Master Class by Mikaela Shiffrin in the Alpine Ski World Cup in Levi

Mikaela Shiffrin delivered an outstanding performance in the first Alpine Ski World Cup Slalom of the season in Levi. With two flawless runs, she recorded the fastest time in both and secured a commanding victory, finishing 1.66 seconds ahead of Lara Colturi and 2.59 seconds ahead of Emma Aicher. This win marked the 30-year-old American skier's 102nd victory in the World Cup, the 65th in Slalom.

Shiffrin's nine Slalom victories in Levi (2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, twice in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) are a new record for the number of victories in this discipline at one specific venue. Only Lindsey Vonn (14 Downhill in Lake Louise) has recorded more than seven World Cup wins in a specific event at a single resort among Women's skiers. Shiffrin has only finished off the podium three times in her 17 Slalom World Cup appearances in Levi.

"It’s a great feeling to win here again. It’s so wonderful, I felt really strong in both runs. I was a little nervous at the beginning, but I’m happy today. The two runs were also set differently, and for a moment I thought to myself, ‘Don’t mess it up.’ Towards the end, I was under pressure, but I really enjoyed the race and the skiing. In the end, it was about mentality and pushing; it was really fun today," Shiffrin said.

On her 19th birthday, Lara Colturi secured her fourth World Cup podium finish, her second in Slalom. Last season, she achieved her first podium finish at the Gurgl Slalom, just days after turning 18. Colturi made her World Cup debut in the Levi Slalom three years ago, merely four days after her 16th birthday.

"It’s amazing that I managed to finish like this! I’ve been training hard these past few weeks, so I’m surprised, proud, and happy with this birthday present,” said Colturi.

This is also the fourth World Cup podium finish for 22-year-old Emma Aicher, and her first in Slalom. Her previous three podium finishes were in Downhill skiing, including one victory, and in Super-G, including another victory in La Thuile, all of which were achieved last season.

“I am overjoyed; it was completely unexpected. The preparation went quite well, but I was never quite at the front in training. I was really calm. I rarely get nervous. I'm delighted that I can just ski without thinking,” Aicher said in an interview with the ORF.

With her second run, Aicher pushed her veteran teammate Lena Duerr out of the podium by just 0.15 seconds. Duerr and Paula Moltzan tied for fourth place. Moltzan moved up 15 places thanks to the second-fastest second run. Defending World Cup slalom champion Zrinka Ljutic came sixth.