Shiffrin Takes 98th World Cup Win
16th November 2024
It was her 61st title in slalom, and a record eighth triumph on the slope in Levi, Finland. She is moving ever closer to her target of 100 wins. NEW
The US skier took a +0.60 second lead after the first run and sealed visctory with her second run.
Katharina Liensberger from Austria was second (+0.79 seconds behind) with the German racer Lena Duerr in third place (+0.83 behind).
“It was a little bumpy, I was getting twisted sometimes, but you keep fighting,” she said after her victory.
“It wasn’t the perfect tempo, but I had enough really good turns that it worked really well. In the end it was a really solid run in conditions that were not so easy.
“I will always find something [to improve on]. There were some turns I was missing, tripping on the tracks a little bit. But it is an amazing way to start the slalom season, I am super happy.”
Shiffrin acquires her eighth reindeer, the traditional prize for victory at Levi. She doesn’t yet have a moniker for the new addition.
“Oh my goodness, the reindeer, you never forget,” she said.
“It’s not good karma for me to think about the name before the race.
“It’s always the same, I’m going to wait and confer with the team, and see what everybody says.”
This win also moves Shiffrin up another ‘all time’ list.
With eight Levi wins, she now has the second-most wins at a single venue.
Lindsey Vonn’s 14 downhill victories at Lake Louise looks unassailable, however.
Lindsey Vonn has recently announced a comeback to racing at the age of 40, as we have reported:
Lindsey Vonn. Credit: Stifel U.S. Ski Team
The women’s slalom season continues next Saturday, 23 November, in Gurgl, Austria.
PlanetSKI will be slopeside.
In Levi on Sunday the men compete in the slalom with GB’s Dave Ryding competing in his first race of the season.
Dave Ryding in Schladming, Jan 2024. Image © PlanetSKI
We will be reporting on it live.
The start of the men’s race season in Soelden last month served up an absolute treat:
