Zagreb night SL on Jan 4th features Shiffrin

Who is racing, when and how to watch the first Zagreb night slalom

All night races are unique, and Zagreb is no exception. However, the Zagreb slaloms are undoubtedly unique. All the teams except the Croatians stay in a big hotel in the capital, Zagreb. Sometimes to get the teams to the race, the organizers use a police escort to avoid traffic and late arrivals. As of January 1^st, 2023, the currency was the Croatian kuna. Now Croatia will use the euro. Zagreb is prosperous and modern and is home to 20% of the nation’s population. It is infrequent for the Alpine World Cup to stay in such a highly populated area. 

High above the city is the small ski resort Sljeme (Mt. Medvednica), famous for its World Cup night slaloms. This year, the women will compete there on two consecutive evenings. The winning racer will become the season’s Snow Queen. 

Additionally, the men have a January 4th night slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany – staggered start times to allow live-feed viewers to see both events. 

The slope is relatively easy, but the snow surface is often difficult. The predicted temperatures are warm, meaning the course experts must work extra hard to create a quality race surface. 

One of the most significant benefits of night races for North American viewers is watching the second run live without waking up in the middle of the night.

Shiffrin has a unique opportunity

Undoubtedly, the focus will be on Mikaela Shiffrin. Shiffrin will attempt to win her 51st career World Cup slalom and her 81st World Cup race. Shiffrin will equal the career victory total of the great Lindsey Vonn if the two-night slaloms go perfectly with two victories. However, that would require Shiffrin to win six consecutive World Cups. Considering the current level of competition on the women’s side, that is extremely unlikely. However, achieving the extremely unlikely is Shiffrin’s habit. 

USA’s Paula Moltzan experienced her first career podium in Semmering. She looks as likely as any of the world’s best to prevent Shiffrin from matching Vonn’s total this week. Additionally, Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener has stood on the top step in two of the five slaloms contested this season and is now a proven winner. And don’t count out last year’s champion Petra Vlhová. She has yet to win a World Cup this season, which means it will likely happen soon. 

North American women are powerful in slalom. Eight different North American racers have scored this season, and talented women are ready to join the group. The Stifel US Alpine Team has entered seven women, and Alpine Canada Alpin will start three. 

North Americans entered for the Zagreb January 4th night slalom

• Bib 7, Mikaela Shiffrin, USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Atomic, Oakley
• Bib 12, Ali Nullmeyer, ACA, GMVS, Middlebury College, Atomic
• Bib 15, Paula Moltzan, USST, Buck Hill Ski Team, UVM, Ski and Snowboard Club
• Bib 19, Laurence St-Germain, ACA, Mont Sainte-Anne, UMV, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 24, Amelia Smart, ACA, Windermere, University of Denver, Atomic
• Bib 37, Zoe Zimmermann, USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 41, Lila Lapanja, USA, Independent,
• Bib 44, Nina O’Brien, USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 46, Ava Sunshine, USST, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Atomic, SWIX, ASP
• Bib 48, Katie Hensien, USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, University of Denver, Rossignol, LOOK

Tomorrow is the first of two Zagreb night slaloms. The first run of the slalom will begin at 6:30 am Eastern Time and 3:30 am on the West Coast. The second run is scheduled to begin at 10:30 pm Eastern Time and 7:30 am on the West Coast.

The Zagreb night slaloms can be viewed live and replayed on the Ski and Snowboard Live streaming service.

1st run start list for the January 4th Zagreb women’s night slalom

Program for January 4th Zagreb night slalom