Shiffrin leads slalom in pursuit of record 86th win

SPINDLERUV MLYN,CZECH REPUBLIC,29.JAN.23 – Mikaela Shiffrin (USA). Photo: GEPA pictures

SPINDLERUV MLYN, Czech Republic — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin had what she called a “perfect run” to lead a women’s World Cup slalom after the opening leg Sunday as she approached the all-time record for the most career wins, 86.

Shiffrin has again put herself in a great position to win a World Cup slalom. On a course set by USA coach Mark Mitter, she makes the complex look easy. Today the crux of the test was created by the high speed. However, once again, Shiffrin passes that test with flying colors and has the lead.

Shiffrin made the difficult look easy. While skier after skier had difficulty, she used her inspection skills and a higher level of execution to win the first run with a (-0.67) lead over Germany’s Lena Duerr. Today Croatia’s 19-year-old Zrinka Ljutic is third, but she faces a (+0.85) deficit to the leader. They are the only two within a second of the leader. The time spread of the best 10 is massive (+1.75).

“This was the perfect run, I think. I was aggressive everywhere and really good on my timing,” Shiffrin said. “Even when I thought, maybe, I was a little bit late or something, I just could make the turn where I wanted and keep pushing. So that’s exactly how I wanted to feel, so it’s perfect.”

When a racer completed the start pitch, the first run course in Spindleruv Mlyn was high-speed. Even though there wasn’t much swing from side to side, the speed created is its type of challenge. As the course continued toward the finish, the course speed was relentless. When it occasionally asked the racer to move across the slope laterally, many racers were caught without the skills to execute.

Shiffrin is performing at a level no other woman can match. It seems it will take a significant final run mistake to prevent her from reaching the 86 win total of Ingemar Stenmark.

A victory Sunday would also see Shiffrin wrap up the season-long slalom title with two races to spare. Her closest challenger in the discipline standings, Wendy Holdener, had a costly mistake and the Swiss skier failed to qualify for the second run and won’t score World Cup points.

North Americans USA’s Paula Moltzan (+1.69) and Canada’s Laurence St-Germain (+1.75) find themselves ninth and 10th. Canada’s Amelia Smart joins them in the final run by finishing 27th.

Italy’s bib 46, Anita Gulli, made the most significant move of the morning run. She is sitting 7th (+1.57). She joins five other athletes with bibs over 30 to qualify for the final.

Analysis of the fastest three and additional North Americans who qualified, and the top 30 first-run results

First run results January 29th Spindleruv Mlyn SL

The Associated Press contributed to this report.