Featured Image: Mikaela Shiffrin racing in Gürgl. Credit: GEPA
The women’s slalom season kicked off last week in Levi, and on Nov. 23, they took it to the slopes in Gürgl, Austria. While men competed here during last season’s successful debut, the women faced this slope for the first time in a World Cup competition.
Mikaela Shiffrin of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and the reigning 2024 slalom champion kicked off the new season with an impressive victory in Levi. She secured her 98th World Cup win in the first slalom race. She arrived at this new hill for the Women’s World Cup circuit, determined to accelerate her success and achieve more.
Starting bib-1, she did not hold back, unveiling another day of strong, confident skiing. She set a pace that proved very hard to beat (51.08).
This track is steep, with a 52% grade and the first set for the women was swung wide on the pitch. Thus, the women had to ski smart, remain strong on the outside ski and be quick on and off the edges.
Shiffrin stated, “Yeah, it was a little tricky. I think we all agree that it is a little bit hard to find the right, clean turn and good power in the turn. But in the end, I felt okay, handled it well, and it’s a pleasure to race here for the first time.”
Top Contenders Heading Into the Second Run
Katharina Liensberger of Austria started her first race of the season on a high note, beginning with a 2nd-place result. After her first run on the Gürgl track, she set herself up for another podium possibility.
After her podium finish in Levi, she stated, “I’m really looking forward to the next races.”
Wearing bib-2, Liensberger brought that momentum and came through each gate determined, quick through each transition. She finished +0.52 off of Shiffrin’s significant lead.
Her time held strong as the second fastest run until Wendy Holdener of Switzerland, wearing bib-14, finished with a competitive time, finishing only +0.13 behind the U.S. star. This added the pressure for Shiffrin heading into the second run.
Holdener has achieved 35 podium finishes throughout her slalom career and has secured two slalom victories. As she approaches the second run, she is determined to capture her third.
In Levi, Holdener faced challenges, finishing +2.75 seconds behind Shiffrin, which placed her in 16th position after the first slalom. However, in this run, she is demonstrating her potential to excel among the top competitors.
Lara Colturi, competing for Albania, started the day wearing bib 27, but that did not hold her back from attacking the pitch and skiing strong through a challenging course. She skied impressively into 4th position (+0.61) behind the lead.
Colturi’s top result in a World Cup slalom came last season with a 9th place. Today, she delivered her career-best World Cup run, so if she can carry that energy into the second run, it will be an exciting first podium for the Albanian.
North Americans
Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Paula Moltzan was the second-fastest North American on the first run.
Moltzan unveiled her power from the start and was close to Shiffrin’s time through the pitch. She almost lost it coming through the flush towards the bottom of the course, but she held it together and quickly recovered, finishing in 7th position.
Her teammate, Katie Hensien, wearing bib-43, also had an impressive first run. She concluded the first run in 11th position. She maintained remarkable speed as she finished the pitch, which helped her secure a strong position for the second run.
Laurence St-Germain, skiing for Alpine Canada Alpin, notably sits only +0.01 behind Hensien heading into the second run.
St-Germain’s career-best World Cup slalom finish was 5th in Are, Sweden. She will push hard to get onto the leaderboard on the second run.
Her teammate Ali Nullmeyer started bib 12 and was quick out of the start and managed the pitch well. She skied solid through the course, setting herself up in an advantageous position, +1.61 behind the lead.
Last season, Nullmeyer had 4 top-10 finishes and currently sits +0.23 behind 10th.
Nina O’Brien from the Stifel US Ski Team, along with Alpine Canada athletes Amelia Smart and Kiki Alexander, did not make it to the second run, but they performed admirably on the tough course.
Heading into the second run, it is significant that seven athletes outside of the top 30 qualified. Italian competitor Giorgia Collomb had the highest bib number, 64, to advance, finishing in 26th place.
The fastest athlete from outside of the top 30 was Italian Lara Della Mea, bib 40, who is heading into the second run in 10th position. She demonstrated strong skiing in the upper section and onto the pitch, propelling her into a prominent spot on the leaderboard.
Top 30 Results
Analysis of the Top Three
Analysis of North Americans
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
