Maze overtakes Shiffrin in slalom standings

By Published On: March 10th, 2013Comments Off on Maze overtakes Shiffrin in slalom standings

You normally wouldn’t expect a 17-year-old to appear downtrodden after a podium finish on the World Cup at this point in the season. Most 17-year-olds, however, aren’t Mikaela Shiffrin.

In Ofterschwang, Germany, the American relinquished a her 33-point lead in the slalom standings, giving way to the one and only person who stands a chance at snatching up the globe. Tina Maze was in second after the first run, one-tenth of a second behind the pace of Shiffrin, who took the lead in the morning and usually doesn’t disappoint in the afternoon.

But the Slovenian is clearly on a mission. After becoming the first racer of either gender to surpass the single-season 2000 point mark set by Hermann Maier 13 years ago, Maze is storming through the final races of the season, undoubtedly now making a run for all five crystal globes.

With the win, Maze picked up 40 points on Shiffrin in the slalom standings, just enough to overtake the World Championship gold medalist, who now heads into the World Cup Final with 7 points to make up against the Slovenian.

“[The race] was really fun. It was really well done,” said Shiffrin. “It was unbelievable how the surface held up with all the workers working so hard on the hill. The surface felt like it wasn’t warm. … It was a dramatic difference between the warmup course and the race hill.

“I’m happy that I got a podium today, looking at the positives, but I definitely wanted to win,” she added. “In the end, I’m just trying to ski my best. I didn’t quite do that second run. It just means I’m going to go back and look at my video and figure out what I can do better.”

Shiffrin said nerves weren’t a problem Sunday; the last time she felt any was World Championships.

“It’s just what I do every day. I’m used to the skiing,” said Shiffrin. “Sometimes I’m not sure if I can make a great run happen, first run or second run, but it all comes together.”

As for the slalom title: “I’m just going to go as hard as I can and see if I can get it back. If not, I’m still happy. I’ve had an amazing season, so I can’t be disappointed. I’m definitely proud of myself but you can always want more. I always want more. … Tina has been having an amazing season, so that’s really cool and inspiring.”

It will all come down to the season finale Lenzerheide, where Shiffrin had a chance to train a couple weeks ago.

“It isn’t over ’til the fat lady sings,” said Shiffrin. “I know what the hill is like and I really like it. It’s always exciting to have it [come down to] the very last race. It’s important to the end.”

For Shiffrin, who will celebrate her 18th birthday this month, there are certain perks of maturity.

“I’ll be able to drive in Europe,” she said.

The SCOOP
by Hank McKee

Women’s World Cup slalom, Ofterschwang, Germany, March 10, 2013
Equipment

Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Maze, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
2 Holdener, Head/Head/Head
3 Shiffrin, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
4 Gagnon, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
5 Pietilae-Holmner, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
6 Hansdotter, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
7 Velez Zuzulova, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
8 Eklund, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
9 Hosp, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
10 Borssen, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer

Women’s World Cup slalom, Ofterschwang, Germany, March 10, 2013. … It is the 33rd of 37 races on the women’s schedule. … The eighth of nine scheduled slaloms and the tenth of 12 races counting for slalom points with two city events. … It is the 16th Cup race hosted by Ofterschwang. … the seventh slalom and sixth women’s slalom.

It is the 21st career World Cup win for Tina Maze. … her third in slalom. … It is her fourth straight podium result at Ofterschwang. … It is her 11 win of the season including one gold medal from World Championships. … It is her second slalom win of the season, the other coming at Maribor Jan. 27.

It is the first career World Cup podium for Wendy Holdener and her fifth top 10. … It is the sixth Swiss podium of the season and the second best single Swiss result this season (Lara Gut won the Val d’Isere DH Dec. 14).

It is the seventh career World Cup podium result for Mikaela Shiffrin. … the sixth in slalom plus one city event. … Six of those podiums, plus a World Championship have come this season.

It is the second best career result for Marie-Michele Gagnon coming a year to the day after her best, a third in slalom at Are. … It is the second time she has finished top five in slalom at Ofterschwang. … It is the fifth best career result for Anna Goodman. … and her only result this season.

Tina Maze leads the World Cup overall standings 2254-1065 over Maria Hoefl-Riesch (DNF 1st). … She cannot be beaten for the title and extends her record point total. … Anna Fenninger (did not race) is third overall with 984pts. … Julia Mancuso is fourth overall with 835pts, Lindsey Vonn fifth with 740pts and Mikaela Shiffrin eighth with 698pts. … Marie-Michele Gagnon is top Canadian overall in 19th with 349pts. … Maze takes over the lead of the slalom standings 595-588 over Shiffrin with one race remaining. Veronika Velez Zuzulova is third with 471pts and cannot overtake either. … Erin Mielzynski is top Canadian in 13th with 177pts. … Austria leads the women’s Nations Cup 4613-3381 over the US. … Germany is third with 2585pts and Canada ninth with 724pts. … Sweden leads the slalom standings 1236-1123 over Austria.

