LEVI, Finland — American ski star Mikaela Shiffrin showcased her exceptional skills during the opening run of the women’s World Cup slalom season on Saturday, setting the stage for what could be her remarkable 98th career victory.
Shiffrin’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary, as she clocked the fastest time at three out of four split times on the challenging Levi Black course, establishing a solid 0.60-second lead over Germany’s Lena Duerr.
The two-time Olympic champion has a storied history in this event, having claimed victory a record seven times in the season-opening slalom held in Finnish Lapland, where the champion receives a reindeer as a unique prize.
“It felt good. I felt strong and solid and good energy,” Shiffrin remarked after her run. “I was a bit nervous, as it was the first race and the first slalom of the season, but I am pleased with how I managed my mindset and the way I skied.”
Croatian talent Zrinka Ljutic, along with 2021 world champion Katharina Liensberger from Austria and Shiffrin’s teammate Paula Moltzan, were the only other competitors to finish the run within a second of the lead.
Moltzan managed to complete the flat initial section of the course just 0.05 seconds quicker than Shiffrin; however, she lost time in the steeper parts and ultimately fell behind by 0.90 seconds.
Notably absent from the race was Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova, considered Shiffrin’s primary rival in slalom. Vlhova opted out to focus on her recovery from knee surgery she underwent last season.
Shiffrin ended the previous season on a high note by winning both slaloms following her return from a knee injury sustained in a downhill crash in January, which enabled her to secure her eighth World Cup season title in slalom.
With 60 slalom victories and a total of 97 career wins, Shiffrin holds the record for the most wins in the World Cup, surpassing all competitors across genders.
Additionally, American ski legend Lindsey Vonn recently announced her return to the U.S. ski team more than five years after her retirement and is anticipated to compete in speed events later in the season.