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 which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA. 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.
Hermann Maier is an Austrian former World Cup champion alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist. Nicknamed the "Herminator", Maier ranks among the greatest alpine ski racers in history, with four overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals, and three World Championship titles. His 54 World Cup race victories – 24 super-G, 15 downhills, 14 giant slaloms, and 1 combined – rank third on the men's all-time list behind Ingemar Stenmark's 86 victories and Marcel Hirscher's 67 victories. As of 2013, he holds the record for the most points in one season by a male alpine skier, with 2000 points from the 2000 season. From 2000–2013 he also held the title of most points in one season by any alpine skier, until Tina Maze scored 2414 points in the 2013 season.
Tina Maze is a retired Slovenian World Cup alpine ski racer.
The 40th World Cup season began in October 2005 and concluded at the World Cup finals in Åre, Sweden, in March 2006. The schedule included a nearly month-long break in February for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
The 38th World Cup season began in October 2003 in Sölden, Austria, and concluded at the World Cup finals in Sestriere, Italy, in March 2004. Sestriere would host the alpine skiing events at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
The 30th World Cup season began in November 1995 in Tignes, France, and concluded in March 1996 at the World Cup finals in Lillehammer, Norway. The overall champions were Lasse Kjus of Norway and Katja Seizinger of Germany, the first of two overall titles for both.
The 29th World Cup season began in November 1994 in Park City, USA, and concluded in March 1995 at the World Cup finals in Bormio, Italy. The overall champions were Alberto Tomba of Italy and Vreni Schneider of Switzerland.
The 28th World Cup season began in late October 1993 in Sölden, Austria, and concluded in March 1994 at the World Cup finals at Vail in the United States. The overall champions were Kjetil André Aamodt of Norway and Vreni Schneider of Switzerland.
The 27th World Cup season began in November 1992 in Sestriere, Italy for men and Park City, Utah, USA for women, and concluded in March 1993 at the newly created World Cup Final in Åre, Sweden. A break in the schedule was for the 1993 World Championships, held in Morioka, Japan, from February 4–14.
The 26th World Cup season began in November 1991 in the United States and concluded in March 1992 in Switzerland. The overall winners were Paul Accola of Switzerland, his first, and Petra Kronberger of Austria, her third straight.
The 25th World Cup season began in August 1990 in New Zealand, resumed in December, and concluded in March 1991 in the United States. The overall winners were Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg, his fourth title and Petra Kronberger of Austria. This was the first season following the reunification of Germany and the last before the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
The 24th World Cup season began in August 1989 in Australia and Argentina, resumed in November 1989 in the United States and concluded in March 1990 in Sweden. During this season, the Soviet Union's empire collapsed, leading to the reunification of East and West Germany, the dissolution of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, and many other changes in Eastern Europe, which would have a significant effect on future World Cup seasons.
The 23rd World Cup season began in November 1988 in Austria and concluded in March 1989 in Japan. The overall champions were Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg and Vreni Schneider of Switzerland. Schneider established the record for victories in a World Cup season, winning a total of 14 races, surpassing the record of 13 established in 1978-79 by the great Swedish skier and three-time overall World Cup champion Ingemar Stenmark.
The 22nd World Cup season began in November 1987 in Italy and concluded in March 1988 in Austria. The overall champions were Pirmin Zurbriggen and Michela Figini, both of Switzerland. Zurbriggen won his third overall title; Figini her second.
The 21st World Cup season began in August 1986 in Argentina for men, resumed in late November, and concluded in March 1987 in Sarajevo. The overall champions were Pirmin Zurbriggen and Maria Walliser, both of Switzerland, who each won for the second time. Two-time women's overall World Cup champion Erika Hess of Switzerland retired at the end of the season.
The 20th World Cup season began in August 1985 in Argentina, resumed in December 1985 in Italy, and concluded in March 1986 in Canada. Because of the South America events, this was the first time that the World Cup season had started prior to December 1. The overall champions were Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg, his second consecutive overall win, and Maria Walliser of Switzerland, her first.
The 19th World Cup season began in December 1984 in Italy and concluded in March 1985 in the United States. The overall champions were Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg and Michela Figini of Switzerland; both were first-time champions.
The 4th World Cup season began in December 1969 in France and concluded in March 1970 in Norway. Karl Schranz of Austria won his second consecutive overall title. Michèle Jacot of France won the women's overall title.
The third World Cup season began in December 1968 and concluded in March 1969. This was the first season in which the races began prior to January 1, and that change immediately became permanent. Karl Schranz of Austria won the first of two consecutive overall titles. Gertrude Gabl of Austria won the women's overall title. For the first and only time in World Cup history, a discipline trophy was shared by more than two people, as four men tied for the Men's Slalom trophy.
The 47th World Cup season began on 27 October 2012, in Sölden, Austria, and concluded on 17 March 2013, at the World Cup finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The overall titles were won by Marcel Hirscher of Austria and Tina Maze of Slovenia.
Hermann Maier 
Regina Häusl 
Kjetil André Aamodt 
Špela Pretnar 
