Vlhova ‘Petra’fies with stunning slalom victory in Are

Young gun Petra Vlhova has been a known name on the Europa Cup circuit, but it was not until Sunday in Are, Sweden, that she became the new name to watch in women’s World Cup slalom. The Slovakian dominated the hill from outside the draw, winning the race from bib 19 after skiing the fastest first run and holding onto the victory through the second. This is a significant change in pace for the women’s World Cup slalom field because – until now – Hansdotter and Shiffrin were the only two women with slalom wins over the previous two seasons.

Before the Are slalom, Vlhova’s career best results were scored in Aspen last month, where she finished 11th – moving up from bib 46 – and seventh – after moving up from bib 25. The 20 year old has skied on the World Cup circuit since 2012, but has been plagued by a series of DNFs and DNQs, unable to crack the top 10. It seems the icy conditions on the hill – which Vloha said she likes – finally played to her advantage.

“Yes, I wanted a podium, but I don’t know, I try for something like that,” Vlhova told reporters about her expectations heading into the race. “But now, my first victory and my first podium, I am happy about that.”

Hometown hero Frida Hansdotter did not disappoint local fans, coming in second place overall just 0.59 seconds off of Vlhova. The Swede has been on every World Cup slalom podium so far this season, and this additional second-place finish ties her with fellow countrywoman Pernilla Wiberg for the most second-place finishes (14) in the discipline ever.

“Every time I stand in the start, I want to win,” said Hansdotter. “But I am really happy also to have one more podium. It’s been three slalom races, and I’ve been on the podium for all three. I’m actually really happy.”

Rounding out the podium was Attacking Viking Nina Loeseth, matching her career best from Zagreb, Croatia, last season. The Norwegian said that she felt the butterflies before second run because it was the first time she sat in a good position after first run. She admitted her second run was not perfect and knows how she can improve.

“I am working on letting my control go,” she explained. “I am very in control, always skiing on 85, 90 percent and you know, I need to push. I need to push harder. If I want to win, I have to push. And so, I think this podium is important for me to just feel safe. It’s a good stepping stone, but now we go.”

In a repeat of the first run, the final pitch on the slope caused trouble for several women; a hairpin combination into a series of quick turns just before the finish line caused some hesitation among the field. 

German skier Christina Geiger let her skis run, and she pulled out an amazing finish – trading in bib 45 for an 11th-place result – not unlike Vlhova’s move in Aspen.

American Resi Stiegler had a respectable race ending in 18th place, being the only U.S. Ski Team member in the second run. Paula Moltzan – who has raced World Cups off and on over the last few years – got caught up on the final pitch in the first run, skiing a dangerously low line, which held her out of the flip. 

Noticeably absent from the race was slalom powerhouse, American Mikaela Shiffrin, who was sidelined yesterday after she crashed during a warmup run and sustained bone bruising and a possible MCL injury. Shiffrin has won seven of the previous eight World Cup slalom races. Also missing was Sweden’s Sara Hector who suffered a season-ending injury to her left knee during Saturday’s giant slalom.

The women’s World Cup circuit next heads to Val d’Isere for an alpine combined and downhill, building off the momentum from the men’s World Cup races held at the French resort this weekend. The first women’s downhill training run is scheduled for Dec. 16.

To see more photos from this race click here. 

Fans can stay current on the World Cup circuit by downloading the new U.S. Ski Team iOS app powered by Ski Racing here.

The Scoop
by Hank McKee

1. Vlhova, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
2. Hansdotter, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
3. Loeseth, Volkl/Lange/Marker
4. Kirchgasser, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
5. Holdener, Head/Head/Head
6. Velez Zuzulova, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
7. Strachova, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
8. Wikstroem, Volkl/Dalbello/Marker
9. Noens, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
10. Pietilae-Holmner, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

• Women’s World Cup slalom, Are, Sweden, Dec. 13, 2015. … It is the ninth of 41 races on the women’s calendar … the third of 10 scheduled slaloms.  … It is the 97^th World Cup race at Are … the 30^th slalom. … Mikaela Shiffrin won the most recent, last March, and three of the last four women’s slaloms at the site.
• It is the first career World Cup win for Petra Vlhova. … Her previous best had been seventh scored at Aspen last month. … Her previous best at Are had been 24^th last March. … Winning margin is 0.59 of a second. … Top three are with same second, top seven within two seconds. … It is the third World Cup win for Slovakia and first since Veronika Velez-Zuzulova took the Munich city event on New Year’s Day 2013.
• It is the 18^th career World Cup podium for Frida Handotter … her 14^th second-place finish. … It is her third podium scored at Are, all in slalom.
• It is the second career World Cup podium for Nina Loeseth, both third-place finishes. … The previous came at Zagreb on Jan. 4, 2015. … It is the 17^th World Cup slalom podium for a Norwegian woman in history.
• It is the third score of the season for Resi Stiegler, all in slalom.
• Lindsey Vonn (did not race) leads the World Cup overall standings 400-315 over Hansdotter. … Mikaela Shiffrin (did not race) is third with 296pts. 
• Hansdotter leads the slalom standings 220-200 over Shiffrin. … Vlhova moves to third with 160pts. … Erin Mielzynski is 11^th with 76pts. 
• Austria leads the women’s Nations Cup standings 1073-910 over Italy and the U.S., tied for second. … Canada is ninth with 255pts.

Official Results