Shiffrin back on top in Maribor slalom

By Published On: January 8th, 2017Comments Off on Shiffrin back on top in Maribor slalom

The Slovenian venue of Maribor has played host to the FIS Alpine World Cup tour 38 times, more than any other venue. American Mikaela Shiffrin has now won there twice in slalom thanks to Sunday’s victory. She bested Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener and last year’s slalom globe winner Frida Hansdotter by 0.19 seconds by 0.31 seconds, respectively.

In stark contrast to Saturday’s giant slalom, Maribor was covered by clouds, and snowy conditions graced the race slope. Shiffrin skied true to form to take her 27th World Cup slalom win, matching Ingemar Stenmark’s record 27 wins before the age of 22. She also matches American Phil Mahre, putting her in third place for all-time wins among U.S. skiers, men and women. This win was plagued by one clear challenge in the second run when a broken gate slid between Shiffrin’s legs, creating a tripping hazard that the American handled with expert confidence.

“I skied over it a couple times,” she said. “It just kept coming. It was okay. I made all the gates and that’s what matters.”

This weekend in Slovenia shows just how strong Shiffrin is becoming in both technical disciplines.

“When I was a kid, I dreamed about being the best in the world in all the different events, so it’s always a step in the right direction to be performing well in two, at least,” the American shared.

Holdener has been chasing Shiffrin all season. The Swiss skier has earned five World Cup podium finishes in slalom this season and is still looking to earn a win. Her performance was even more impressive when you consider that she has been plagued by a cold for the past week.

“I had a cold,” she said. “I had to rest two days because I had really pain in my throat…Then with the race and the cold temperature and everything, I had some problems yesterday afternoon, but I’m really happy with my race that I could ski that fast and not 100 percent fit, so everything is okay.”

Rounding out the podium was Hansdotter, earning her first top-3 finish of the season.

“I’ve been working so hard to get back, and I really love Maribor, so it was like a good feeling from the start, so I’m really satisfied.”

Off of the podium, two Slovenians had impressive performances for their home crowd. Ana Bucik jumped from bib 23 into seventh place, marking her first-ever top 10 finish in a World Cup slalom. Behind her in 10th place was Ilka Stuhec, who has won every single downhill race this season. The Slovenian powerhouse has now earned World Cup points in every single discipline this season, already spurring conversations that she could become the next Tina Maze. She currently sits in fifth in the overall standings with 539 points.

For the Americans, Resi Stiegler was the only other athlete in the top 30, finishing the day in 20th position. Megan McJames and Lila Lapanja did not qualify for a second run.

Shiffrin continues to lead the overall standings with 948 points with Switzerland’s Lara Gut 305 points behind her as the World Cup heads into several weeks of speed events.

The next stop for the women is the night slalom in Flachau, Austria on Jan. 10.


Top 10

  1. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – Atomic / Atomic / Atomic
  2. Wendy Holdener (SUI) – Head / Head / Head
  3. Frida Hansdotter (SWE) – Rossignol / Rossignol / Rossignol
  4. Petra Vlhova (SVK) – Rossignol / Rossignol / Rossignol
  5. Nina Loeseth (NOR) – Rossignol / Rossignol / Rossignol
  6. Sarka Strachova (CZE) – Fischer / Fischer / Fischer
  7. Ana Bucik (SLO) – Stoeckli / Salomon / Head
  8. Bernadette Schild (AUT) – Head / Head / Head
  9. Chiara Costazza (ITA) – Dynastar / Look / Lange
  10. Ilka Stuhec (SLO) – Stoeckli / Lange / Marker

