Shiffrin wins alpine combined, Stuhec locks up discipline globe

By Published On: February 26th, 2017Comments Off on Shiffrin wins alpine combined, Stuhec locks up discipline globe

CRANS MONTANA, Switzerland–Spring conditions continued on Sunday in Crans Montana, Switzerland, and they reminded the day’s alpine combined winner, Mikaela Shiffrin, of warm weather skiing back home in the United States. Perhaps this is one the reasons why she was able to take her first win ever in the discipline with a total time of 2:07.16.

In true Shiffrin style, she powered down the slalom run, making up time after her seventh-place super-G run in the morning. Her quick feet put her 0.70 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Federica Brignone of Italy and 0.85 seconds ahead of third-place finisher Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia in the final alpine combined of the season.

“It feels great,” the American shared. “I was really psyched with my super-G this morning. I took a really big step forward from yesterday, and I was happy with that. Of course, the slalom was great. I mean I made a little mistake at the top, but I was attacking, so I don’t think it cost too much. I’m happy to go into the U.S. races with the overall lead.”

Shiffrin leads the overall standings with 1323 points, 298 points ahead of Stuhec, who now sits in second place.

“As for my overall lead, I think Ilka’s going to put up a really good fight,” Shiffrin said. “So, I’m certainly not losing focus.”

Because this was Shiffrin’s only alpine combined start this season, she was not in contention for the alpine combined World Cup globe. With her third-place result, Stuhec was able to secure the discipline globe, the first of her career, which the Slovenian called “amazing.”

“I can’t believe it really because it’s something I’ve always dreamed of and now that it’s hear it’s just, ‘Woah,’” she shared.

Sandwiched between the Slovenian and American on Sunday’s podium was Brignone, who ends the season in second place in the discipline standings in part thanks to her victory on Friday. The win gave her the motivation she needed to podium again on the challenging Mont Lachaux slope.

“That slalom gave me a really a good confidence, but I wanted to do it more and again today because it was not easy,” Brignone said. “The slalom is really tough and yeah, I wanted to do it again. I’m really happy.”

The Italian seems to have found her rhythm in slalom, and she has some guesses as to why it’s all coming together–and it wasn’t the snow.

“Actually, normally I love the ice, so I really don’t know in slalom,” she said. “I’m feeling good, and I like this slope and the track and how it was set, so I think that’s all and I’m in shape.”

Just off the podium was the top Canadian athlete, Marie Michele Gagnon of Canada. She was just 0.04 seconds away from third place, earning her best result of the season. Gagnon was joined in the top 15 by teammate Candace Crawford in 15th place, her best result of the 2016-17 season so far. Canadian athletes Valerie Grenier and Mikaela Tommy did not finish the super-G.

For the U.S. Ski Team, Stacey Cook was the lone finisher aside from Shiffrin, earning 23rd place. Laurenne Ross and Jacqueline Wiles did not finish.

Now, many of the athletes are rushing off to the airport to catch flights to South Korea, where they will race and train at the 2018 Olympic venues.

“We’re flying out tonight,” Shiffrin shared. “But I’m not going to race in the speed events. I’m going to try to see the speed hill, get on the tech venue a little bit and then, go to the U.S.”

The World Cup downhill and super-G races in Jeongseon, South Korea take place on Feb. 4-5.


Top 10

  1. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – Atomic / Atomic / Atomic
  2. Federica Brignone (ITA) – Rossignol / Look / Rossignol
  3. Ilka Stuhec (SLO) – Stoeckli / Lange /Atomic
  4. Marie-Michele Gagnon (CAN) – Rossignol Look / Rossignol
  5. Ricarda Haaser (AUT) – Fischer / Fischer / Fischer
  6. Wendy Holdener (SUI) – Head / Head / Head
  7. Raghnild Mowinckel (NOR) – Head / Head / Head
  8. Sofia Goggia (ITA) – Atomic / Atomic / Atomic
  9. Marta Bassino (ITA) – Salomon / Salomon / Salomon
  10. Maria Therese Tviberg (NOR) – Head / Head / Head

