Levi podium 2025: GEPA pictures
Shiffrin Opens Olympic Slalom Season With Brilliant Win in Levi
“It was kind of the perfect run—everything I could do.” – Mikaela Shiffrin
Colturi celebrates her 19th birthday with second; Aicher earns first World Cup slalom podium.
Mikaela Shiffrin delivered a statement victory in the opening women’s World Cup slalom of the Olympic season on Saturday in Levi, Finland, sweeping both runs and winning by a commanding 1.66 seconds under the Arctic lights. The American superstar claimed her ninth career Levi slalom win, her 65th slalom victory, and the 102nd World Cup win of her career.
Nineteen-year-old Albanian Lara Colturi, racing on her birthday, produced one of the most electrifying runs of her young career to finish second. Germany’s Emma Aicher skied with full commitment to land her first World Cup slalom podium in third.
Moltzan Attacks and Climbs 15 Places With the Second-Fastest Run
For the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, Paula Moltzan delivered one of the standout performances of the day. She charged through the second run with dynamic balance and world-class timing, posting the second-fastest second run (52.84 only Shiffrin was quicker at 52.84) and used it to rocket up the standings.
Moltzan started the second run in 19th place and climbed an astonishing 15 positions to finish fourth, missing the podium by just 0.15 seconds. Her run featured the fastest first and fourth sectors and stood as the benchmark for more than half the field.
“After a challenging first run, I knew I needed to shift into another gear to find a lot of time. I’m super happy with my skiing in the second run — I felt like I made some of my best turns. I couldn’t be happier to take the wooden spoon today. Huge thanks to the Levi course crew for the amazing conditions. And Mikaela put on an absolute clinic on how to ski Levi — she continues to impress everyone with her skiing.” — Paula Moltzan
Second Run Drama Builds Under Arctic Sky
As the sun hovered permanently below the horizon, the second run unfolded entirely under artificial light. Racers fought through a polished surface that punished hesitation.
Moltzan sat in the leader’s chair as some of the best groups in women’s slalom tried—and failed—to match her pace. She held off:
- Reigning world champion Camille Rast
- 2025 slalom globe winner Zrinka Ljutic
- Elite veterans Katharina Liensberger, Anna Swenn Larsson, and Wendy Holdener
Germany’s Emma Aicher finally broke through, charging into the lead by 0.15 with the same attacking style that has made her one of the most exciting young talents in the world.
“It feels pretty good — I honestly didn’t think my first World Cup slalom podium was going to happen today, but I’m really happy it did. I wasn’t thinking about my position going into the second run; I just wanted to ski well and push, and I think I managed that better on the second run. It’s only the first race of the season, so we’ll see what happens from here.” — Emma Aicher
Slovenia’s Neja Dvornik skied clean but slipped into 7th, while Norway’s Mina Fürst Holtmann—one of the fastest from the first run—straddled in Sector 2 and did not finish.
Then came Colturi.
Colturi Takes the Lead on Her 19th Birthday
Colturi lit the course on fire with one of the most inspired runs of the day. She attacked from the first gate, carried speed through the steep middle section, and executed world-class timing on the lower pitch. She crossed 0.93 seconds ahead of Aicher, guaranteeing her 13th career World Cup podium and fifth slalom podium.
Her run pushed Moltzan to third and Aicher to second with only one skier left: Mikaela Shiffrin.
“I’m really excited about what I did today, especially because I wasn’t expecting it — and it’s my birthday. I felt good in training, but not like this. To be on the podium with Mikaela means a lot. She has inspired me since I was a little girl, and sharing a podium with her today is really special. We’re the new generation coming up, and athletes like Mikaela have shown us the way. Now I get to celebrate with my team, my family, and my friends, so it couldn’t be a better birthday.” — Lara Colturi, Albania
Shiffrin Decides It With a Run Only She Can Produce
The world’s best slalom skier ended the race with a performance that showcased why she continues to reset the limits of the sport. Shiffrin built on her first-run lead and extended her margin over Colturi at every split.
She crossed the line a remarkable 1.66 seconds ahead of Colturi, securing her ninth Levi win—more than any woman in history at a single venue.
Mikaela Shiffrin Quote
“It was really one of the best runs I’ve done since training — kind of the perfect run I could imagine. We put in such good work this summer, and I trusted the training I did with my team. Today was about bringing the mentality and the intensity, and everything clicked. Levi can be challenging with the flat and the pitch, but it’s starting to feel more and more like home. I’m really happy to kick off the slalom season this way, and after the injuries the last couple of years, it feels amazing to have two races now where I felt really good.” — Mikaela Shiffrin.
Official Results – Levi Women’s Slalom
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – 1:48.92
- Lara Colturi (ALB) – +1.66
- Emma Aicher (GER) – +2.59
- Paula Moltzan (USA) – +2.74
- Lena Dürr (GER) – +2.74
Race Results
click images to enlarge
Run Analysis: Leaders, North Americans, and British Qualifiers
About the Author: Peter Lange
