Shiffrin Powers to 24th Career Slalom Victory
MARIBOR, Slovenia (Jan. 8, 2017) – Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) skied to her 24th career slalom victory Sunday at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup, and extended her overall World Cup lead to more than 300 points.
Shiffrin, who took a 0.17 first run lead over Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener, powered through the second run to win her 27th career World Cup race. Holdener finished second as Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter was third.
Mikaela Shiffrin scored her 24th career Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom victory in Maribor Sunday. (Getty Images/AFP-Jure Makovec)
Shiffrin, like a number of skiers before her in the second run, battled not only a tough, grippy course, but also numerous broken gates. Midway down the course, she broke a gate that got caught up between her legs. But without missing a beat, she powered through the obstacle, carrying her speed through to victory.
“I saw a lot of gates were breaking when I was watching the other girls and I thought that probably it would happen for me as well, and it did,” Shiffrin said. “But with everyone else, it seemed the (broken) gate went out of the way. But for me, it kept getting stuck on my skis and boots. It was a bit distracting, but I don’t think it cost me too much.”
With the win, Shiffrin has a 305-point lead over Switzerland’s Lara Gut, who did not qualify for the second run Sunday.
“As a kid, I dreamed about being the best in the world at all the different events, so this is another step in the right direction to be performing well in two events at least,” said Shiffrin, who also leads the overall World Cup slalom standings with 500 points. “In my career, one of the goals I want to accomplish is the (World Cup) overall. I don’t know if it will happen this year, but eventually that will be a big goal for me.”
Resi Stiegler finished 20th in Sunday’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom in Maribor. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Christophe Pallot)
Resi Stiegler (Jackson, WY) continued her solid World Cup slalom season, finishing 20th. Megan McJames (Park City, UT) and Lila Lapanja (Incline Village, NV) did not qualify for the second run.
Up next, the ladies compete in a night slalom Tuesday in Flachau.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Mikaela Shiffrin won her 24th career World Cup slalom Sunday and her 27th career World Cup.
- Resi Stiegler finished 20th.
- Road to Aspen: Shiffrin holds a 305-point lead in the overall World Cup standings over Lara Gut of Switzerland. Shiffrin also leads the overall World Cup slalom standings with 500 points after winning five of six events this season.
- Next, the tech women head to Flachau, Austria for a night slalom.
QUOTES
Mikaela Shiffrin
As a kid, I dreamed about being the best in the world at all the different events, so this is another step in the right direction to be performing well in two at least.
I saw a lot of gates were breaking when I was watching the other girls and I thought that probably it would happen for me as well, and it did. With everybody else, it seemed the (broken) gate went out of the way, but for me, it kept getting stuck on my skis and boots. It was a bit distracting, but I don’t think it cost me too much. I was focused and continued to finish the course.
In my career, one of the goals I want to accomplish is the (World Cup) overall. I don’t know if it will happen this year, but eventually that will be a big goal for me.
RESULTS
Women’s slalom