Official Results

 1  31  6535237 SHIFFRIN Mikaela 1995 USA  1:21.99  45.17  2:07.16  0.00  100.00
 2  9  297601 BRIGNONE Federica 1990 ITA  1:22.34  45.52  2:07.86  +0.70  6.33  80.00
 3  3  565360 STUHEC Ilka 1990 SLO  1:21.05  46.96  2:08.01  +0.85  7.69  60.00
 4  11  105269 GAGNON Marie-Michele 1989 CAN  1:21.27  46.78  2:08.05  +0.89  8.05  50.00
 5  6  56174 HAASER Ricarda 1993 AUT  1:21.63  46.98  2:08.61  +1.45  13.11  45.00
 6  7  516280 HOLDENER Wendy 1993 SUI  1:22.72  45.98  2:08.70  +1.54  13.93  40.00
 7  17  425929 MOWINCKEL Ragnhild 1992 NOR  1:21.46  47.47  2:08.93  +1.77  16.01  36.00
 8  19  298323 GOGGIA Sofia 1992 ITA  1:20.69  48.36  2:09.05  +1.89  17.09  32.00
 9  35  299276 BASSINO Marta 1996 ITA  1:22.11  47.05  2:09.16  +2.00  18.09  29.00
 10  8  426043 TVIBERG Maria Therese 1994 NOR  1:22.65  46.74  2:09.39  +2.23  20.17  26.00
 11  13  516284 GISIN Michelle 1993 SUI  1:23.44  45.99  2:09.43  +2.27  20.53  24.00
 12  4  56241 SCHNEEBERGER Rosina 1994 AUT  1:22.85  46.83  2:09.68  +2.52  22.79  22.00
 13  29  56199 KAPPAURER Elisabeth 1994 AUT  1:23.17  46.74  2:09.91  +2.75  24.87  20.00
 14  32  206532 SCHMOTZ Marlene 1994 GER  1:23.59  47.18  2:10.77  +3.61  32.65  18.00
 15  38  107387 CRAWFORD Candace 1994 CAN  1:24.22  46.66  2:10.88  +3.72  33.64  16.00
 16  27  516344 KOPP Rahel 1994 SUI  1:23.77  47.14  2:10.91  +3.75  33.91  15.00
 17  30  385096 POPOVIC Leona 1997 CRO  1:23.99  47.04  2:11.03  +3.87  35.00  14.00
 18  20  56087 SIEBENHOFER Ramona 1991 AUT  1:23.54  48.06  2:11.60  +4.44  40.15  13.00
 19  39  516394 SUTER Jasmina 1995 SUI  1:23.30  48.34  2:11.64  +4.48  40.52  12.00
 20  33  155699 PAULATHOVA Katerina 1993 CZE  1:24.34  47.43  2:11.77  +4.61  41.69  11.00
 21  26  299466 DELAGO Nicol 1996 ITA  1:23.52  48.38  2:11.90  +4.74  42.87  10.00
 22  22  206520 DORSCH Patrizia 1994 GER  1:23.73  48.40  2:12.13  +4.97  44.95  9.00
 23  41  537582 COOK Stacey 1984 USA  1:23.01  49.49  2:12.50  +5.34  48.29  8.00
 24  46  705394 KANTOROVA Barbara 1992 SVK  1:24.88  48.82  2:13.70  +6.54  59.15  7.00
 25  18  56177 VENIER Stephanie 1993 AUT  1:21.32  52.87  2:14.19  +7.03  63.58  6.00
 26  45  155503 KLICNAROVA Pavla 1988 CZE  1:24.70  50.66  2:15.36  +8.20  74.16  5.00
Did not start 1st run
 48  56088 TIPPLER Tamara 1991 AUT
Did not finish 2nd run
 28  206355 DUERR Lena 1991 GER
 21  516219 NUFER Priska 1992 SUI
 14  538573 ROSS Laurenne 1988 USA
 10  297910 CURTONI Elena 1991 ITA
Did not finish 1st run
 47  35089 SIMARI BIRKNER Macarena 1984 ARG
 44  107532 TOMMY Mikaela 1995 CAN
 43  435334 GASIENICA-DANIEL Maryna 1994 POL
 42  375018 COLETTI Alexandra 1983 MON
 40  539536 WILES Jacqueline 1992 USA
 37  485749 PROKOPYEVA Aleksandra 1994 RUS
 36  56328 ORTLIEB Nina 1996 AUT
 34  206460 WENIG Michaela 1992 GER
 25  298767 SOSIO Federica 1994 ITA
 24  107613 GRENIER Valerie 1996 CAN
 23  197497 MIRADOLI Romane 1994 FRA
 16  56217 BRUNNER Stephanie 1994 AUT
 15  196726 BARTHET Anne-Sophie 1988 FRA
 12  297702 MARSAGLIA Francesca 1990 ITA
 5  55759 KIRCHGASSER Michaela 1985 AUT
 2  56198 SCHEYER Christine 1994 AUT
 1  565320 FERK Marusa 1988 SLO

 

 

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About the Author: Gabbi Hall

A California native, Gabbi moved to Vermont to ski on the NCAA circuit for St. Michael’s College, where she served as team captain and studied journalism. Before joining Ski Racing, she worked as a broadcast TV producer and social media manager in higher education. She can be reached via email at gabbi@skiracing.com