Stifel US Ski Team’s Mikaela Shiffrin wins her 95th World Cup in the Jasná slalom. She is simply the best and has accumulated a massive 630 World Cup Slalom points this season. Now that Vlhová is out for the rest of the season, her lead over the next-best active skier is 228 points. It is her fifth slalom victory of the season. The woman has a fantastic feeling for winning; today, she used her first run advantage to perfection.

“Today it was definitely a big push to keep all my energy going all the way through the second run,” said Shiffrin, “I knew she (Ljutic) put down an amazing run and I had to push,”

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Second-place Croatian Zrinka Ljutic is only 19, but she skis with the poise of a veteran. Ljutic started the second run with a (+0.52) disadvantage, but also as the only racer within a second of Shiffrin. She delivered a fantastic run and ended the day just (+0.14) from tying for a victory.

Ljutic said, “I’m really happy that I skied even better in the second run than the first. I’m proud of myself for managing this pressure in the second run.” She continued, “I think I took a glimpse of what it’s like to be so close to the win. It was really tight, and it’s definitely worth it; it’s worth every DNF ( did not finish 4) that I’ve had this season.”

Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson earns her first podium of the season, finishing third. It is her 10th career slalom podium. After a disappointing start to the season, she has found her speed recently and is now among the top ten in the season’s slalom ranks.

Swenn Larsson said, “I struggled a lot this season, especially the first races. I had some problems with my body, and now everything just feels really well — mind and body. I’m feeling really strong again.”

Podium chase

The final run action for the podium started with Austria’s Katharina Truppe. She was the first skier to run the second course, finishing the first run within two seconds of the lead. Truppe made a big mistake in the third sector and crossed in 9th fastest. However, the next racer, Switzerland’s Camille Rast, did not produce an error, delivered the fastest second run, and crossed with a (1.07) lead over Germany’s Lena Duerr.

Next up was Rast’s teammate Michelle Gisin; she skied well but not nearly as fast as Rast. She crossed with the second-best total time but (+0.96) behind Rast.

That left the five fastest from the first run at the start. The first of the final five to race was Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson, and she delivered podium-worthy excellence. The next to ski was her teammate Sara Hector. Hector, however, she made a big mistake in the second sector and finished well behind Swenn Larsson.

That left just the fastest three from the first run at the top to ski. Switzerland’s Melanie Meillard has struggled to find speed in the last two seasons. Perhaps that is why she skied like she was protecting a result and finished behind Swenn Larsson. However, Meillard finished a season-best 5th. That was when Swenn Larsson knew she had earned her first podium of the season.

Second run success

The second racer to ski the final run was Austria’s Katharina Huber. Huber delivered excellence, the third-fastest second run, and held the leader’s throne for the next eight racers. During the second run, she gained 18 positions and finished the race 11th (+2,86). She was displaced from the lead by Slovenian Neja Dvornik. Dvornik also held the lead for eight racers, gaining ten positions during the second run, and finished the race in 10th (+2.82).

North Americans

The first two North Americans to ski the afternoon course were Canada’s Ali Nullmeyer and US independent SYNC team member Lila Lapanja. Both women struggled to find their speed. However, both finished Nullmeyer was 25th (+4.74), and Lapanja dropped three positions during the last run and finished 27th (+5.17). However, the four points Lapanja earned were her first of the season.

It was a pleasure to see Canada’s reigning World Champion, Laurence St-Germain, return to racing. She suffered an ankle injury after Killington; this was her first race back. She qualified for the final run and finished on the 22nd (+4.40).

The next Stifel US Ski Team racer to ski was Paula Moltzan. Moltzan was 14th fastest after the first run but made an uncharacteristic mistake during the second and crossed the finish into 5th place. She moved back four positions and finished the day 18th (+3.39).

Unfortunately, Stifel US Ski Team’s AJ Hurt, who achieved a slalom podium in Kranjska Gora, was unable to finish the second run.

As the curtains fell on the Jasná slalom, Mikaela Shiffrin’s unparalleled performance was complemented by the rising talents on the podium. Zrinka Ljutic, at just 19, skied with veteran poise, securing a remarkable second place. Anna Swenn Larsson of Sweden claimed her first podium of the season, adding a splendid chapter to her slalom career.

The podium chase unfolded with intense competition, with Katharina Truppe, Camille Rast, and others leaving their mark. The rest of the North Americans faced challenges, yet Paula Moltzan’s resilience amidst an on-course setback showcased the dynamic nature of elite alpine skiing. As the season progresses, the world watches in anticipation of Shiffrin’s continued reign and the emergence of new stars on the slopes.

Jasná World Cup slalom results and analysis of the fastest three and other North Americans

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Analysis of the fastest three and other North Americans