Official Results

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time Diff. FIS Points WC Points
 1  5  6535237 SHIFFRIN Mikaela 1995 USA  49.84  49.77  1:39.61  0.00  100.00
 2  2  516280 HOLDENER Wendy 1993 SUI  50.01  49.79  1:39.80  +0.19  1.37  80.00
 3  1  505679 HANSDOTTER Frida 1985 SWE  50.22  49.70  1:39.92  +0.31  2.24  60.00
 4  6  705423 VLHOVA Petra 1995 SVK  50.32  49.70  1:40.02  +0.41  2.96  50.00
 5  4  425771 LOESETH Nina 1989 NOR  50.40  50.09  1:40.49  +0.88  6.36  45.00
 6  3  155415 STRACHOVA Sarka 1985 CZE  50.66  50.29  1:40.95  +1.34  9.69  40.00
 7  23  565401 BUCIK Ana 1993 SLO  51.40  49.69  1:41.09  +1.48  10.70  36.00
 8  11  56032 SCHILD Bernadette 1990 AUT  51.19  49.94  1:41.13  +1.52  10.99  32.00
 9  20  296354 COSTAZZA Chiara 1984 ITA  51.41  50.04  1:41.45  +1.84  13.30  29.00
 10  33  565360 STUHEC Ilka 1990 SLO  51.30  50.16  1:41.46  +1.85  13.37  26.00
 11  30  197319 BAUD MUGNIER Adeline 1992 FRA  51.40  50.21  1:41.61  +2.00  14.46  24.00
 12  15  105269 GAGNON Marie-Michele 1989 CAN  51.32  50.41  1:41.73  +2.12  15.32  22.00
 12  12  55759 KIRCHGASSER Michaela 1985 AUT  51.45  50.28  1:41.73  +2.12  15.32  22.00
 14  29  296259 MOELGG Manuela 1983 ITA  51.02  50.84  1:41.86  +2.25  16.26  18.00
 15  16  425981 SKJOELD Maren 1993 NOR  51.39  50.48  1:41.87  +2.26  16.34  16.00
 16  17  106961 MIELZYNSKI Erin 1990 CAN  51.45  50.61  1:42.06  +2.45  17.71  15.00
 17  21  506341 WIKSTROEM Emelie 1992 SWE  51.13  51.09  1:42.22  +2.61  18.87  14.00
 18  22  206279 GEIGER Christina 1990 GER  51.40  50.84  1:42.24  +2.63  19.01  13.00
 19  18  56315 TRUPPE Katharina 1996 AUT  52.08  50.20  1:42.28  +2.67  19.30  12.00
 20  14  537772 STIEGLER Resi 1985 USA  51.76  50.61  1:42.37  +2.76  19.95  11.00
 21  10  206355 DUERR Lena 1991 GER  51.22  51.32  1:42.54  +2.93  21.18  10.00
 22  9  296509 CURTONI Irene 1985 ITA  51.40  51.27  1:42.67  +3.06  22.12  9.00
 23  42  206487 WIESLER Maren 1993 GER  52.40  50.30  1:42.70  +3.09  22.34  8.00
 24  53  206536 WALLNER Marina 1994 GER  52.40  50.50  1:42.90  +3.29  23.78  7.00
 25  59  56388 LIENSBERGER Katharina 1997 AUT  52.06  51.00  1:43.06  +3.45  24.94  6.00
 26  44  506399 HECTOR Sara 1992 SWE  52.21  51.23  1:43.44  +3.83  27.68  5.00
 27  19  196726 BARTHET Anne-Sophie 1988 FRA  52.10  51.60  1:43.70  +4.09  29.56  4.00
Did not start 1st run
 66  425879 RIIS-JOHANNESSEN Kristina 1991 NOR
 64  206408 WEINBUCHNER Susanne 1991 GER
Did not qualify for 2nd run
 79  435371 WASEK Katarzyna 1996 POL
 76  35089 SIMARI BIRKNER Macarena 1984 ARG
 73  405138 JELINKOVA Adriana 1995 NED
 71  538284 MCJAMES Megan 1987 USA
 69  565428 BREZOVNIK Sasa 1995 SLO
 68  565471 HROVAT Meta 1998 SLO
 63  516344 KOPP Rahel 1994 SUI
 61  25096 GUTIERREZ Mireia 1988 AND
 60  225518 GUEST Charlotte 1993 GBR
 57  155728 DUBOVSKA Martina 1992 CZE
 56  196803 MOUGEL Laurie 1988 FRA
 55  56333 MAIR Chiara 1996 AUT
 54  425921 HAUGEN Kristine Gjelsten 1992 NOR
 49  315187 IGNJATOVIC Nevena 1990 SRB
 48  506664 FJAELLSTROEM Magdalena 1995 SWE
 47  516334 CHABLE Charlotte 1994 SUI
 45  56174 HAASER Ricarda 1993 AUT
 43  206532 SCHMOTZ Marlene 1994 GER
 41  539927 LAPANJA Lila 1994 USA
 37  485802 TKACHENKO Ekaterina 1995 RUS
 35  56367 GALLHUBER Katharina 1997 AUT
 32  516138 GUT Lara 1991 SUI
 31  297601 BRIGNONE Federica 1990 ITA
 28  56143 GRUENWALD Julia 1991 AUT
 27  506146 SWENN-LARSSON Anna 1991 SWE
 25  515997 FEIERABEND Denise 1989 SUI
 13  196806 NOENS Nastasia 1988 FRA
Did not finish 2nd run
 46  56253 HUBER Katharina 1995 AUT
 24  516528 MEILLARD Melanie 1998 SUI
 8  516284 GISIN Michelle 1993 SUI
Did not finish 1st run
 81  465092 CIOCANEL Raluca Georgiana 1996 ROU
 80  35079 SIMARI BIRKNER Maria Belen 1982 ARG
 78  415205 HUDSON Piera 1996 NZL
 77  95050 KIRKOVA Maria 1986 BUL
 75  185430 HONKANEN Riikka 1998 FIN
 74  565403 LIVK Klara 1994 SLO
 72  665009 SHKANOVA Maria 1989 BLR
 70  197540 FORNI Josephine 1994 FRA
 67  107613 GRENIER Valerie 1996 CAN
 65  155727 CAPOVA Gabriela 1993 CZE
 62  555018 GASUNA Lelde 1990 LAT
 58  355061 HILZINGER Jessica 1997 GER
 52  506348 STAALNACKE Ylva 1992 SWE
 51  307120 ARAI Makiko 1993 JPN
 50  56217 BRUNNER Stephanie 1994 AUT
 40  225525 TILLEY Alexandra 1993 GBR
 39  485637 ALOPINA Ksenia 1992 RUS
 38  306249 HASEGAWA Emi 1986 JPN
 36  206701 WILLIBALD Elisabeth 1996 GER
 34  298323 GOGGIA Sofia 1992 ITA
 26  565320 FERK Marusa 1988 SLO
 7  705287 VELEZ ZUZULOVA Veronika 1984 SVK

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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