Shiffrin Grabs Another Giant Slalom Top 10

SESTRIERE, Italy (Dec. 10, 2016) – In a tight race, Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) grabbed her third top-10 giant slalom result in a row, taking sixth place at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom in Sestriere, Italy.

Tessa Worley of France was the day's winner, mirroring her teammate Alexis Pinturault who won the men's GS in Val d’Isere, France earlier in the day. Italian Sofia Goggia continued her attack on World Cup podiums in second and Lara Gut of Switzerland was third.

The ladies were skiing on the 2006 Olympic hill for the first time since 2008. “I love the hill,” said Shiffrin, who sat in first after first run. “It’s really nice and especially really nice for GS. There’s a fun course set as well, so it’s a good place for racing.”

With just .12 seconds separating Shiffrin in first place to Goggia in fifth after first run, Shiffrin acknowledged that the race was anyone’s game. “Second run is so tight—it’s going to be like a new race,” said Shiffrin. “I’m just trying to take the same mentality. I tried to ski aggressively first run so that’s really different for me and it was fun and it worked out.”

But in the tight second run, Shiffrin got caught in a terrain change and didn’t have enough space to make up the time up on the flats, leaving her in sixth place.

Resi Stiegler grabbed her first World Cup giant slalom points since 2012. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Christophe Pallot)

Resi Stiegler (Jackson, WY) made the flip and took 28th—the first time she has scored World Cup GS points in four years.

Shiffrin will look for the win on Sunday with the slalom in Sestriere.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mikaela Shiffrin was sixth in the Sestriere GS.
• Shiffrin has finished in the top 10 in all GS races this season.
• Tessa Worley won the race. She also won the GS at Killington in November.
• Resi Stiegler scored her first GS points in four years, taking 28th place.
• Road to Aspen: Shiffrin maintains her lead in the overall World Cup by eight points over Lara Gut. With today’s win, Tessa Worley extended her lead in the giant slalom standings.
• Catch the giant slalom broadcast on Universal HD at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday.
• The women race slalom Sunday in Sestriere.

QUOTES

Mikaela Shiffrin
After first run
I love the hill. It’s really nice and especially really nice for GS. There’s a fun course set as well, so it’s a good place for racing. Second run is so tight—it’s going to be like a new race. I’m just trying to take the same mentality. I tried to ski aggressively that run so that’s really different for me and it was fun and it worked out.

Resi Stiegler
I’m so happy! I was so nervous after the first run—I didn’t think I was going to make it. But I did and I started thinking a little too much because I haven’t been in the top 30 since 2012. I think I got a little bit too loose and ungrounded, but I’m really happy with the day.

I think GS helps with my slalom a lot and it takes the pressure off to have another focus. I get really bored easily. If I think only slalom all the time, I put so much pressure on that. I like GS a lot and I think I’m pretty good at it at times. I didn’t want to lose that actual skiing ability. 

RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom

TV SCHEDULE
BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAMING (All times EST)
Saturday, Dec. 10
7:00 p.m. Women’s giant slalom – Universal HD

Sunday, Dec. 11
4:30 a.m. Women’s slalom, first run – Sestriere – NBCsports.com - LIVE STREAM
7:30 a.m. Women’s slalom, second run – Sestriere – NBCsports.com - LIVE STREAM
3:00 p.m. Women’s slalom – Universal HD