Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Alpine Ski World Cup Slalom in Gurgl for Back-To-Back Triumphs

Mikaela Shiffrin once again demonstrated her excellent form and, after another dominant performance, celebrated her second victory of the season. She claimed her 103rd Alpine Ski World Cup victory, her 66th in slalom, after setting the best time in both runs. Shiffrin was joined on the podium by the same competitors as last year: Lara Colturi and Camille Rast. The 30-year-old ski ace finished 1.23 seconds ahead of Colturi of Albania. Rast, from Switzerland, finished in third place, 1.41 seconds behind.

"Those were some of the best turns I've ever made. I know what I did wrong in the past, and I’m doing it better now. I’m under no pressure, I just want to ski well,” said Shiffrin.

Shiffrin extended her lead in the race for her sixth overall Alpine Ski World Cup Crystal Globe with her victory in Gurgl.

Nineteen-year-old Lara Colturi, daughter of 2002 Olympic Super-G champion Daniela Ceccarelli, is the only skier who has come close to Shiffrin. Today, she secured her fifth Alpine Ski World Cup podium finish and achieved her first back-to-back podiums after finishing second to Shiffrin in Levi last week.

"Now I'm realising that I'm improving every run, every race, every training, and I'm really excited about that," Colturi said.

World Slalom champion in Saalbach, Camille Rast, was happy to return to the podium after finishing in 15th place in the first two races this season in Soelden and Levi. One year ago, the Swiss skier celebrated her first World Cup podium in Gurgl.

"Compared to last year, it’s completely different. I’m coming off a long way with my hip problems, so I’m incredibly proud that I was able to put together two good runs. Beating Shiffrin isn’t impossible. I had sections in both runs where I was faster than her. Now I have to maintain that pace from start to finish over two runs. I’m working on it; the season is still long," Rast said.