Holdener ties for the win with Swenn Larsson; Shiffrin fifth in Killington slalom

Photo: Killington slalom podium, 2022. Holdener, Swenn Larsson, Truppe. GEPA pictures.

Wendy Holdener will share her first World Cup victory with Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson. Swenn Larson was in fifth after the first run, Holdener was in second. Swenn Larson saw Holdener cross the finish with a green light and took a moment before realizing it was a tie. Both women have accomplished what they haven’t before – winning their first individual event in the World Cup. 

It was Holdener’s first slalom win after finishing 30 times on the podium for the unwanted record of most World Cup podium finishes without a win in a discipline.

“I don’t know what to say, I am so happy and I have a lot of emotions,” the 29-year-old Holdener said. “It’s a dream come true and I fight really hard for this one so I’m super happy.”

It was a first individual World Cup success for Swenn Larsson of Sweden.

“I gave it all and to be tied first when I came into the finish was such a relief,” she said. “In the end it’s perfect so now we can share our first win together.”

Katharina Truppe of Austria completes the podium with only her third World Cup slalom podium. 

Mikaela Shiffrin was bidding for a sixth straight win in Killington. The American was fastest in the first run and was a crowd favorite to win, but finished fifth to a massive ovation, 0.59 seconds behind the winning duo. She was wonderfully gracious in defeat. Never one to squander an opportunity to learn, she will take the lessons offered by the weekend to become even better. Not easy when you are as good as she is. Shiffrin continues to lead the overall and slalom World Cup standings.

“I fought. I think some spots I got a little bit off my timing, but I was pushing, and that’s slalom,” Shiffrin said. “Wendy and Anna they finally got their first win and it’s a tie. It’s a pretty special day, actually.”

Once again, Killington has provided fantastic entertainment for ski racing fans. 

Warm snow continued to affect the results of the athletes. The rising temperature provided one of the great stories of the race. 

As predicted, the start numbers influenced the results. Bib 32, Austrian Franziska Gritsch, finished 30th on the first run and was first to ski the second course. By winning the run, she was able to move up 22 positions. Even though the skiers starting behind her had time advantages from the first run, her athletic performance combined with her start advantage proved too much for most to match. 

Gritsch held the lead through 19 women before Norwegian Maria, tenth on the first run, knocked her out of the leader’s chair. At the end of the race, she had moved into eigth place.

North American women continue to show they are among the world’s best slalom skiers. 

Canadian and University of Denver graduate Amelia Smart skied a good run and, after six previous attempts, scored her first Killington slalom points. When Smart finished, she was in second, but there were many more elite athletes to come. Smart finished a very respectable 16th place. 

Additionally, Ali Nullmeyer of Canada and Middlebury College skied well and finished in the points; she was in 5th place when she finished the second run, but there were still many elite slalom skiers yet to start. However, she remained in the top 15, finishing 14th. Nullmeyer continues to show she is progressing upward in the sport. 

It must be said that once again, Killington showed there is considerable support for World Cup racing in the East. Thanks again to all the people who made the event possible. 

Analysis of top 3 and North Americans in the top 30

Race results Killington World Cup slalom 11/27/22

The Associated Press and Ski Racing Media contributed to this report.