Shiffrin skis for 5th World Championship SL title

Méribel finish arena: GEPA Photos

Who is racing, when and how to watch the Saturday, February 18th Méribel women’s World Championship SL

On Saturday, February 18th, Méribel will host their last 2023 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships race. The women’s slalom will be the final championship race held on the Roc de Fer race slope and will complete the women’s competition program. The championships have experienced nothing but perfect weather and tomorrow should be no exception. The slalom snow surface should be perfect with freezing temperatures and clear skies overnight.

Mikaela Shiffrin has drawn bib one and her coach Mark Mitter has set the course. Both circumstances should benefit the prerace favorite. Shiffrin, four-time slalom world champion, has won five of the nine 2022-23 slaloms and has been on eight podiums.

However, five women from five countries have taken the top step this season. USA’s Shiffrin has earned five slalom victories, Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener has won twice, and Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson, Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova and Germany’s Lena Duerr each have one win this season. Three other women, Paula Moltzan, Austria’s Katharina Truppe and Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic, have stood on a 2022-23 slalom podium. Seven of the eight slalom podium women will race tomorrow.

2022-23 entered North Americans women’s World Cup slalom standing as of February 16th

The Alpine Canada Alpin team has three women starting tomorrow and the Stifel US Alpine Team has four. USA’s Shiffrin has won five of the eight slaloms this season. Remarkably, Shiffrin will be skiing to earn her fifth slalom World Championship title.

Notably, Moltzan, who broke her hand winning gold in the mixed team parallel, and also earned a World Cup slalom podium in Semmering will not be skiing. She tried to use a brace but the pain was too much to bare and had to withdraw. Moltzan’s absence meant a spot was available for World Cup and now World Championship rookie Ava Sunshine.

There are seven North Americans entered to race the Saturday, February 18th Méribel women’s World Championship SL

• Bib 1, Mikaela Shiffrin, USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Atomic, Oakley
• Bib 9, Ali Nullmeyer, ACA, GMVS, Middlebury College, Atomic
• Bib 18, Laurence St-Germain, ACA, Mont Sainte-Anne, UMV, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 22, Amelia Smart, ACA, Windermere, University of Denver, Atomic
• Bib 37, Katie Hensien, USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, University of Denver, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 41, Nina O’Brien, USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 44, Ava Sunshine, USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Atomic, SWIX, ASP

The women’s first run starts at 4:00 am Eastern Time and 1:00 am on the West Coast. Additionally, the second run will begin at 7:30 am Eastern Time and 4:30 am on the West Coast. Remember, a live simulcast and full replay are available, with Steve Porino and Steve Schlanger announcing on Ski and Snowboard Live. Additionally, Peacock will offer a live simulcast.

In Canada, CBC sports offers Alpine World Championship racing content.

The first run start list and program for the Saturday, February 18th Méribel women’s World Championship SL

Program for the Saturday, February 18th Méribel women’s World Championship SL