the Championships, securing women’s Giant Slalom gold in front of her adoring fans, finishing a sizeable 0.56 seconds ahead of Stefanie Grob (SUI).

It has been a dream season for the 18-year-old Italian from La Thuile in the Aosta Valley. She also won Mixed Team Parallel gold alongside her Italian teammates at the FIS World Championships in Saalbach, Austria on 4 February. Collomb adds to her three medals from the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

“No words can describe this moment – just a huge thank you to everyone who helped make it happen,” Collomb wrote on Instagram.

For Grob, the silver was her second medal in Tarvisio after she charged to Downhill gold on the opening day of the Championships. Grob won the signature event – contested over two sprint Downhill runs – by a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Swiss teammate Jasmin Mathis. The 20-year-old from Bruelisau-Weissbad has now medaled at three consecutive World Junior Championships.

“That’s my definition of a happy last jwsc,” Grob wrote to her Instagram followers. “I am super happy and would like to thank everyone who has supported me so far,” she added.

Felix Roesle (GER) took top honors in the men’s Downhill in another tight finish, nipping Phillipp Kaelin (SUI) by 0.02 seconds. Roesle climbed from third after the first run to the top of the podium.

Speed events continued with Mathis upgrading from silver in the women’s Downhill to Super G gold. She defeated Leonie Zegg (AUT) by 0.27 seconds, while Sara Thaler (ITA) claimed the first medal for the home nation, skiing to bronze. The 20-year-old Mathis – who is competing in her first full season on the Europa Cup this winter – has been touted as the successor to young Swiss World Cup sensation Malorie Blanc.

Germany was victorious for the second consecutive men’s speed race as Benno Brandis (GER) sped to men’s Super G gold ahead of Sandro Manser (SUI) by 0.14 seconds.

In the Team Combined, an event that will debut on the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic program next winter and was also contested at the recent World Championships in Saalbach, Austrians Victoria Buergler and Natalie Felch partnered to win gold on the women’s side. Felch laid down a scintillating Slalom run as the duo ascended from 13th after the first run to an improbable victory.

Frenchmen Thomas Chaix and Jonas Skabar were triumphant in the men’s Team Combined defeating a Swiss duo by 0.29 seconds. The new event, partnering two teammates with one racing a speed event and the other a Slalom, has enthralled audiences and received rave reviews from racers over recent weeks ahead of its maiden Olympic appearance.

France continued its team event success also winning gold in the Mixed Team Parallel event. Skabar nabbed gold for the second consecutive day, leading a 4-0 shutout over Sweden in the final. Team USA knocked off Switzerland 3-1 to earn bronze.

Individual tech events kicked off on 3 March with Collomb’s victory, followed by Flavio Vitale (FRA) overcoming the pressure of being a pre-race favorite and storming to France’s third gold medal in the men’s Giant Slalom. The 19-year-old captured his first World Championship medal by a staggering 0.86-second margin.

Action continued with Cornelia Oehlund (SWE) – fresh off a career World Cup best fifth place in Sestriere, after rocketing from 23rd after the first run – striking gold in the women’s Slalom. The promising Swede took victory ahead of the Austrian duo of Leonie Raich and Felch, who added bronze to her Team Combined gold. Italian fan favorite Collomb caught an edge on the penultimate gate, fell and slid across the finish line settling for fifth, 0.46 seconds out of the medals.

Cornelia Oehlund finished fifth in her most recent World Cup appearance, in the Sestriere Slalom @AgenceZoom
The men’s Slalom concluded the eight-day race program as Theodor Braekken (NOR) was triumphant, 0.36 seconds ahead of fellow Scandinavian Gustav Wissting (SWE).

The 2025 Tarvisio Championships marked the eighth time Italy has hosted the World Juniors, more than any other country since the inaugural event in 1982.