The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts that included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France (Honore Bonnet) and the USA (Bob Beattie). Also available under . It was soon backed by International Ski Federation president Marc Hodler during the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1966 at Portillo, Chile, and became an official FIS event in the spring of 1967 after the FIS Congress at Beirut, Lebanon.
The inaugural World Cup race was held on 5 January 1967 in Berchtesgaden, West Germany, a slalom won by Heinrich Messner of Austria. Jean-Claude Killy of France and Nancy Greene of Canada were the overall winners for the first two seasons.
Rules Competitors attempt to achieve the best time in four disciplines: slalom, giant slalom, super G, and downhill. The fifth event, the combined, employs the downhill and slalom. The World Cup originally included only slalom, giant slalom, and downhill races. Combined events (calculated using results from selected downhill and slalom races) were included starting with the 1974–75 season, while the Super G was added at the 1982–83 season.
The current scoring system was implemented in the 1991–92 season. For every race points are awarded to the top 30 finishers: 100 points to the winner, 80 for second, 60 for third, winding down to 1 point for 30th place. The racer with the most points at the end of the season in mid-March wins the cup, represented by a 9 kilogram crystal globe. Sub-prizes are also awarded in each individual race discipline, with a smaller 3.5 kg crystal globe.
Since 1967, the big crystal globe has been awarded for the overall title. From the beginning to 1971–72, discipline titles were awarded with medals. Statistically, those titles have the same value as the small crystal globes, which first appeared for discipline titles in slalom, giant slalom and downhill in the 1977–78. In super-G, the small globe has been awarded since 1985–86. For super-g races in the three seasons previous, points were added and calculated in the giant slalom ranking.
The World Cup is held annually, and is considered the premier competition for alpine ski racing after the quadrennial Winter Olympics. Many consider the World Cup to be a more valuable title than the Olympics or the biennial World Championships, since it requires a competitor to ski at an extremely high level in several disciplines throughout the season, and not just in one race.
Races are hosted primarily at ski resorts in the Alps in Europe, with regular stops in Scandinavia, North America, and east Asia, but a few races have also been held in the Southern Hemisphere. World Cup competitions have been hosted in 25 countries around the world: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
Lower competitive circuits include the NorAm Cup in North America and the Europa Cup in Europe.
Overall winners
Men's individual SeasonWinnerRunner-upThird place 1967 Jean-Claude Killy Heinrich Messner Guy Périllat 1968 Jean-Claude Killy (2) Dumeng Giovanoli Herbert Huber 1968–69 Karl Schranz Jean-Noël Augert Reinhard Tritscher 1969–70 Karl Schranz (2) Patrick Russel Gustav Thöni 1970–71 Gustav Thöni Henri Duvillard Patrick Russel 1971–72 Gustav Thöni Henri Duvillard (2) Edmund Bruggmann 1972–73 Gustav Thöni David Zwilling Roland Collombin 1973–74 Piero Gros Gustav Thöni Hansi Hinterseer 1974–75 Gustav Thöni (4) Ingemar Stenmark Franz Klammer 1975–76 Ingemar Stenmark Piero Gros Gustav Thöni (2) 1976–77 Ingemar Stenmark Klaus Heidegger Franz Klammer (2) 1977–78 Ingemar Stenmark (3) Phil Mahre Andreas Wenzel 1978–79 Peter Luscher