Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calf.) picked up his fifth career FIS Ski World Cup top-10 result in alpine combined, leading four Americans into the top 20 Friday in Wengen, Switzerland.

“The top 10 thing is getting kind of old,” said Bennett, who finished ninth. “I knew after Bormio (where he finished 19th)… I was pretty upset with how that slalom run went and I knew that I had some better slalom skiing. I thought I did a better job (today). I had a little trouble up top, but I kept it rolling pretty well.”

Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah), who won the alpine combined in Wengen in 2014, just missed the top 10, finishing 11th Friday.  Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, Vt.) was 18th and Jared Goldberg (Holladay, Utah) finished 19th.

France’s Victor Muffat-Jeandet won his first World Cup race Friday. Pavel Trikhichev of Russia landed his first World Cup podium in second, as Italy’s Peter Fill was third.

Up next, the men tackle the Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen Saturday.

RESULTS
Men’s alpine combined

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST

Saturday, Jan. 13
4:30 a.m. – Women’s super-G; Bad Kleinkirchheim – Olympic Channel TV
6:30 a.m. – Men’s downhill; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV
10:00 p.m. – Women’s Super-G; Bad Kleinkirchheim – NBCSN (same day coverage)
11:00 p.m. – Men’s downhill; Wengen – NBCSN (same day coverage)

Sunday, Jan. 14
4:15 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 1; Wengen –olympicchannel.com
5:00 a.m. – Women’s downhill; Bad Kleinkirchheim – Olympic Channel TV
6:30 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 2; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV

After a busy, full-steam ahead tech run, where Mikaela went five for five victories, it’s time for the White Circus train to change the pace a bit and hit the next stop on its journey. Next stop: two of the most challenging tracks on the circuit. Welcome to the Lauberhornrennen and the Kärnten-Franz Klammer. That is Wengen, Switzerland and Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria.

The women's speed team enjoyed a sizable three-week break from competition, but they're eager to get back into the swing of things. To say they were antsy is an understatement. With holidays spent back home in the states and a return to snow with some of the best training they’ve had all season in San Pellegrino, Italy, this crew is amped to return to competition.

 

The face I make when it’s finally speed week!!! 🙌🏻 #shakenbake #ijustwannagofast

A post shared by L I N D S E Y • V O N N (@lindseyvonn) on Jan 10, 2018 at 5:02am PST

The women are so amped that Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) posted a picture on Instagram of herself celebrating with the caption, “The face I make when it’s finally speed week!!!” Vonn will lead a deep squad of speed women into a super-G and downhill this weekend while current downhill standings leader Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) will take a much-deserved weekend off from competition. Shiffrin – who also has a massive 821-point lead in the overall standings, and leads the slalom and giant slalom standings – will rejoin the speed team next weekend in Cortina, Italy.

Vonn will look to build her FIS Alpine World Cup career tally to 79 victories, and therefore one step closer to the legendary Ingemar Stenmark’s record of 86 victories. She’ll battle a diverse field the next couple of weekends, as the last seven World Cup downhill events have been won by seven different women – Vonn, Christine Scheyer, Lara Gut, Sofia Goggia, Ilka Štuhec (out with injury), Cornelia Hütter and Shiffrin.

However, Vonn will not only battle the diverse field – she'll also battle the conditions in Bad Kleinkirchheim. With snow then rain pounding the surface, the organizers have had quite the challenge prepping the track. Wednesday's training run was canceled, as the bottom of the course featured "death cookies" and "sugary" snow – certainly not ideal for downhill. Due to the conditions, the organizers and FIS have decided to move the super-G to Saturday and the downhill to Sunday. 

"It's a difficult situation right now with the way the snow is and the way they prepared the course," Vonn said. "I'm not sure if we're going to be able to get a race off. They're definitely trying as hard as they can, and we'll have to see what things look like at inspection and we'll take it from there. The top is good, but the bottom is not safe to race, so I'm going to have to see how things look and make a decision tomorrow." Vonn's focus remains on the Olympics, so she'll assess the risk and make a game time decision on her participation. 

Over in Wengen, the American Downhillers are in classics heaven on the fabled Lauberhorn downhill. At nearly three miles long, this track is a test of pure athleticism and stamina. To put this into perspective – it is over two and a half minutes of leg-burning pain down a 2.78-mile course with speeds pushing 100 mph. In fact, the top speed on the World Cup was reached here in 2013, when Frenchman Johan Clarey hit a max speed of 100.6 mph at the Haneggschuss, the fastest section of the track.

