Shiffrin Shines in Spectacular First Run: A Night of Thrills and Surprises

Night Slalom Courchevel GEPA pictures/Patrick Steiner

The women’s first run of Courchevel was spectacular. The current World Cup discipline leader, Mikaela Shiffrin, skied as she has for most of the year, which is inspirational. Although her lifelong rival, Slovakia’s Petra Vlhová, skied brilliantly, she could not execute through the most challenging hairpin with the skill of the world’s best. Stifel US Ski Team’s Shiffrin will ski last again on the second run. Although Shiffrin was only (-0.17) faster than Vlhová, the Slovakian finished the first run (-1.06) faster than third-place Austrian Katharina Liensberger.

After the first seven women finished their runs, there was a massive (+2.45) time differential. After the first fifteen racers completed their runs, the separation ballooned to (+2.70). The drama during the evening finale will be spectacular.

Stifel US Ski Team member Paula Moltzan is reportedly skiing on a different model of Rossignol slalom ski. The ski is fast. While none of the women are close to the two leaders, Moltzan ended the first run ranked 4th (+1.63) behind Shiffrin but in a great position to attack for her second career podium. While Canada’s Ali Nullmeyer crossed with the leaderboard stating Did Not Finish, the replay clearly showed that although she was on her hip when she finished, her feet were on the correct side of the gate. Nullmeyer is ranked 13th (+2.26) going into the final run.

Former University of Denver Pioneer, Canada’s Amelia Smart has had trouble moving up the leaderboard during her first runs this season. However, starting with bib 25, Smart finished the first run in 17th (+2.69), putting her in position for a season-best result at the night’s end. USA’s AJ Hurt joined the four North Americans who qualified skiing among the first 30 start positions. Throughout the season, Hurt has shown she belongs in the World Cup by continually delivering world-class speed. Skiing with bib 38, Hurt finishes tonight’s first run ranked 21st (+2.86).

Unfortunately, Stifel US Ski Team member Zoe Zimmermann straddled in the second section and did not finish. She was unable to ski the finish and was evacuated by sled. Zimmermann will likely start her collegiate skiing career in January at Dartmouth College. She scored her career’s first World Cup slalom points last season in Sestriere, Italy. Undoubtedly, ski racing fans look forward to the day Zimmermann brings her firebrand of slalom back to the World Cup. Allie Resnick, bib 57, is joining her on the list of athletes who did not finish. She will spend the rest of her season competing for championships with Zimmermann at Dartmouth College.

During the first run, five women with bibs above thirty could qualify for the evening finale. Bib 45 Norway’s Kristin Lysdahl was the fastest to do, finishing 17th (+2.58). The last to do so was bib 69 France’s Clarisse Breche 29th (+3.26). Four of the women who started with bibs 30 or lower did not finish. The time spread among the 30 women to qualify for the evening finale was (3.40).

Results of racers who qualified for the evening finale and analysis of the fastest three and qualified North Americans

Analysis of the fastest three and qualified North Americans