Leonhard Stock Phil Mahre 1979–80 Andreas Wenzel Ingemar Stenmark Phil Mahre (2) 1980–81 Phil Mahre Ingemar Stenmark Aleksandr Zhirov 1981–82 Phil Mahre Ingemark Stenmark Steve Mahre 1982–83 Phil Mahre (3) Ingemar Stenmark Andreas Wenzel 1983–84 Pirmin Zurbriggen Ingemar Stenmark (6) Marc Girardelli 1984–85 Marc Girardelli Pirmin Zurbriggen Andreas Wenzel (3) 1985–86 Marc Girardelli Pirmin Zurbriggen Markus Wasmeier 1986–87 Pirmin Zurbriggen Marc Girardelli Markus Wasmeier (2) 1987–88 Pirmin Zurbriggen Alberto Tomba Hubert Strolz 1988–89 Marc Girardelli Pirmin Zurbriggen (3) Alberto Tomba 1989–90 Pirmin Zurbriggen (4) Ole Kristian Furuseth Günther Mader 1990–91 Marc Girardelli Alberto Tomba Rudolf Nierlich 1991–92 Paul Accola Alberto Tomba (3) Marc Girardelli (2) 1992–93 Marc Girardelli (5) Kjetil André Aamodt Franz Heinzer 1993–94 Kjetil André Aamodt Marc Girardelli (2) Alberto Tomba (2) 1994–95 Alberto Tomba Günther Mader Jure Košir 1995–96 Lasse Kjus Günther Mader (2) Michael von Grünigen 1996–97 Luc Alphand Kjetil André Aamodt Josef Strobl 1997–98 Hermann Maier Andreas Schifferer Stephan Eberharter 1998–99 Lasse Kjus (2) Kjetil André Aamodt Hermann Maier 1999–2000 Hermann Maier Kjetil André Aamodt Josef Strobl (2) 2000–01 Hermann Maier Stephan Eberharter Lasse Kjus 2001–02 Stephan Eberharter Kjetil André Aamodt (5) Bode Miller 2002–03 Stephan Eberharter (2) Bode Miller Kjetil André Aamodt 2003–04 Hermann Maier (4) Stephan Eberharter (2) Benjamin Raich 2004–05 Bode Miller Benjamin Raich Hermann Maier (2) 2005–06 Benjamin Raich Aksel Lund Svindal Bode Miller (2) 2006–07 Aksel Lund Svindal Benjamin Raich Didier Cuche 2007–08 Bode Miller (2) Benjamin Raich Didier Cuche 2008–09 Aksel Lund Svindal (2) Benjamin Raich Didier Cuche 2009–10 Carlo Janka Benjamin Raich (5) Didier Cuche (4) 2010–11 Ivica Kostelić Didier Cuche Carlo Janka 2011–12 Marcel Hirscher Beat Feuz Aksel Lund Svindal 2012–13 Marcel Hirscher Aksel Lund Svindal Ted Ligety 2013–14 Marcel Hirscher Aksel Lund Svindal (3) Alexis Pinturault 2014–15 Marcel Hirscher Kjetil Jansrud Alexis Pinturault 2015–16 Marcel Hirscher Henrik Kristoffersen Alexis Pinturault (3) 2016–17 Marcel Hirscher Kjetil Jansrud (2) Henrik Kristoffersen 2017–18 Marcel Hirscher Henrik Kristoffersen Aksel Lund Svindal (2) 2018–19 Marcel Hirscher (8) Alexis Pinturault Henrik Kristoffersen 2019–20 Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Alexis Pinturault (2) Henrik Kristoffersen 2020–21 Alexis Pinturault Marco Odermatt Marco Schwarz 2021–22 Marco Odermatt Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Henrik Kristoffersen 2022–23 Marco Odermatt Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (2) Henrik Kristoffersen (5) 2023–24 Marco Odermatt Loïc Meillard Manuel Feller 2024–25 Marco Odermatt Henrik Kristoffersen (3) Loïc Meillard 2025–26 Marco Odermatt (5) Lucas Pinheiro Braathen Atle Lie McGrath
Statistics by country
Women's individual SeasonWinnerRunner-upThird place 1967 Nancy Greene Marielle Goitschel Annie Famose 1968 Nancy Greene (2) Isabelle Mir Florence Steurer 1968–69 Gertrude Gabl Florence Steurer Wiltrud Drexel 1969–70 Michèle Jacot Françoise Macchi Florence Steurer (2) 1970–71 Annemarie Pröll Michèle Jacot Isabelle Mir 1971–72 Annemarie Pröll Françoise Macchi (2) Britt Lafforgue 1972–73 Annemarie Pröll Monika Kaserer Patricia Emonet 1973–74 Annemarie Pröll Monika Kaserer (2) Hanni Wenzel 1974–75 Annemarie Moser-Pröll Hanni Wenzel Rosi Mittermaier 1975–76 Rosi Mittermaier Lise-Marie Morerod Monika Kaserer 1976–77 Lise-Marie Morerod Annemarie Moser-Pröll Monika Kaserer (2) 1977–78 Hanni Wenzel Annemarie