Though the American Downhillers struggled in the first training run on Wednesday, it is important to remember that athletes are using training runs to dial in their strategy for race day. Team leader and veteran Steven Nyman (Sundance, Utah) is feeling good and will return to competition in Wengen, though his focus remains on building towards PyeongChang.

Jared Goldberg (Holladay, Utah) and Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Cali.), who have both found a new level of consistency and focus this season, both had strong training run results on Thursday, landing in seventh and 20th, respectively.

“I’m feeling good; I learned a lot in my first training run,” said Goldberg after Thursday’s run. “I was pretty all over the place. I’ve been here a bunch of years and I just started to put it all together today in the run. I think I still have a couple places I can clean up, but today was a much cleaner run. I’d like to ski the way I can and put this thing together, so I’m just trying to keep building off what I’ve been doing the last races and not expect too much and just have fun – because it really is a fun course.”

Though the weather proved to be challenging early in the week, with Tuesday’s training run canceled, Goldberg and teammates used the opportunity to play hockey – a Wengen American Downhiller tradition – and stay optimistic about conditions for the weekend.

“The conditions aren’t too bad considering all the weather, but that’s a pretty normal thing here,” noted Goldberg. “The course is just under three miles long and it goes from pretty high altitude – where the top is winter and the bottom is pretty soft snow. They’re salting on the bottom and the top is pretty much all winter snow, so a lot of different conditions as you go down, and that’s just what adds to the coolness factor of this race.”

The men will start the weekend off early with an alpine combined Friday, followed by the downhill on Saturday and slalom Sunday. Fans can look forward to watching Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah) – who has been training some impressive slalom – in Friday’s alpine combined.

Nolan Kasper (Warren, VT), who has been sidelined with an injury the last two seasons and was slated to return to competition in Adelboden, Switzerland, will be returning to competition in Wengen. His last World Cup start was Schladming, Austria on January 27, 2015. Keep an eye on Kasper, as he has one career podium from 2011 and has worked extremely hard to come back from injuries.

Steve Schlanger and U.S. Ski Team alumnus Steve Porino will call the action in the coming week.  See who to watch and where to catch all the action below.

WOMEN’S STARTERS
Bad Kleinkirchheim, AUT

• Stacey Cook
• Breezy Johnson
• Julia Mancuso
• Tricia Mangan
• Alice McKennis
• Alice Merryweather
• Laurenne Ross
• Lindsey Vonn
• Jackie Wiles

MEN’S STARTERS
Wengen, SUI

• Bryce Bennett
• David Chodounsky
• Ryan Cochran-Siegle
• Drew Duffy
• Mark Engel
• AJ Ginnis
• Jared Goldberg
• Nolan Kasper
• Ted Ligety
• Steven Nyman
• Hig Roberts
• Kipling Weisel

NOTE: Final starters have yet to be solidified. Stay tuned to our social channels for updated information.

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Friday, Jan. 12
4:30 a.m. – Men’s combined, downhill; Wengen –olympicchannel.com
10:00 a.m. – Men’s combined, slalom; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV

Saturday, Jan. 13
4:30 a.m. – Women’s super-G; Bad Kleinkirchheim – Olympic Channel TV
6:30 a.m. – Men’s downhill; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV
10:00 p.m. – Women’s Super-G; Bad Kleinkirchheim – NBCSN (same day coverage)
11:00 p.m. – Men’s downhill; Wengen – NBCSN (same day coverage)

Sunday, Jan. 14
4:15 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 1; Wengen –olympicchannel.com
5:00 a.m. – Women’s downhill; Bad Kleinkirchheim – Olympic Channel TV
6:30 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 2; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV

RESULTS
Men’s Training Run 1
Men’s Training Run 2
Women's Training Run

START LISTS
Men’s Alpine Combined
 

For the first time this season, Mikaela Shiffrin came from behind to win a FIS Ski World Cup race - her fifth-straight victory - in Tuesday’s evening slalom in front of 7,000 fans in Flachau, Austria. She also tied Austria’s Annemarie Moser-Pröll with 41 World Cup victories before turning 23.

Trailing Austria’s Bernadette Schild by 0.37-seconds after the first run, Shiffrin tackled the rough, choppy second run with a “nothing to lose” attitude and absolutely blew the doors off the competition.

