Stifel Killington Cup SL podium GEPA pictures/Matic Klansek

Mikaela Shiffrin wins her second slalom of the new season. After Petra Vlhová put down a seemingly unbeatable second run and took a huge lead, Shiffrin delivered an even better performance. The Stifel Killington Cup victory represents her sixth Killington World Cup slalom victory and her career 55th. It also brings her career World Cup victory total to 90. However, after six runs of women’s slalom, it is clear that Vlhová is far from conceding the 2024 slalom title. Hopefully, this battle of the Titans will be undecided until the finals.

“It’s amazing to do this, especially here, with the home crowd,” said Shiffrin, “It’s just such a good vibe and there’s a little extra intensity because we want this to be good for you guys to watch. I hope it was a good show,”

The Killington crowd exploded with approval.

With five skiers remaining to race, Italy’s Marta Rossetti had a (-0.27) lead but the five remaining racers would start the second run with a significant advantage. First, Croatia’s Leona Popovic struggled significantly and fell well off the lead. Next, Switzerland’s SL star Wendy Holdener skied strong and finished with a (0.37) lead. However, immediately, Vlhova skied to a (-1.04) lead and looked like she duplicated her Levi dominance. Second after the first run, Germany’s Lena Duerr came across in third place, leaving only Mikaela Shiffrin yet to start. Shiffrin produced another classic, delivering the fastest second run and finishing (0.33) ahead of Vlhova. Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener was third on the podium but (+1.37) behind the Shiffrin pace.

North American Success

Paula Moltzan, ranked 6th after the first run, could not improve in the afternoon and ended the day ranked 8th (+2.19). Canada’s Ali Nullmeyer moved up four spots and finished a solid 13th (+2.44) just ahead of her SL World Champion teammate Laurence St-Germain 14th (+2.46). All four North American women finished in the top 15, an admirable achievement.

Afternoon Movers and Shakers

After the first ten women had finished their race, French skier Marion Chevrier had moved up the most. Running the afternoon course first in only her third World Cup, she gained five positions and ended the day in 23rd. After 15 women had finished, the athlete who had moved up the leaderboard the most was Austria’s Katharina Turppe, who had gained seven places. But the racer on the leader’s throne was her teammate Katharina Huber. But with only ten racers left to compete, it was bib 32 Italy’s Marta Rossetti sitting on the leader’s throne with a (0.44) advantage. Rossetti still had the lead with only five skiers to race. She would move up eight positions during the afternoon and finish the race 5th.

Fifteen nations were represented by the 30 women who qualified for the Stifel Killington Cup slalom afternoon finale.

Stifel Killington Cup results Sunday, November 26th Stifel and analysis of fastest three and North Americans

Click on images to enlarge.

Analysis of the fastest three and other qualified North Americans