Shiffrin Claims 98th Win, Adds Eighth Reindeer to Her Herd
On a wet, rainy and snowy day in Finland, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete and the greatest alpine skier of all-time, Mikaela Shiffrin notched her 98th World Cup win at the Levi World Cup. Teammate Paula Moltzan was not too far off the mark in eighth place.
“It is a great start to the slalom season,” said Shiffrin, “I had two really strong runs so I am happy to fight on the second run in tough conditions!”
In what can only be described as the opposite weather from the frigid temperatures the year prior, the world’s best slalom skiers took to the Levi slope ready to showcase their skills in the first slalom event of the season.
The tech women skied in top form on the traditionally icy course, with Shiffrin quickly taking a dominant lead on run one. Then, it was Moltzan’s turn – she skied a strong run, putting herself into fifth place on the first run.
The weather then continued to have a mind of its own, raining one moment to snowing giant chunky snowflakes the next. But this did not seem to phase the world’s best as they prepared for the second run.
It was a straightforward course set with some slick turns on the pitch that some women were having trouble with. But if you knifed the top pitch you were in for a successful day. Moltzan, running 26th on the second run, nailed the top section but quickly ran into trouble on the pitch. Moltzan, who is also known for her miraculous saves, made it down with a few notable mistakes to land in eighth place for the day. A result she was very pleased with.
“I am very excited because I have never in my career had a successful race in Levi so to end up in the top 10 for me feels like a very big step forward,” said Moltzan.
In the final minutes of the race, the competition was heating up after Katharina Liensberger of Austria skied a flawless run and positioning herself at the top of the standings. Shiffrin knew what to do. With reindeer on the line, she skied a clean and fierce run to ultimately win the race, her 98th World Cup and eighth reindeer.
“I am racing almost every weekend from here on out until the end of the season so it's going to be a big push now and I was a little bit off on my mentality in Sölden so it was really important to start off strong here in slalom.”
The podium was completed with Shiffrin on the top spot, Liensberger second and Lena Duerr of Germany in third.
“I don’t know what I will name the reindeer yet – I am going to wait and confirm with the team on ideas and see what everyone says,” said Shiffirn when asked what she will name the eighth reindeer to her herd.
Katie Hensien and Nina O’Brien also raced the first run but did not finish, they are okay and ready for the next races. Independent U.S. skier Kendahl Roufa also raced her first World Cup start Saturday and while she did not qualify for a second run she was very happy to experience the event.
“I feel really great, very excited and just happy I got through the finish,” said Roufa.
Overall, the women’s alpine team is feeling positive with the combination of the spirit of Christmas, the magic of the Levi reindeer and Santa in the finish. The women will now take this momentum and race slalom again the following weekend in Gurgl, Austria. A brand new venue for the women racers.
On Sunday Nov. 16, the men will take on the Levi track for their first slalom World Cup of the season.
RESULTS
Women's slalom
HOW TO WATCH
4:00 a.m. ET - men's slalom, run 1, Levi, Finland - skiandsnowboard.live (live)
7:00 a.m. ET - men's slalom, run 2, Levi, Finland - skiandsnowboard.live (live)