“Tonight I was chasing in the second run and I knew with Bernadette – she’s skiing so loose – I had to go all out,” Shiffrin said. “I had nothing to lose.”

Schild settled for second, 0.94 seconds off Shiffrin’s winning time. Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter was third. Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, Wyo.) was the only other American to qualify for the second run and finished 26th.

“I haven’t really comeback in a second run and made a big jump like that (all season), and I sort of needed that for my confidence,” Shiffrin said. “Each race this year I’ve been good in the first run, but the second run I’m just sort of holding on. But tonight, it was a different story and I’m very excited.”

With her victory, Shiffrin added to her overall World Cup lead with 1,381 points. Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener is second with 560 points, and Slovenia's Petra Vlhova is third with 554 points. Shiffrin also leads the overall World Cup downhill, slalom, and giant slalom standings. However, will not participate in this weekend’s speed series in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria, opting to take a much-needed rest after competing in 10 races over the past three weeks – winning nine and finishing third in the other.

Up next, the women’s World Cup Tour moves to Bad Kleinkirchheim for downhill and super-G races Jan. 13-14. Shiffrin is planning to return to the World Cup circuit Jan. 20-21 with downhill and Super-G races in Cortina, Italy.

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
*schedules subject to change

Jan. 9
5:30 p.m.  – Women’s slalom, run 2; Flachau  – NBCSN (same day coverage)

Jan. 11
6:00 p.m.  – Women’s slalom, run 2; Flachau  – NBCSN (re-air)

Jan. 12
4:30 a.m. – Men’s combined, downhill; Wengen – olympicchannel.com
10:00 a.m. – Men’s combined, slalom; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV

Jan. 13
4:30 a.m. – Women’s downhill; Bad Kleinkirchheim – Olympic Channel TV
6:30 a.m. – Men’s downhill; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV
10:00 p.m. – Women’s downhill; Bad Kleinkirchheim – NBCSN (same day coverage)
11:00 p.m. – Men’s downhill; Wengen – NBCSN (same day coverage)

Jan. 14
4:15 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 1; Wengen – olympicchannel.com
5:00 a.m. – Women’s super-G; Bad Kleinkirchheim – Olympic Channel TV
6:30 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 2; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV
 

These are exciting times for U.S. Ski & Snowboard with the 2018 Olympic Winter Games less than a month away.

Since the start of 2018, Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) has won all four (maybe five, we’ll know Tuesday) World Cup events. Aeralist Kiley McKinnon (Madison, Conn.) won her first-career World Cup event and achieved objective criteria to make the Olympic team, and Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.) became the first U.S. skier ever to land on the Tour de Ski podium with a third-place finish. Momentum is building across the entire U.S. Ski & Snowboard team as the final competitions take place before the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Read on to see where U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes will be in action this week and how to watch via NBC, NBCSN and the Olympic Channel - Home of Team USA.

FIS Women’s Ski World Cup - Flachau + Bad Kleinkirchheim, AUT
Shiffrin will continue her quest for dominance in the final slalom World Cup before the Olympics on Jan. 9 in Flachau, Austria. The women’s speed team is back in action in the New Year with super-G and downhill races Jan. 13-14. The U.S. has a strong contingent of athletes expected to compete, including Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.), Laurenne Ross (Bend. Ore.), Stacey Cook (Mammoth, Calif.) and Jackie Wiles (Aurora, Ore.).

FIS Men’s Ski World Cup - Wengen, SUI
Wengen, Switzerland will play host to men’s speed and tech events this coming week with an alpine combined event on Jan. 12, downhill Jan. 13 and slalom Jan. 14. Notable names on the large U.S. roster include Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah), Steven Nyman (Sundance, Utah), Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calif.) and David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, Colo.).

Visa Freestyle International - Deer Valley Resort, Utah
The FIS Freestyle World Cup tour makes its first of two stops in the U.S. this week with moguls and aerials competitions Jan. 10-12 at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. It’s the penultimate Olympic selection event, so the top U.S. Ski Team athletes will be looking to secure podiums and state their case to be named to the 2018 Olympic team. Lake Placid hosts the Putnam Investments Freestyle Cup with aerials competition Jan. 19-20.