Moser-Pröll Lise-Marie Morerod 1978–79 Annemarie Moser-Pröll (6) Hanni Wenzel Irene Epple 1979–80 Hanni Wenzel (2) Annemarie Moser-Pröll (3) Marie-Theres Nadig 1980–81 Marie-Theres Nadig Erika Hess Hanni Wenzel (2) 1981–82 Erika Hess Irene Epple Christin Cooper 1982–83 Tamara McKinney Hanni Wenzel Erika Hess 1983–84 Erika Hess (2) Hanni Wenzel (4) Tamara McKinney 1984–85 Michela Figini Brigitte Örtli Maria Walliser 1985–86 Maria Walliser Erika Hess (2) Vreni Schneider 1986–87 Maria Walliser (2) Vreni Schneider Brigitte Örtli 1987–88 Michela Figini (2) Brigitte Örtli (2) Anita Wachter 1988–89 Vreni Schneider Maria Walliser Michela Figini 1989–90 Petra Kronberger Anita Wachter Michaela Gerg 1990–91 Petra Kronberger Sabine Ginther Vreni Schneider (2) 1991–92 Petra Kronberger (3) Carole Merle Katja Seizinger 1992–93 Anita Wachter Katja Seizinger Carole Merle 1993–94 Vreni Schneider Pernilla Wiberg Katja Seizinger (2) 1994–95 Vreni Schneider (3) Katja Seizinger Heidi Zeller 1995–96 Katja Seizinger Martina Ertl Anita Wachter (2) 1996–97 Pernilla Wiberg Katja Seizinger (3) Hilde Gerg 1997–98 Katja Seizinger (2) Martina Ertl (2) Hilde Gerg (2) 1998–99 Alexandra Meissnitzer Hilde Gerg Renate Götschl 1999–2000 Renate Götschl Michaela Dorfmeister Régine Cavagnoud 2000–01 Janica Kostelić Renate Götschl Régine Cavagnoud (2) 2001–02 Michaela Dorfmeister Renate Götschl Sonja Nef 2002–03 Janica Kostelić Karen Putzer Anja Pärson 2003–04 Anja Pärson Renate Götschl (3) Maria Riesch 2004–05 Anja Pärson (2) Janica Kostelić Renate Götschl (2) 2005–06 Janica Kostelić (3) Anja Pärson Michaela Dorfmeister 2006–07 Nicole Hosp Marlies Schild Julia Mancuso 2007–08 Lindsey Vonn Nicole Hosp Maria Riesch 2008–09 Lindsey Vonn Maria Riesch Anja Pärson 2009–10 Lindsey Vonn Maria Riesch Anja Pärson (3) 2010–11 Maria Riesch Lindsey Vonn Tina Maze 2011–12 Lindsey Vonn (4) Tina Maze Maria Höfl-Riesch (3) 2012–13 Tina Maze Maria Höfl-Riesch Anna Fenninger 2013–14 Anna Fenninger Maria Höfl-Roesch (4) Lara Gut 2014–15 Anna Fenninger (2) Tina Maze (2) Lindsey Vonn 2015–16 Lara Gut Lindsey Vonn (2) Viktoria Rebensburg 2016–17 Mikaela Shiffrin Ilka Štuhec Sofia Goggia 2017–18 Mikaela Shiffrin Wendy Holdener Viktoria Rebensburg (2) 2018–19 Mikaela Shiffrin Petra Vlhová Wendy Holdener 2019–20 Federica Brignone Mikaela Shiffrin Petra Vlhová 2020–21 Petra Vlhová Lara Gut-Behrami Michelle Gisin 2021–22 Mikaela Shiffrin Petra Vlhová (2) Federica Brignone 2022–23 Mikaela Shiffrin Lara Gut-Behrami Petra Vlhová (2) 2023–24 Lara Gut-Behrami (2) Federica Brignone Mikaela Shiffrin 2024–25 Federica Brignone (2) Lara Gut-Behrami (3) Sofia Goggia (2) 2025–26 Mikaela Shiffrin (6) Emma Aicher Camille Rast
Statistics by country
Individual titles by country NationTotalMenWomen 34 17 17 24 11 13 16 5 11 8 6 2 6 6 – 6 3 3 5 4 1 5 5 – 4 1 3 3 – 3 3 1 2 2 – 2 1 – 1 1 – 1 1 – 1
Men overall titles The following skiers have at least three overall alpine World Cup titles. NameCareerOverallDisciplinesDHSGGSSLKB Marcel Hirscher 2007–2019 8 – – 6 6 – Marc Girardelli 1980–1996 5 2 – 1 3 4 5 3 4 4 – – Gustav Thöni 1969–1980 4 – 3 2 – 1981–1990 4 2 4 1 – 3 Hermann Maier 4 2 5 3 – – Phil Mahre 1975–1984 3 – – 2 1 4 Ingemar Stenmark 1973–1989 3 – 7 8 –
Women overall titles The following skiers have at least three overall alpine World Cup titles. NameCareerOverallDisciplinesDHSGGSSLKB 1969–1980 6 7 3 – Mikaela Shiffrin 6 – 1 2 9 – Lindsey Vonn 4 8 5 – – 3 Petra Kronberger 1987–1992 3 – – – 1 – Vreni Schneider 1984–1995 3 – – 5 6 – Janica Kostelić 1998–2006 3 – – – 3 4
Discipline winners
Individual titles men The four main diciplines