Featured Image: Lena Dürr. Credit: GEPA
The women kicked off the second day at the Stifel Killington Cup with a challenging, tight course for the first run of slalom.
The Stifel Killington Cup began with the giant slalom event, where Mikaela Shiffrin aimed to make history by securing her 100th World Cup victory and reaching 155 podium finishes. After the first run, she was in a commanding position ahead of her competitors.
Unfortunately, during the second run, she experienced a crash and was taken to the hospital for assessment, where she suffered from abrasion and a puncture, but fortunately, no long-lasting damage. This incident significantly impacted the race today, especially since Shiffrin is the reigning champion, having won both slalom races this season.
The athletes were going to utilize Shiffrin’s absence today to try to secure their own victory.
German Lena Dürr put herself in a strong position heading into the second run to do just that. She put down a strong performance on the challenging course, transitioning quickly on and off the ski throughout the pitch. She heads into the second run in the lead by -0.11.
Dürr is one of three athletes who has achieved two top results in both World Cup slaloms this season. She took 3rd place in Levi and finished 5th in Gürgl. With these results, she entered today feeling confident and ready to make her mark on the leaderboard.
Anna Swenn Larsson of Sweden is not far behind heading into the second run. With two World Cup slalom victories under her belt, including one at Killington, she approached the course shining with confidence and delivered a stellar performance, finishing +0.11 behind Dürr.
Swiss athlete Camille Rast rounds out the top 3 fastest racers of the first run +0.12 behind Dürr. Camille Rast is one of the other athletes who also has two top-5 results after the first two slaloms of the season. She achieved a podium last weekend and it was prominent that she carried that confidence into the race today.
Six-tenths separate the top-5 athletes heading into the second run, which will make it an exhilarating push to the finish.
North Americans
Alpine Canada Alpin athlete Laurence St-Germain was the fastest North American in the first run. She skied strong through each section and attacked the pitch.
She has achieved 11th and 10th place in the first two slaloms this season. She will head into the second run just outside the top-10, +1.15 behind the lead. The Canadian will be looking to fight for another top-10 result.
Paula Moltzan had a fantastic first day in Killington, finishing 5th in the GS. Today, she started the run aggressively and quickly on and off the ski. She was a little more conservative on the pitch than the athletes before her, which caused her to lose time. She will head into the second run +1.31 behind the lead, in 15th position.
Ali Nullmeyer from Alpine Canada Alpin started the season with a DNF in Levi but returned in Gürgl to finish 18th. She will head into the second run in a solid position to earn another top-20 result. She is +1.59 behind the lead and sits in 19th.
Unfortunately, Stifel US Ski Team athletes Katie Hensien and Nina O’Brien and Alpine Canada Alpin athletes Amelia Smart and Kiki Alexander did not qualify for the second run.
Mia Hunt from the University of Denver raced her first World Cup today. She skied with grit from top to bottom but could not break into the second run.
Elisabeth Bocock had a great first day at Killington, earning her first World Cup points in the GS. However, she hurt her wrist during the second run, so she did not start the slalom today.
Attack From The Back Performances
The French athlete Clarisse Breche started the day wearing bib-54. She skied a solid first run, breaking into the top 30. Heading into the second run, she is sitting in the 19th position (+1.64).
Yesterday, Breche achieved the Stifel Bibbo Award with her impressive performance and today she has another chance to show the crowd her dominance on the leaderboard.
Additionally, Giorgia Collomb wore bib-59 and, with a promising performance, qualified for a second run. She will enter the second run in 26th position (+2.08).
Top 30 Results
Analysis of the Top Three
Analysis of the North Americans
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