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix - Snowmass, Colo.
U.S. Freeski and Snowboard Team athletes will compete in their third Olympic qualifier of the season this week at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Snowmass, Colorado. It is the first time Snowmass has hosted a Grand Prix since 1998 and despite the warmer than average weather, the mountain operations team has put a ton of effort into snowmaking and grooming to provide the athletes a world-class competition venue. Chloe Kim (Torrence, Calif.), Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.) and Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.) are the only athletes that have confirmed their nominations to the U.S. Olympic Team, so athletes across both sports will be gunning for top results and the chance to compete in PyeongChang. Finals for all competitions take place Jan. 12-14.

FIS Freestyle World Cup - Idre Fjall, SWE
Tanya Prymak (Goshen, N.Y.), Tyler Wallasch (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) and Brant Crossan (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) will represent the U.S. this weekend at the ski cross World Cup in Sweden. Qualifications take place Jan. 12 followed by competitions Jan. 13 and 14.

FIS Cross Country World Cup - Dresden, GER
The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team enters its final weekend of Olympic selection events with individual and team sprints Jan. 13-14 in Dresden, Germany. The U.S. will have nine skiers racing, including World Champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, Alaska), Sophie Caldwell (Stratton, Vt.), Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.) and Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, Vt.).

FIS Women’s Ski Jumping World Cup - Sapporo, JPN
Newly named U.S. Olympic Team member Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, Utah) leads the U.S. into a HS100 event in Sapporo, Japan. Qualifications take place on Jan. 12 followed by World Cups on Jan. 13 and 14. Other competitors include Nita Englund (Steamboat Springs, Colo.), Abby Ringquist (Park City, Utah) and Tara Geraghty-Moats (West Fairlee, Vt.).

FIS Men’s Ski Jumping World Cup - Tauplitz/ Bad Mitterndorf, AUT
2018 Olympic Team member Michael Glasder (Cary, Ill.), along with USA Nordic teammates Will Rhoads (Park City, Utah) and Kevin Bickner (Wacounda, Ill.) will compete in the first of two ski flying World Cups this month on the HS235 hill in Austria. Qualifications take place on Jan. 12 followed by competitions on Jan. 13 and 14.

FIS Nordic Combined World Cup - Val di Fiemme, ITA
Brothers Bryan and Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) along with Ben Loomis (Eau Claire, Wis.) and Jasper Good (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) will compete in two individual and one team event in Val di Fiemme, Italy Jan. 12-14.

FIS Snowboard World Cup - Bad Gastein, AUT
The U.S. will have six athletes competing in parallel slalom and team slalom World Cups Jan. 13-14 in Bad Gastein, Austria.

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD BROADCAST AND STREAMING SCHEDULE
All times EST
*schedules subject to change

ALPINE
Jan. 9
12:00 p.m. – Women’s slalom, run 1; Flachau – olympicchannel.com
2:30 p.m.  – Women’s slalom, run 2; Flachau  – Olympic Channel TV
5:30 p.m.  – Women’s slalom, run 2; Flachau  – NBCSN (same day coverage)

Jan. 11
6:00 p.m.  – Women’s slalom, run 2; Flachau  – NBCSN (next day coverage)

Jan. 12
4:30 a.m. – Men’s combined, downhill; Wengen – olympicchannel.com
10:00 a.m. – Men’s combined, slalom; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV

Jan. 13
4:30 a.m. – Women’s super-G; Bad Kleinkirchheim – Olympic Channel TV
6:30 a.m. – Men’s downhill; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV
10:00 p.m. – Women’s super-G; Bad Kleinkirchheim – NBCSN (same day coverage)
11:00 p.m. – Men’s downhill; Wengen – NBCSN (same day coverage)

Jan. 14
4:15 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 1; Wengen – olympicchannel.com
5:00 a.m. – Women’s Downhill; Bad Kleinkirchheim – Olympic Channel TV
6:30 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 2; Wengen – Olympic Channel TV

FREESTYLE
Jan. 10
8:45 p.m. – Moguls finals #1; Visa Freestyle International – nbcsports.com

Jan. 11
8:00 p.m. – Moguls finals #1; Visa Freestyle International – NBCSN (next day coverage)
8:45 p.m. – Moguls finals #2; Visa Freestyle International – nbcsports.com

Jan. 12
8:30 p.m. – Moguls finals #2; Visa Freestyle International – NBCSN (next day coverage)
9:45 p.m. – Aerials finals; Visa Freestyle International – nbcsports.com

Jan. 13
5:00 a.m. – Ski cross; Idre Fjall – olympicchannel.com
2:30 p.m. – Aerials finals; Visa Freestyle International – NBC (next day coverage)