Results
Ofterschwang (GER)
FIS World Cup
Ladies’ Slalom

Rank Bib    Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time
 1  4 MAZE Tina  1983  SLO   54.55  58.30  1:52.85
 2  8 HOLDENER Wendy  1993  SUI   55.32  57.78  1:53.10
 3  5 SHIFFRIN Mikaela  1995  USA   54.45  59.15  1:53.60
 4  15 GAGNON Marie-Michele  1989  CAN   56.08  57.73  1:53.81
 5  1 PIETILAE-HOLMNER Maria  1986  SWE   55.36  59.08  1:54.44
 6  2 HANSDOTTER Frida  1985  SWE   55.68  59.17  1:54.85
 7  6 VELEZ ZUZULOVA Veronika  1984  SVK   55.91  59.00  1:54.91
 8  19 EKLUND Nathalie  1992  SWE   56.96  57.96  1:54.92
 9  16 HOSP Nicole  1983  AUT   56.64  58.37  1:55.01
 10  13 BORSSEN Therese  1984  SWE   56.24  58.83  1:55.07
 11  12 SCHILD Bernadette  1990  AUT   56.81  58.66  1:55.47
 12  26 MOUGEL Laurie  1988  FRA   57.43  58.05  1:55.48
 13  22 NOENS Nastasia  1988  FRA   57.36  58.18  1:55.54
 14  27 THALMANN Carmen  1989  AUT   57.07  58.56  1:55.63
 15  35 GOODMAN Anna  1986  CAN   58.13  57.65  1:55.78
 16  18 SWENN-LARSSON Anna  1991  SWE   56.80  59.02  1:55.82
 17  23 COSTAZZA Chiara  1984  ITA   57.68  58.21  1:55.89
 18  40 DEPAULI Jessica  1991  AUT   57.34  58.59  1:55.93
 19  7 ZETTEL Kathrin  1986  AUT   56.75  59.20  1:55.95
 20  30 WIKSTROEM Emelie  1992  SWE   57.20  58.85  1:56.05
 21  33 KIYOSAWA Emiko  1983  JPN   57.12  59.28  1:56.40
 22  20 DUERR Lena  1991  GER   57.89  58.76  1:56.65
 23  49 FILSER Andrea  1993  GER   58.04  59.05  1:57.09
Did not start 1st run
   45 BERTRAND Marion  1984  FRA       
   29 STIEGLER Resi  1985  USA       
   28 PHELAN Brittany  1991  CAN       
Did not qualify for 2nd run
   64 SIMARI BIRKNER Macarena  1984  ARG       
   63 GUTIERREZ Mireia  1988  AND       
   60 ALOPINA Ksenia  1992  RUS       
   59 LAVTAR Katarina  1988  SLO       
   58 HECTOR Sara  1992  SWE       
   55 DUBOVSKA Martina  1992  CZE       
   54 SOPPELA Merle  1991  FIN       
   53 BUCIK Ana  1993  SLO       
   52 BENZONI Marta  1990  ITA       
   51 IGNJATOVIC Nevena  1990  SRB       
   50 SMEDH Veronica  1988  SWE       
   48 MARMOTTAN Anemone  1988  FRA       
   47 NIGG Marina  1984  LIE       
   46 BREM Eva-Maria  1988  AUT       
   44 TERWIEL Elli  1989  CAN       
   43 PARDELLER Sarah  1988  ITA       
   39 CHMELAR Fanny  1985  GER       
   37 SAEFVENBERG Charlotta  1994  SWE       
   36 VLHOVA Petra  1995  SVK       
   32 LOESETH Mona  1991  NOR       
   31 WORLEY Tessa  1989  FRA       
Did not finish 2nd run
   41 GISIN Michelle  1993  SUI       
   34 AZZOLA Michela  1991  ITA       
   25 BARTHET Anne-Sophie  1988  FRA       
   24 DAUM Alexandra  1986  AUT       
   21 LOESETH Nina  1989  NOR       
   17 GEIGER Christina  1990  GER       
   14 MIELZYNSKI Erin  1990  CAN       
Did not finish 1st run
   62 KANTOROVA Barbara  1992  SVK       
   61 SIMARI BIRKNER Maria Belen  1982  ARG       
   57 PERSYN Karen  1983  BEL       
   56 GASIENICA DANIEL Agnieszka  1987  POL       
   42 GRASSL Paulina  1994  SWE       
   38 AUBERT Sandrine  1982  FRA       
   11 KIRCHGASSER Michaela  1985  AUT       
   10 CURTONI Irene  1985  ITA       
   9 ZAHROBSKA Sarka  1985  CZE       
   3 HOEFL-RIESCH Maria  1984  GER       

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About the Author: Geoff Mintz

Geoff Mintz is a former alpine ski racer who cut his teeth at Ragged Mountain and Waterville Valley, N.H. After graduating from Holderness and UVM, he relocated to Colorado, where he worked on the hill prior to pursuing a career in journalism. Mintz served as associate editor for Ski Racing Media from 2011 to 2015. He later reconnected with his local roots to manage all marketing and communications for Ski & Snowboard Club Vail before resuming work at SRM as editor-in-chief.