Stiegler Top American in Are Slalom

ARE, Sweden (Dec. 13, 2015) – Resi Stiegler (Jackson, WY) was the only American to finish the Audi FIS Ski World Cup in Are, Sweden, taking 18th. Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) flew back to the U.S. to further evaluate a potential knee injury.

Young gun Petra Vlhova has been a known name on the Europa Cup circuit, but it was not until Sunday 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 – Frida Hansdotter of Sweden and Shiffrin were the only two women with slalom wins over the previous two seasons.

Hometown hero Hansdotter did not disappoint local fans, coming in second place overall just 0.59 seconds off of Vlhova. Rounding out the podium was Norwegian Nina Loeseth, matching her career best from Zagreb, Croatia, last season.

After a strong first run that left her in 11th, Stiegler had a respectable race ending in 18th place, being the only U.S. Ski Team member in the second run. Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN) – 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. 

“Today was good. I was stoked on my first run, coming down in 11th and I was 13th after first run. I wanted more,” said Stiegler. “I’m really looking forward to moving up into the top 15 – that’s one of my big goals for the year. I need to get some more top 10s. I’m feeling pretty solid. I just need to find that extra gear and speed especially on that bottom course.”

Head Women’s Coach Paul Kristofic was happy about Stiegler’s result, but also thinks she will continue to improve. “Resi showed a solid performance in today’s first run and good speed in the top sections of her second run,” said Kristofic. “After three World Cup slalom races, she is building on her consistency and top-end speed while posting respectable finishes thus far. It’s important to remember she is coming back from a significant knee injury that ended her 2014-15 season prematurely.”

Noticeably absent from the race was Shiffrin, who was sidelined Saturday after she crashed during a warm-up run. Also missing was Sweden’s Sarah 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.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Resi Stiegler took the top American finish in 18th place.
• Mikaela Shiffrin is still sidelined due to a knee injury sustained during Saturday’s warmup run.
• Shiffrin had won three of the last four Are slaloms and seven of the last eight World Cup slaloms.
• Of the three slaloms so far this season, Stiegler has scored World Cup points all three times. Her result on Sunday positioned her in 14th in the slalom standings.
• Before the Are slalom, Petra 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.
• Frida Hansdotter has been on every World Cup slalom podium so far this season. This second-place finish ties her with fellow countrywoman Pernilla Wiberg for the most second-place finishes (14) in the discipline ever.

QUOTES
Resi Stiegler
Today was good. I was stoked on my first run, coming down in 11th and I was 13th after first run. I wanted more. I was pretty hungry for the second run and thought I went for it. I remember coming to a slow ending to my run over the last pitch, so I should have known that wasn’t fast enough to get it in there. I’m pretty happy to have another top 20 and collect more points. I’m really looking forward to moving up into the top 15—that’s one of my big goals for the year. I need to get some more top 10s. I’m feeling pretty solid. I just need to find that extra gear and speed especially on that bottom course.

Paul Kristofic, head women’s coach
Resi showed a solid performance in today’s first run and good speed in the top sections of her second run. We continue to build on consistent top-to-bottom speed with Resi. After three World Cup slalom races, she is building on her consistency and top end speed while posting respectable finishes thus far. It’s important to remember she is coming back from a significant knee injury that ended her 2014-15 season prematurely.

The whole team missed Mikaela today, as did the whole World Cup circuit. Everyone wishes her a speedy recovery.

RESULTS
Women’s slalom results

On-site reporting provided by Ski Racing.