Mikaela Shiffrin: GEPA pictures
Shiffrin Wins First Run, Chasing Seventh Åre Slalom Victory
ÅRE, Sweden — Wearing bib 1, Mikaela Shiffrin charged out of the gate and never looked back, winning the first run of Sunday’s World Cup slalom in Åre with a commanding time of 51.27 seconds. The American, already the most successful slalom skier in World Cup history, put herself in prime position to claim her seventh career slalom victory at the Swedish resort.
Germany’s Lena Dürr came closest to challenging Shiffrin’s pace, finishing just 0.43 seconds behind. Swedish fans had plenty to cheer for as home favorite Sara Hector attacked the course confidently, securing third fastest at 0.48 back. Austria’s Katharina Liensberger and Switzerland’s Mélanie Meillard rounded out the top five, sitting 0.52 and 0.57 off the lead, respectively. Unfortunately for the Swedish fans, Hectoe was disqualified between runs, leaving Dürr as the only skier within half a second of Shiffrin.
A Tight Race for the Podium
The battle for victory remains wide open, with small margins separating the top contenders. Five skiers finished within 0.57 seconds of Shiffrin, and nine racers completed their first run within a second of her time. This group—including Slovenia’s Andreja Slokar, Austria’s Katharina Truppe, Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener, and Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson—will be the most likely to challenge for podium spots in the afternoon finale.
A Tough Field to Break Into
With the fastest 30 determined, qualifying for the second run proved especially challenging. Unlike many slalom races, where early mistakes open the door for higher bibs, this course demanded precise execution and quick reactions. Only one of the first 30 skiers—Germany’s Emma Aicher—failed to finish, and just two, Canada’s Laurence St-Germain and Ali Nullmeyer, lost significant time, finishing well off the pace.
With few openings available, later starters needed exceptional performances to break into the top 30. Those who succeeded were rewarded for good skiing on a course that held up well throughout the first run, despite shifting conditions.
By the end of the first run, six skiers wearing bibs above 30 had fought their way into the top 30 and secured a second run. Italy’s Marta Rossetti was the fastest among them, who started with bib 32 and finished 22nd, 2.43 seconds behind Shiffrin. The final skier to qualify was her teammate, Emilia Mondinelli, who wore bib 44 and claimed 28th place. The spread between the first-run leader and the last qualifier was 3.23 seconds, underlining just how competitive the morning session had been.
North Americans in the Second Run
Five North American skiers qualified for the afternoon finale, with four from the United States and one from Canada making the top 30:
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – 1st place, 51.27 seconds
- Paula Moltzan (USA) – 11th place, 52.48 (+1.21)
- Amelia Smart (CAN) – 24th place, 54.22 (+2.95)
- Katie Hensien (USA) – 28th place, 54.43 (+3.16)
- A.J. Hurt (USA) – 28th place, 54.43 (+3.16)
Shiffrin led the field with a commanding first run, while Moltzan positioned herself well within the top 15. Smart, Hensien, and Hurt will aim to improve their standings with early starts in the second run.
Looking Ahead
With a stacked leaderboard and small margins at the top, the second run promises an all-out battle for the win. Shiffrin has the advantage, but Dürr, Hector, and the rest of the top contenders remain close enough to challenge. The final showdown in Åre is set to deliver high drama this afternoon.
Top 30 First Run Results
Click images to enlarge
Run analysis of the fastest three and North American qualifiers.
About the Author: Peter Lange
