Levi, Finland — Nov. 15, 2025
Shiffrin Opens Olympic Slalom Season With a Commanding Run
Mikaela Shiffrin, the eight-time World Cup slalom champion and eight-time winner in Levi, opened the Olympic slalom season with a powerful statement. Under the lights on Levi Black, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team star won all four timing sectors and posted 56.08, building a big cushion for the afternoon.
Colturi Celebrates 19th Birthday With Career Run
The biggest surprise of the morning came from Lara Colturi, who turned her 19th birthday into a career moment. Starting with bib 12 for Albania, Colturi attacked from the first gate and crossed 1.08 seconds behind Shiffrin in second place, firmly in the fight for the podium.
Seven Racers Within Two Seconds
A tight chase pack sits behind Shiffrin and Colturi. Germany’s Lena Dürr (+1.49), Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić (+1.58), Norway’s Mina Fürst Holtmann (+1.68), Slovenia’s Neja Dvornik (+1.75), Germany’s Emma Aicher (+1.83), and Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener (+1.92) all finished within two seconds of the lead.
Austria’s Katharina Huber is the first skier outside that window in ninth at +2.01.
Hoerhager Leads a Wave of High-Bib Qualifiers
Despite tricky early-season weather, FIS and the Levi race crew delivered a strong, durable surface that rewarded attacking skiing deep into the start list. The proof sits inside the first-run standings.
Austria’s Lisa Hoerhager, wearing bib 36, produced the fastest run of any high-bib racer, charging into a share of 10th at 58.18 (+2.10). She leads an extraordinary group of eight skiers starting above bib 30 who qualified for the second run:
- Lisa Hoerhager (AUT), bib 36 → tied 10th (+2.10)
- Bianca Bakke Westhoff (NOR), bib 46 → 15th (+2.36)
- Asa Ando (JPN), bib 34 → 16th (+2.40)
- Caitlin McFarlane (FRA), bib 44 → 17th (+2.42)
- Estelle Alphand (SWE), bib 32 → 25th (+2.74)
- Zita Tóth (HUN), bib 60 → 26th (+2.84)
- Emilia Mondinelli (ITA), bib 51 → 27th (+2.88)
- Rosa Pohjolainen (FIN), bib 65 → 29th (+2.99)
Pohjolainen’s charge from bib 65 ignited the home crowd and made her the highest-bib qualifier of the day, underlining how well the surface held together.
North American and British Disappointment
The first run brought an unexpected setback for North America and Great Britain. Only two athletes from that entire group advanced:
- Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) — 1st
- Paula Moltzan (USA) — 19th (+2.46)
All Canadian racers missed the top 30, and no British skier qualified. AJ Hurt (USA) showed strong speed before straddling in Sector 3, becoming the first DNF of the race.
Moltzan Poised to Attack in Run Two
Paula Moltzan will be disappointed after a mistake on the pitch pushed her to +2.46, but qualifying in 19th gives her a much earlier start in the second run than the leaders. With top-five splits in the opening sectors, she has a real opportunity to use her blazing speed to climb the standings on a smoother track.
Olympic-Season Depth on Display
Today’s race featured 84 starters, a large field even by Levi’s standards, and a clear sign of an Olympic season. Lower-ranked skiers are chasing experience and points ahead of Cortina 2026, and the combination of a deep field and a resilient surface helped produce one of the most dramatic waves of late-bib qualifiers Levi has seen.
Top 30 After the First Run
click images to enlarge
Run Analysis: Leaders, Qulified North Americans
About the Author: Peter Lange
