Paula Moltzan achieved her career-best performance in giant slalom to kick off the alpine skiing World Cup season, raising concerns about peaking too early with the Milan-Cortina Olympics still over three months away.
When asked if she might be hitting her peak prematurely, Moltzan responded, “No, I don’t think so. I’m focused on establishing a strong foundation to progress from.”
While the World Cup season spans five months and is crucial for skiers, the opportunity to compete for Olympic honors only occurs every four years, leading to questions about how athletes can time their peak performance for the Games.
Moltzan, who secured second place behind Austrian skier Julia Scheib in the giant slalom event, acknowledged the importance of timing her peak, with her coaches closely monitoring her training and recovery to ensure she is in optimal condition for the Olympics.
Two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin approaches her training differently, emphasizing the need for daily strategic planning to maintain high performance levels throughout the season without peaking too soon.
Opinions vary among skiers regarding the feasibility and desirability of structuring an entire World Cup season around the Olympics, with external factors often influencing the outcome on race day.
Italian racer Sofia Goggia and Swiss champion Lara Gut-Behrami adopt a consistent approach to their season preparations, focusing on giving their best in every race to ensure peak performance by the time the Olympics arrive.
Alexis Pinturault, a former overall World Cup champion who now concentrates on giant slalom events, believes that success can be planned, particularly when competing in a single discipline like giant slalom.
Norwegian skier Henrik Kristoffersen emphasizes the importance of winning races consistently to build momentum and peak at the right time for the Olympics.