FIS Alpine Skiing July Points List Released: Braathen and Aicher Surge in Global Standings

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has officially released its July Base Points List, cementing the global standings that will dictate the starting order for the 2026–2027 Alpine Ski World Cup season. Published annually in the middle of the Northern Hemisphere's summer, this comprehensive ranking serves as the definitive snapshot of the sport's hierarchy following the conclusion of the winter circuit and the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. For the athletes, coaches, and federations currently deep into their off-season dryland training, these numbers represent far more than historical trivia. They are the mathematical foundation of the upcoming campaign, locking in the structural advantages and disadvantages that will shape the race for the crystal globes.[1]

In the high-stakes world of Alpine skiing, a racer's position on the July Base List directly determines their starting bib for the opening World Cup events, beginning with the traditional giant slalom opener in Sölden, Austria, this October. Starting in the elite top 15—or even the top 30—allows racers to navigate a pristine, hard-packed, and unrutted course. As each successive skier carves down the mountain, the snow inevitably degrades, forming deep trenches and icy chatter marks that make podium-level times exponentially more difficult to achieve. Consequently, those who have slipped down the rankings face a grueling uphill battle, forced to start later in the day when the course conditions are at their absolute worst.[2]

On the men's side of the ledger, Switzerland's Marco Odermatt remains the undisputed king of the mountain. The Swiss superstar secured his fourth consecutive overall World Cup title with a staggering 1,626 points, locking in the number one start position across multiple disciplines. Odermatt's sustained brilliance over the past four years has established him as the benchmark in both giant slalom and speed events, and his position atop the July list ensures he will continue to enjoy the best possible course conditions as he chases a fifth overall crown.[1]

However, the most dramatic and uplifting surge in the men's global standings belongs to Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. After sitting out a season and making the high-profile transition to represent Brazil, the 26-year-old technical specialist rocketed back to the top of the sport, finishing second in the overall standings with 1,058 points. Braathen's historic campaign not only marks the highest-ever Alpine finish for a South American nation but also guarantees him a coveted top-seven starting bib in the slalom and giant slalom disciplines for the upcoming season.[1][3]

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath sits in third place overall with 904 points, while Switzerland's Loïc Meillard rounds out the top four with 843 points. Their placements ensure that the powerhouse Swiss and Norwegian federations maintain their traditional stranglehold on the premier starting spots. For McGrath, breaking into the top three represents a significant milestone, solidifying his transition from a promising young talent to a consistent, week-in and week-out podium threat on the World Cup circuit.[1][4]

The women's standings reflect a thrilling generational battle that captivated fans and went down to the final weeks of the season. American icon Mikaela Shiffrin captured her record-tying sixth overall World Cup title, finishing the campaign with 1,386 points. Shiffrin's ability to consistently dominate across the technical disciplines has kept her at the pinnacle of the sport, and her position at the top of the July list secures the prime starting slots she needs as she continues to extend her all-time World Cup victory record.[1]

Yet, the biggest upward mover on the women's side is 22-year-old German phenom Emma Aicher. Competing in a grueling schedule across all four disciplines—downhill, super-G, giant slalom, and slalom—Aicher amassed 1,301 points to finish a remarkably close second to Shiffrin. Aicher's elite all-around performance means she is now seeded in the top tier across the board, a rare and exhausting feat that gives her a massive tactical advantage heading into the 2026–2027 campaign.[1][3]

Switzerland's Camille Rast, who finished third overall with 1,009 points, and Italy's Sofia Goggia, who claimed fourth with 982 points, have also cemented their elite status. Rast's technical precision and Goggia's fearless speed have earned them the crucial early bib numbers required to challenge for individual race victories. Their high seedings ensure that the battle for the overall globe will feature a diverse mix of specialists and all-arounders when the circuit resumes.[1][4]

Beyond individual glory, the July standings also finalize the FIS Nations Cup hierarchy, a critical metric that determines the total number of starting quotas each country is awarded. Austria dominated the overall Nations Cup with a massive 12,683 points, a testament to the sheer depth of their talent pool across both the men's and women's tours. This commanding lead ensures the Austrian federation will field the maximum allowable number of athletes, giving them the flexibility to develop younger racers on the premier circuit.[2]

Switzerland finished a distant but comfortable second in the Nations Cup with 5,170 points, while the United States took third with 4,741 points, bolstered heavily by Shiffrin's individual dominance. As national teams pack their gear and head to the Southern Hemisphere for late-summer, on-snow training camps in Chile and New Zealand, the July Base List provides the definitive roadmap for the season ahead. The math is settled, the starting tiers are locked, and the race for the crystal globes is ready to begin anew.[2]