Italian Speed Veteran Elena Curtoni Announces 2026-27 Will Be Her Final World Cup Season

The complexion of the upcoming Alpine Skiing World Cup season has just shifted for fans of the speed disciplines. When the circuit kicks off its downhill and Super-G calendar, every icy pitch and high-speed traverse will double as a farewell tour for one of the sport's most resilient competitors. For spectators who have followed the Italian women's speed dynasty over the last decade, the 2026-27 campaign is no longer just about crystal globes; it is about watching a veteran take her final laps on her own terms.

Elena Curtoni, the 35-year-old Italian speed specialist, has officially announced that the 2026-27 season will be the last of her professional career. In a heartfelt social media address to her supporters in early August, Curtoni confirmed she will step into the start gate one final time. "I can now say with peace in mind, I'll be at the starting gate for the 2026-27 season," she wrote, adding the definitive punctuation: "It will be my last season."[1][2]

The decision to return was far from automatic. Curtoni’s summer preparation was derailed almost immediately by a severe ankle injury that resulted in two torn ligaments. For an alpine skier, the ankle is the critical transmission point for transferring power to the ski edge at 80 miles per hour. The grueling rehabilitation process forced a period of intense reflection. Curtoni admitted that she had to put herself back on the line with new doubts, ultimately deciding that the effort to rebuild her body was worth one final chapter on the snow.[1][2]

Curtoni’s career has been defined by this exact cycle of physical breakdown and triumphant return. Alpine ski racing, particularly in the speed disciplines of downhill and Super-G, subjects the body to immense gravitational forces and catastrophic crash risks. Curtoni missed nearly the entire 2023-24 season due to a severe back fracture suffered in St. Moritz, only to fight her way back in the 2025-26 campaign. That comeback culminated in a deeply emotional victory in Val di Fassa, Italy, proving she still possessed the elite speed required to top a World Cup podium.[1][2]

Over her 17-year tenure on the World Cup circuit, Curtoni has quietly built a formidable resume. She has amassed 291 World Cup starts, putting the rare 300-start milestone well within reach for her final season. Her record includes four World Cup victories—split evenly with two in downhill and two in Super-G—alongside 13 total podiums and 65 top-ten finishes. In 2022, she reached a career-high second place in the overall Super-G standings and secured a fifth-place finish in the downhill at the Beijing Winter Olympics.[1][2][3][4][5]

Her achievements are particularly notable given the era in which she has competed. She has been a vital pillar of an Italian women’s speed team that has dominated the sport, racing alongside superstars like Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone. While she may not have always commanded the loudest headlines, her technical proficiency and multi-disciplinary capability made her one of the most respected figures in the locker room. She was never just a specialist; she was a reliable force who could master the nuanced demands of both pure speed and technical turning.[1][5]

The road ahead for the 2026-27 season will not be a ceremonial victory lap. Because of her recent injury interruptions, Curtoni is not currently listed among Italy's protected elite starting group. This means she will have to actively fight for her starting bibs throughout the winter, proving her fitness and speed in training runs to secure her spot on race day. It is a fittingly gritty setup for a skier who has never taken the easy route.[2]

Curtoni is targeting the first speed events of the World Cup season in Beaver Creek, Colorado, this December to launch her final campaign. Beyond the weekly World Cup stops, her ultimate competitive target looms in February: the 2027 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. A strong showing there would offer her a chance to capture a final global medal, but for Curtoni, the primary objective is simpler. "I can't wait to enjoy every moment of it," she stated, ready to embrace the mountain one last time.[1][2]