Jan. 14
6:00 a.m. – Ski cross; Idre Fjall – olympicchannel.com

TOYOTA U.S. GRAND PRIX
Jan. 12
11:15 a.m – Slopestyle snowboarding finals – nbcsports.com
2:45 p.m – Halfpipe skiing finals – nbcsports.com
9:30 p.m – Slopestyle snowboarding finals – NBCSN (Same day coverage)
11:00 p.m. – Halfpipe skiing finals – NBCSN (Same day coverage)

Jan. 13
11:15 a.m – Slopestyle skiing finals #1 – nbcsports.com
2:45 p.m – Halfpipe snowboarding finals – nbcsports.com

Jan. 14
3:00 p.m – Slopestyle skiing finals #2 – nbcsports.com
3:00 p.m. – Halfpipe snowboarding finals – NBC (next day coverage)

Jan. 15
1:30 a.m. – Slopestyle skiing finals #1 – NBCSN

Jan. 16
12:00 a.m. – Slopestyle skiing finals #2 – NBCSN

CROSS COUNTRY
Jan. 13
6:20 a.m. – Men’s and women’s sprint – olympicchannel.com
12:00 p.m. – Men’s and women’s sprint – Olympic Channel TV (Same day coverage)

Jan. 14
5:15 a.m. – Men’s and women’s team sprint – olympicchannel.com
12:00 p.m. – Men’s and women’s team sprint – Olympic Channel TV (Same day coverage)

SKI JUMPING
Jan. 12
6:00 a.m. – Men’s HS225 Qualification; Tauplitz/ Bad Mitterndorf – olympicchannel.com
9:00 p.m. – Women’s HS100 Qualification; Sapporo – Olympic Channel TV

Jan. 13
6:00 a.m. – Men’s HS225; Tauplitz/ Bad Mitterndorf – olympicchannel.com
4:00 p.m. – Men’s HS225; Tauplitz/ Bad Mitterndorf – Olympic Channel TV (same day coverage)
9:00 p.m. – Women’s HS100; Sapporo – Olympic Channel TV

Jan. 14
8:15 a.m. – Men’s HS225; Tauplitz/ Bad Mitterndorf – olympicchannel.com
4:00 p.m. – Men’s HS225; Tauplitz/ Bad Mitterndorf – Olympic Channel TV (same day coverage)

NORDIC COMBINED
Jan. 12
3:30 a.m. – Men’s HS135 – olympicchannel.com
7:30 a.m. – Men’s individual 10k – olympicchannel.com

Jan. 13
4:00 a.m. – Men’s HS135 – olympicchannel.com
9:45 a.m. – Men’s team sprint – olympicchannel.com

Jan. 14
4:00 a.m. – Men’s HS135 – olympicchannel.com
7:45 a.m. – Men’s individual 10k – olympicchannel.com

SNOWBOARD
Jan. 12
12:00 p.m. – Men’s and women’s parallel slalom; Bad Gastein – olympicchannel.com

Jan. 13
10:30 a.m. – Men’s and women’s parallel slalom team event; Bad Gastein – olympicchannel.com

Four more cross country skiers clinched their spots on the Olympic Team Sunday following the conclusion of the final World Cup distance event of the selection period. Rosie Brennan (Park City, Utah) qualified for her first Olympic team. Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) is now set for her fifth and Liz Stephen (E. Montpelier, Vt.) will make her third appearance. Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.) will join sister Sadie for his second Olympics. All four qualified by virtue of a top 50 ranking in the World Cup distance standings.

Selection Notes
This update is as of the noted date and subject to change through the selection period. Update includes only those athletes who have achieved the top levels of objective selection criteria, which does not guarantee a spot on the team. Final team announcements will be made the week of Jan. 22, subject to USOC approval.

