Petra Vlhova (SVK) and a reindeer. Photo: GEPA pictures/ Harald Steiner

Olympic Champion Petra Vlhová returns to the top step, her sixth career Levi World Cup slalom victory, which ties Mikaela Shiffrin. Today is her 20th career Slalom win, which she earned with superior skiing. Running last in the afternoon contest, she delivered the fastest time of the finale (-0.53) ahead of the second-fastest Austrian Katharina Liensberger. Vlhová wins the race by an astonishing (-1.41)

Germany’s Lena Duerr had another fantastic day and stood on the second step of the podium. Duerr earned her third career Levi Podium and 9th total. When she arrived at the finish, it was hard to think she could be beaten, and it took excellence by Vlhová to relegate her to second.

It is excellent for the sport to see Liensberger back near the top of the leaderboard. The fallen 2021 slalom champion kicked out of the start wearing bib 21, and her skiing showed renewed passion. She finished the day in 3rd place with a massive smile. Her last podium was a victory in Sweden in 2022.

Vlhová told AP Newsroom, “Honestly, I didn’t expect such a gap between me, Lena, and Katharina. But I feel good. I’m enjoying skiing, and I feel confident.”

Shiffrin, 4th (+1.70), is having a solid start to the season. It was just a few weeks ago when, for multiple reasons, she declared she would build into the new season. Considering her statement, she has started this winter with good results to build on.

Shiffrin and Vlhová have been the only women to win Levi in the season-opening slalom since Slovanian, Tina Maze in 2014.

Canada’s Nullmeyer

Canadian Ali Nullmeyer revealed that her world-class speed is back. 3rd fastest on the second run, Nullmeyer was the only North American leading after finishing her second run. Then Nullmeyer enjoyed the comfort of the leader’s throne for the following 13 racers. Sara Hector of Sweden, 5th, finished the morning run in sixth place and finally displaced the Canadian from the leader’s throne. Nullmeyer finished the day in 6th place (+2.97), her fifth top-10 finish on the World Cup circuit.

“I’m really, really happy with today,” said a smiling Nullmeyer. “Coming to this first race of the season I wanted to set a good foundation that I could build on. After the first run I felt like I could really build on the feelings that I had. I went out for the second run and pushed a little harder. I really tried to trust myself and to just ski and have fun.”

Alpine Canada’s coaching staff was very excited for Nullmeyer as well. Francis Royal, Head Coach of Women’s Tech, said, “I’m super happy for Ali. She had a great attitude today; she was calm and focused and knew what she had to do on the second run. She skied super well approaching the pitch, was committed through the pitch and executed her plan.”

The drama built throughout the second run. The conditions remained excellent, and good skiing was always rewarded with fast times throughout the race.

US star Paula Moltzan is very good, but today, she struggled to show her best and did not improve during her second run. Her second run started with speed, but she leaned in slightly at the top of the pitch, which gave away her speed before a critical section. However, last season was her best, even though she could not finish either race in Levi. So today is undoubtedly an improvement from 2022, as she finished 15th (+3.84).

Moltzan stated, “Today was a good start to the slalom season. I am happy with how I skied some sections of the course, but I hope to find more speed and put it all together tomorrow! The top girls skied amazing today and I will try and vibe with that.”

Canada’s Amelia Smart also struggled to deliver her best in the afternoon run and moved back three places to 27th (+5.75).

Young emerging racers

It was an exciting day for the Australian University of Utah’s All-American Madison Hoffman. Skiing with bib 36, the 23-year-old scored her career first points in her third World Cup, finishing 25th.

Stifel US Ski Team, Dasha Romanov had her World Cup debut. She said, “It was such an amazing experience to have my first World Cup start! The atmosphere is incredible and it was a really fun day. I definitely had a rough run and know that I have a lot more to show, but it was nice to break the ice! Definitely going to remember this one.”

Fourteen nations were represented on the second run.

Levi slalom results from November 11th and Analysis of the fastest three and North Americans

Analysis of the fastest three and North Americans