Shiffrin dominates for season’s first slalom win

KUHTAI, Austria: American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin won her first World Cup slalom race of the season on Monday as she dominated the field at Kuhtai to finish 0.80secs ahead of Czech Sarka Srachova with Wendy Holdener of Switzerland third.
The reigning Olympic and world champion from Vail, Colorado was fastest after the first run and then turned in a flawless second leg to finish on the podium for the first time in a slalom race this campaign.
“I can’t tell you how much fun that was,” beamed Shiffrin after her blistering second run to nail down victory.
“I felt really smooth and happy out there and I’m just really happy now. It was very tough with the conditions and hard to see but everyone loves it here.” she added.
Strachova was the closest to rival the 19-year-old, under falling snow at the Austrian resort, but was almost a second slower while Holdener was at 0.92secs.
It was Shiffrin’s second win of the season, after winning the giant slalom at Solden, Austria in October, and keeps her in touch with overall leader Tina Maze of Slovenia and Austrian Anna Fenninger who is second.
She also finished third in the giant slalom at Kuhtai on Sunday, behind maiden World Cup winner Sara Hector of Sweden and Fenninger.
Canada’s Marie-Michelle Gagnon, who was fourth after the first run, crashed out while Maze had to settle for sixth after a poor second run.