Reigning world and Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin opened her quest for a fourth consecutive Alpine Ski World Cup women’s slalom crown with a victory Saturday on home-nation snow. Lara Gut of Switzerland was third. Sarka Strachova of Czech Republic was third, 2.90 back.
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Shiffrin, who more than doubled her lead on the second run with a superb display, was over three seconds clear of her nearest rival.
After being asked whether she demonstrated her best skiing this weekend, Shiffrin’s response may strike fear into the hearts of those hoping to steal a slalom victory of their own this season. It was a mark that had stood since 1968.
The 20-year-old Shiffrin was trying to become the first American to win a World Cup race at this venue since Tamara McKinney in 1981.
“Sometimes that disappointment can hurt your or drive you”, Shiffrin said of her fall. “She makes skiing really easy”.
“From here on out, I’m going to be searching for another 3-second margin of victory”, Shiffrin said. She has won the World Cup season slalom title the past three seasons.
“She’s so stable”, Strachova said.
This is what propelled her in the first run Sunday: “Yesterday was a dream”.
“That’s one of those things that I feel is an inexcusable mistake, for somebody who’s able to win and is going for it. At the same time, it’s a good lesson”.
Looking forward towards the next slalom in Are, Sweden, on December 13, Shiffrin downplayed her dominance this weekend, perhaps taking some pressure off before her anticipated World Cup speed debut this week in Canada.
Four-time World Cup champion Vonn, 31, was running seventh when she faltered, the third of 18 skiers who failed to finish the opening run.
I woke up this morning and I thought, oh my gosh!
“I don’t think they’ll let me get away with three seconds ever again”, Shiffrin said.
Last year, the Austrians dominated the podium in the Aspen Winternational races. “I got past the bigger turns and I was like, ‘That felt quite good.’ But I was also thinking in my mind, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I made it this far, it was kind of rough.’ No sooner did I think that…” I just wasn’t satisfied, it wasn’t the way I’ve been training. “I tried to attack even more”. I think everybody else pushed it a little harder too.
Vonn, coming back from a broken ankle and a dog bite injury to her hand, lost her left ski in Friday’s first run.
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For a change, though, Shiffrin will be there to compete in the super-G.
