Shiffrin Wins First Slalom of Season

KUEHTAI IN TIROL, Austria (Dec. 29, 2014)—With two nearly perfect runs, Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) never let go of first place at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup, taking her first slalom win of the season against a stacked field in Austria. Sarka Strachova of the Czech Republic was second and Wendy Holdener of Switzerland was third. Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) finished in 23rd.

It was a small tech team competing at Kuehtai in Tirol, with only Shiffrin and Stiegler making the flip. Unlike the previous day’s giant slalom, the course was in great condition with a simple set and the girls could let the skis run. Even though Shiffrin faced stiff competition, she skied confidently and built her lead throughout the second run, winning by .80 of a second.

Shiffrin stands in the finish with Strachova and Holdener. (Getty Images/AFP-Joe Klamar)

Shiffrin is the first to acknowledge that she’s been suffering from nerves and gear issues throughout the past few months. “The second run was the first time that I felt like I was smooth and attacking,” she said breathlessly, after her victory. “I finally trusted my skis, not just my ability.”

Stiegler, recovering from being sick, was stoked to make the second run. “I knew I was fast,” she said after her first run, when she finished 13th. “I just want push the envelope.” But her aggression got the best of her, and her skis threw her into the backseat right before the finish. The mistake cost her time and she finished 23rd overall.

Hailey Duke (Boise, ID) and Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN) did not qualify for a second run.

After the New Year, both men's and women's tech teams head to Zagreb-Sljeme, Croatia for slaloms.

HIGHLIGHTS

• After finishing third in Sunday’s GS, Mikaela Shiffrin took her season’s first win and third podium.
• The win left her third in the overall Audi FIS Ski World Cup standings, fourth in slalom.
• Universal Sports Network will re-air coverage at 12:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday and 1:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday.

QUOTES
Mikaela Shiffrin
I’m so psyched! That second run was really fun. I liked going fast and that’s the point of ski racing. It tells me I still have it.

There was no pressure second run. I felt free. The surface was great and my skis and boots are working great. I was ready for it. I didn’t feel like there was any pressure. I just wanted to live up to my own expectations.

Two podiums in one weekend! I’m feeling like I’m getting my slalom back. I love this hill. All of the girls really fought hard this second run. I’m happy to have skied that well.

It’s important for me to take positivity into the next races. I just went home after the race yesterday and was like, ‘OK, on to the race tomorrow.’ I have a job to do.

There are some good days and some tough days. I had a lot of luck in my first few years on the World Cup. I pretty much started winning right away. I didn’t have issues with equipment or anything. I’m finally holding myself more accountable for what I’m doing. I have to treat this like it’s my career, not anyone else’s. These two days I had to take control over myself and not worry about impressing anyone else.

I’m back to just loving to make good turns. Any win is important. This is confirmation for me that I belong here. I skied at the top of my level and earned it.

RESULTS
Official results