Alpine (selection period runs through Jan. 22)

• Stacey Cook (top 10 downhill) *
• Tommy Ford (World Cup ranking GS) ^
• Breezy Johnson (top 10 downhill) *
• Ted Ligety (top 5 giant slalom) ^
• Megan McJames (World Cup ranking GS) ^
• Laurenne Ross (top 10 super G) *
• Mikaela Shiffrin (top 3 downhill, top 5 super G, top 3 giant slalom, top 3 slalom) ^
• Lindsey Vonn (top 3 super G) *
• Jackie Wiles (top 5 downhill) *

^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria

Cross Country (selection period runs through Jan. 15)

• Erik Bjornsen (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance, sprint) ^
• Sadie Bjornsen (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
• Rosie Brennan (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance, sprint) ^
• Sophie Caldwell (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
• Jessie Diggins (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
• Simi Hamilton (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) *
• Andy Newell (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) *
• Kikkan Randall (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint, distance) ^
• Ida Sargent (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) *
• Liz Stephen (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance) ^

^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria as of rankings on Jan. 6 (rankings subject to change through Jan. 15)

Freeski (selection period runs through Jan. 21)

• None have met objective criteria yet
• Freestyle (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
• Jaelin Kauf (2 top 3 moguls) *
• Kiley McKinnon (2 top 3 aerials) *

* Achieved objective qualification criteria

Nordic Combined (selection period runs through Jan. 22)

• Bryan Fletcher (winner Olympic Trials) ^

^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team

Ski Jumping (selection period runs through Jan. 21)

• Mike Glasder (winner Olympic Trials) ^
• Sarah Hendrickson (winner Olympic Trials) ^

^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team

Snowboard (qualifying through Jan. 21)

• Jamie Anderson (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
• Jonathan Cheever (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event; leading selection points) *
• Chris Corning (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
• Faye Gulini (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event) ^
• Chloe Kim (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
• Lindsey Jacobellis (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event) ^

^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria

A day after battling for her 39th World Cup victory, Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) made it look easy, cruising toward World Cup history with her 40th victory in Sunday’s slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

Brushing aside a flu bug, rainy weather, and rough course conditions, Shiffrin opened up a 1.47-second first run advantage and never looked back. Starting last in the second run, she extended her winning margin to 1.64-seconds over Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter, who finished second, and 1.87 seconds over Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener in third.

“I really loved the surface the first run,” Shiffrin said. “It got warmer in the second run and a little bit more of a track, but I actually thought it held up quite well. I had so much fun skiing today!”

Shiffrin is undefeated in 2018, winning the past four World Cup events, including two slalom victories, one giant slalom and a city event win in Oslo, Norway on New Year’s Day. She also won the Snow Queen title for her slalom victory in Zagreb, Croatia on Jan. 3, and following her giant slalom and slalom wins in Kranjska Gora, was awarded the Golden Fox, which goes to the best-combined finisher from the slalom and giant slalom.

“It’s really incredible to be the Golden Fox again,” Shiffrin said. “That one is definitely important to me … to be the best performer in the GS and the slalom through the weekend is really cool. That’s been one of my goals for so long, and it’s really, really an honor. But at the end of the day, it’s just a title and I still have to go back to work tomorrow.”

At 22-years-old, Shiffrin has reached another milestone in her ski racing career, equaling Ingemar Stenmark’s 40 wins before his 23rd birthday. Annemarie Moser-Pröll totaled 41 World Cup victories before turning 23. With four slalom and four giant slalom events remaining before Shiffrin turns 23 on March 13, the door is wide open for her to make World Cup history.

Since her World Cup debut as a 16-year-old on March 11, 2013, in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, Shiffrin has racked up some impressive stats, including:

• 29 World Cup slalom victories
• 6 World Cup giant slalom victories
• 1 World Cup alpine combined victory
• 1 World Cup downhill victory
• 2 World Cup city event wins
• 1 World Cup parallel slalom victory
• 3 World Championship slalom titles
• 1 Olympic slalom gold medal
• 57 World Cup podiums

Up next, the women’s World Cup circuit moves to Flachau, Austria Jan. 9 for an evening slalom where a victory would tie Shiffrin with Moser-Pröll’s 41 World Cup victories before turning 23.

“I’ve had some incredible races there … and I’m looking forward to going back there,” Shiffrin said. “The hill is one of my favorites, and when it’s in good condition, it’s really fun to ski.”

RESULTS
Women’s slalom
 

Freestyle skier Kiley McKinnon (Madison, Conn.) became the first freestyle aerialist to achieve objective Olympic selection criteria. McKinnon won Saturday in Moscow for her second top three World Cup finish in designated selection events. McKinnon was second in aerials at Deer Valley last February.

With no remaining giant slaloms in the selection period, Ted Ligety, Tommy Ford and Megan McJames have clinched Olympic Team spots. Ligety has a top five, Tommy Ford a top 10 and McJames the next-best World Cup ranked athlete behind Mikaela Shiffrin.

