Shiffrin’s Triumph: Clinches Slalom Title Ahead of Saalbach Final

GEPA pictures

On March 10th Åre, Sweden hosted the final regular season slalom of the 2024 season. It would witness the injury return of Stifel US Ski Team’s Mikaela Shiffrin. Even if Germany’s Lena Dürr could find a way to win, Shiffrin would only need 13 points to clinch the season’s slalom title. However, Shiffrin did much more in her first race since January 26th. The first run leader ended the day with her career 96th victory, her 59th in slalom. On the hill, she won her first World Cup she clinched the 2024 slalom title, her eighth. She is officially back and still impressive.

“It was so nice to race again today and some nerves and all the emotions that I hoped to feel,” Shiffrin said. “Really proud of my team, and for sure proud of myself to get back here and show the skiing. The second run was some of my best skiing. I am just so happy to be able to do that again this season.”

“I was pushing the whole way, and when I feel the knee, it doesn’t distract me from skiing or from pushing my skis, so then that’s perfect.”

Completing the podium

Croatian 20-year-old Zrinka Ljutic earned her third slalom podium of the season, finishing 2nd (+1.24), and Swiss 30-year-old veteran Michelle Gisin earned her second slalom podium of the season, finishing 3rd.

Ljutic stated, “Third podium in a row – I would not believe at the beginning of the season that I could do that. Something has really clicked this season and I’m more than happy.

Gisin said, “It’s been an incredible slalom season—I would never have thought of that, but I’m very glad. I was very lucky today, with Lena and Anna being so close behind.

“Today, it was amazing. The course was great, the slope was really good. And especially even yesterday for the GS. They prepared it all very well.

Click on images to enlarge.

With ten racers remaining, the leader was Germany’s 20-year-old Emma Aicher. She stayed in the leader’s chair until two-time Åre slalom winner Austrian Katharina Leinsberger earned an advantage, but the lead changes did not end there. The only skier not named Shiffrin or Vlhová to win a slalom this season was next to earn the lead. Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson still held that lead with four races remaining. But that racer was Germany’s Lena Dürr. She took a narrow lead of (-0.01) with three skiers still to race.

However, those were the best three from the initial run. Twenty-year-old Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic assumed the advantage with only two remaining at the start. Then, the next racer, Switzerland’s Michelle Gisin, crossed the finish line one position behind the Croatian, and both women knew they had earned spots on the podium. But Shiffrin had yet to race. Shiffrin delivered the fastest run in both courses and won the race by an amazing (1.24).

“It was a great day – I was really happy with my first run, and I tried to really charge in my second run, and I think I did well,” Ljutic said. “Of course, there are some things I can do better, but I won second place, and I’m really proud of that.”

As always, the excitement of the last regular-season slalom brought forward the battle for the final spots in the World Cup finals. To earn an invitation to the World Cup finals in an event, a racer must be among the season’s 25 best. One of the racers who could move into the top 25 from the 26th position was Canadian reigning World Champion Laurence St Germain who had an injury interruption this season. Unfortunately, she missed the finals by one position, finishing the regular season remaining in 26th. The 25th spot was earned instead by 17-year-old Italian skiing for Albania Lara Cultori.

North Americans

The earliest three North Americans to race were all Canadians. The first to ski was St-Germain, and she delivered the best run of her season. Using the third-fastest second run, she moved up six positions to finish 22nd (+3.13) but missed the finals by one spot.

While Amelia Smart did not deliver the remarkable result needed to earn her way into the Saalbach finals, she delivered another strong performance and finished the day in 20th (+2.95).

The last Canadian to ski was the Canadian slalom leader Ali Nullmeyer, who finished 19th (+2.90) but easily qualified for the World Cup slalom final next week.

Stifel US Ski Team’s Paula Moltzan ends her season in 10th and will be invited to Saalbach, Austria, for the World Cup finals in both GS and slalom.

Notably, the young Aicher, who started the first run 39th, ends the regular season with her best slalom finish in 7th. Also, the German has scored in all four events during the 2024 season. She is an emerging four-event skier to watch in the coming seasons.

Prepare for the World Cup finals

The final regular season slalom in Åre showcased thrilling performances and marked Mikaela Shiffrin’s remarkable comeback, securing her eighth slalom title. As the season culminates in Saalbach, Austria, on March 16th, the top 25 slalom skiers, including Shiffrin and emerging talents like Ljutic, will vie for supremacy. Despite the disappointment for some, like Laurence St Germain, who narrowly missed the cut, the anticipation for the finals promises intense competition and unforgettable moments on the slopes.

Åre, Sweden slalom results and analysis of the fastest three and other North Americans

Click on images to enlarge

Analysis of the fastest three and other North Americans