Mikaela Shffrin / GEPA picture
Women’s World Cup Slalom: Shiffrin’s streak leads a stacked start list in Kranjska Gora
The defining storyline of women’s World Cup slalom remains unchanged as the circuit arrives in Slovenia: can anyone stop Mikaela Shiffrin?
Shiffrin brings a six-race winning streak into the women’s slalom at Kranjska Gora. She has won all five slaloms this season. Until someone stops her, the streak defines the discipline.
The season has reached its midpoint, and the Olympic pressure is already unmistakable.
Midseason pressure in an Olympic winter
Kranjska Gora marks the sixth slalom of a 10-race season. Including Kranjska Gora, three slaloms remain before the Olympics, followed by two more after the Games.
The structure leaves little room for conservative skiing. Athletes are competing for Olympic selection, starting positions, and invitations to the finals. Every run also shapes confidence in a discipline where margins are thin.
Shiffrin controls the standings
At the midpoint of the season, Shiffrin has already created separation.
Top five — Women’s World Cup slalom standings (after Semmering, 5/10):
- 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (1995) — WC Season Rank: 1 — 500 pts — Atomic, Oakley
- 🇦🇱 Lara Colturi (2006) — WC Season Rank: 2 — 280 pts — Blizzard
- 🇨🇭 Camille Rast (1999) — WC Season Rank: 3 — 262 pts — HEAD
- 🇨🇭 Wendy Holdener (1993) — WC Season Rank: 4 — 208 pts — HEAD
- 🇦🇹 Katharina Truppe (1996) — WC Season Rank: 5 — 186 pts — Völkl
Shiffrin has won six straight World Cup slaloms dating back to last season’s finals, forcing the rest of the field to attack to stay relevant.
Top seven starters — Kranjska Gora women’s slalom:
- Bib 1 🇩🇪 Lena Dürr (1991) — WC Season Rank: 6 — 180 pts — HEAD
- Bib 2 🇭🇷 Zrinka Ljutić (2004) — WC Season Rank: 16 — 72 pts — Atomic
- Bib 3 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (1995) — WC Season Rank: 1 — 500 pts — Atomic, Oakley
- Bib 4 🇨🇭 Wendy Holdener (1993) — WC Season Rank: 4 — 208 pts — HEAD
- Bib 5 🇺🇸 Paula Moltzan (1994) — WC Season Rank: 7 — 172 pts
- Bib 6 🇨🇭 Camille Rast (1999) — WC Season Rank: 3 — 262 pts — HEAD
- Bib 7 🇦🇱 Lara Colturi (2006) — WC Season Rank: 2 — 280 pts — Blizzard
With Shiffrin starting third, the tone of the race will be set immediately on a hill that punishes hesitation.
🇺🇸 Stifel US Ski Team — Women’s Slalom Entries
- Bib 3 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (1995) — WC Season Rank: 1 — 500 pts — Atomic, Oakley
- Bib 5 🇺🇸 Paula Moltzan (1994) — WC Season Rank: 7 — 172 pts
- Bib 31 🇺🇸 A.J. Hurt (2000) — 0 pts — HEAD
- Bib 36 🇺🇸 Elisabeth Bocock (2005) — 0 pts
- Bib 42 🇺🇸 Nina O’Brien (1997) — WC Season Rank: 46 — 5 pts
- Bib 43 🇺🇸 Liv Moritz (2004) — 0 pts
Only three U.S. women have scored slalom points so far this season, but several younger athletes have shown world-class speed, underscoring how fine the margins have been.
🇨🇦 Alpine Canada — Women’s Slalom Entries
- Bib 12 🇨🇦 Laurence St-Germain (1994) — WC Season Rank: 13
- Bib 32 🇨🇦 Amelia Smart (1998) — WC Season Rank: 35 — Atomic
- Bib 48 🇨🇦 Kiki Alexander (2001)
- Bib 55 🇨🇦 Sarah Bennett (2001)
Canada is also without Ali Nullmeyer, who continues to work toward a return to racing. The hope is to see her back in a World Cup start gate before the Olympics.
Course notes
The women race on Podkoren 3 in Kranjska Gora. Sunday’s first run features 65 gates (64 turning gates).
Course setters: First run — Alessandro Colturi (ALB); second run — Sascha Sorio (SWE)
At the season’s midpoint, the reality is clear: we are witnessing the most successful ski racer in history, and fans are fortunate to watch it unfold in real time — race by race — until someone finally finds a way to stop her.
How to Watch
The women’s slalom is set for Sunday, January 4. Run one begins at 3:30 a.m. ET / 12:30 a.m. PT, followed by run two at 6:15 a.m. ET / 3:15 a.m. PT. Fans in Great Britain can tune in at 8:30 for the first run and 11:15 for the second.
- United States: Live and replay coverage on Ski and Snowboard Live
- Canada: Stream on CBC Sports
- Great Britain: Both races air live on Discovery+
Daily Program
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About the Author: Peter Lange