Olympic Selection Update - Jan. 6, 2018

Selection Notes
This update is as of the noted date and subject to change through the selection period. Update includes only those athletes who have achieved the top levels of objective selection criteria, which does not guarantee a spot on the team. Final team announcements will be made the week of Jan. 22, subject to USOC approval.
 
Alpine (selection period runs through Jan. 22)
Stacey Cook (top 10 downhill) *
Tommy Ford (World Cup ranking GS) ^
Breezy Johnson (top 10 downhill) *
Ted Ligety (top 5 giant slalom) ^
Megan McJames (World Cup ranking GS) ^
Laurenne Ross (top 10 super G) *
Mikaela Shiffrin (top 3 downhill, top 5 super G, top 3 giant slalom, top 3 slalom) ^
Lindsey Vonn (top 3 super G) *
Jackie Wiles (top 5 downhill) *
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria

Cross Country (selection period runs through Jan. 15)
Erik Bjornsen (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance, sprint) *
Sadie Bjornsen (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
Rosie Brennan (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance, sprint) *
Sophie Caldwell (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
Jessie Diggins (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
Simi Hamilton (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) *
Andy Newell (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) *
Kikkan Randall (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint, distance) *
Ida Sargent (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) *
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria as of rankings on Jan. 6 (rankings subject to change through Jan. 15)
 
Freeski (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
None have met objective criteria yet
 
Freestyle (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
Jaelin Kauf (2 top 3 moguls) *
Kiley McKinnon (2 top 3 aerials) *
* Achieved objective qualification criteria
 
Nordic Combined (selection period runs through Jan. 22)
Bryan Fletcher (winner Olympic Trials) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
 
Ski Jumping (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
Mike Glasder (winner Olympic Trials) ^
Sarah Hendrickson (winner Olympic Trials) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
 
Snowboard (qualifying through Jan. 21)
Jamie Anderson (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Jonathan Cheever (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event; leading selection points) *
Chris Corning (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Faye Gulini (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event) ^
Chloe Kim (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Lindsey Jacobellis (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria
 

Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, Vt.) muscled out his second points-scoring finish of the season to lead the U.S. Ski Team in 21st in Saturday's FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom in Adelboden.

Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah) looked to be back to form, finishing eighth in the first run, however, he got caught up in the tricky, tight second run set and did not finish.

In front of 20,000 screaming Swiss fans, Marcel Hirscher of Austria took his 51st FIS Ski World Cup win - his sixth victory this season. Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway was second and Frenchman Alexis Pinturault was third with the fastest second run.

After almost two seasons away from the World Cup tour due to injury, Ligety - the two-time Olympic giant slalom champion - has yet to podium. But his eyes are firmly planted on PyeongChang and the U.S. Ski Team coaches say he is steadily building toward February.

Tommy Ford (Bend, Ore.) also made the second run, but skied out partway through the course.

Next up, the men race slalom in Adelboden on Sunday.

RESULTS
Men’s giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Jan. 7
4:30 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 1; Adelboden – olympicchannel.com
7:30 a.m. – Men’s slalom, run 2; Adelboden – olympicchannel.com

World Cup victory No. 39 wasn’t an easy one for Mikaela Shiffrin.

Feeling a bit under the weather and racing through light rain on a rough, straight-set course, Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) took the first run lead and held on to win her eighth FIS Ski World Cup race this season Saturday in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. Tessa Worley of France was second, and Sofia Goggia of Italy picked up her fourth World Cup podium of the season in third.

“I’ve been a little bit sick the past couple days,” Shiffrin said following her victory. “A lot of the girls have been sick, so I didn’t feel like it was an excuse for today, and I wanted to come out and charge. Luckily it wasn’t a very long GS today, so I just felt like ‘OK, I just need two minutes of energy, and if I can do that, I’ll be fine.’”

With the victory, Shiffrin moved back into the FIS Ski World Cup overall giant slalom standings. Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg held a narrow advantage over Shiffrin in the overall standings heading into Saturday’s race, but she faltered in the challenging conditions, and finished 11th, falling to third in the GS standings. Shiffrin, who has totaled 1,181 World Cup points so far this season, now leads the overall World Cup standings by 647 points over Rebensburg. Shiffrin also leads the overall downhill and slalom World Cup standings.

Starting fourth in the first run, Shiffrin built a 0.86-second lead – the largest first run giant slalom lead of her career – and challenged the rough second run head-on.

“Certainly a little bit bumpier and a little bit wild in the second run,” Shiffrin said. “I was trying to be aggressive, but I also didn’t want to risk everything, so some turns I was really aggressive, and some turns I was like ‘Whoa, stay on the course at least!”’

Saturday’s race was scheduled for Maribor, Slovenia, but was moved to Kranjska Gora due to snow conditions. It was the first time the women have raced in Kranjska Gora since 2012.

Seventeen-year-old AJ Hurt made her third World Cup start, finishing 45th in the first run. Foreste Peterson, who skis for Dartmouth College, also made her second World Cup start, finishing 53rd in the first run.

Up next, the women race slalom Sunday in Kranjska Gora.

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
*schedules subject to change

ALPINE
Jan. 7
3:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, run 1; Kranjska Gora – olympicchannel.com
6:00 a.m. – Women’s slalom, run 2; Kranjska Gora – NBCSN
 

Olympic ski and snowboard spots will be on the line this weekend as the close of Olympic selection is just two weeks away. The Games begin in PyeongChang in just 34 days on Feb. 9.
 
Three skiers earned spots on the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team over New Year's Weekend at the U.S. Olympic Trials for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined at the Utah Olympic Park.

Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) earned a spot on his second Olympic Team with a win in nordic combined. Mike Glasder (Cary, Ill.) clinched his first Olympic berth with a ski jumping victory while Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, Utah) claimed a return trip with her women's ski jumping win.
 
Freestyle World Cups this weekend in Moscow and Calgary could impact Olympic selection for aerials and moguls. Aerialist Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, Va.) and moguls skier Troy Murphy (Bethel, Maine)  are each looking for their second podium to achieve objective criteria.
 
In cross country, there are no more selection events to achieve a top-eight finish to lock in a spot. But athletes can still move up into the top 50 in World Cup distance or sprint rankings. Liz Stephen (E. Montpelier, Vt.) is expected to make a move in the final two events of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Spots via domestic races are also on the line at the L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships in Anchorage.
 
Final team selections for all ski and snowboard Olympic teams will be announced by U.S. Ski & Snowboard the week of Jan. 22. The United States Olympic Committee will formally name Team USA in late January. The Olympic Winter Games are set for Feb. 8-25 in PyeongChang, South Korea. U.S. Ski & Snowboard anticipates a total team size of over 100 athletes across all ski and snowboard sports.
 
All selections to the U.S. Olympic Team are subject to approval by the USOC.
 
SELECTION UPDATE - Jan. 5, 2018
This update as of the noted date and subject to change through selection period. Update includes only those athletes who have achieved the top levels of objective selection criteria, which does not guarantee a spot on the team. Final team announcements will be made the week of Jan. 22, subject to USOC approval.
 
Alpine (selection period runs through Jan. 22)
Stacey Cook (top 10 downhill) *
Breezy Johnson (top 10 downhill) *
Ted Ligety (top 5 giant slalom) *
Laurenne Ross (top 10 super G) *
Mikaela Shiffrin (top 3 downhill, top 5 super G, top 3 giant slalom, top 3 slalom) ^
Lindsey Vonn (top 3 super G) *
Jackie Wiles (top 5 downhill) *
 
Cross Country (selection period runs through Jan. 15)
Erik Bjornsen (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance, sprint) *
Sadie Bjornsen (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
Rosie Brennan (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance, sprint) *
Sophie Caldwell (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
Jessie Diggins (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
Simi Hamilton (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) *
Andy Newell (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) *
Kikkan Randall (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint, distance) *
Ida Sargent (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) *
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria as of rankings on Jan. 4 (rankings subject to change through Jan. 15)
 
Freeski (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
None have met objective criteria yet
 
Freestyle (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
Jaelin Kauf (2 top 3 moguls) *
* Achieved objective qualification criteria
 
Nordic Combined (selection period runs through Jan. 22)
Bryan Fletcher (winner Olympic Trials) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
 
Ski Jumping (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
Mike Glasder (winner Olympic Trials) ^
Sarah Hendrickson (winner Olympic Trials) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
 
Snowboard (qualifying through Jan. 21)
Jamie Anderson (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Jonathan Cheever (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event; leading selection points) *
Chris Corning (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Faye Gulini (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event) ^
Chloe Kim (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Lindsey Jacobellis (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria