'My best skiing': Superb Shiffrin wins again in Gurgl

Barely a month ago, Mikaela Shiffrin (USA/Atomic) was full of doubts at the start of the new season as she set out to bounce back from two injury-riddled campaigns, calling her skiing a "work in progress".

Not anymore.

The American superstar won her second race in eight days on Sunday in the Austrian resort of Gurgl, producing another masterclass to extend her unbelievable World Cup records to 103 victories overall and 66 in Slalom.

As was the case last Saturday in Levi, Shiffrin was in a league of her own on the short skis, triumphing ahead of Lara Colturi (ALB/Blizzard, +1.23s) and Camille Rast (SUI/Head, +1.41s) in a repeat of last year's Gurgl podium.

Even though her victory looked easy, the 30-year-old described it as anything but.

"I had to push so hard," Shiffrin said. "I knew the others were pushing, so there's no choice — you have to go.

"I was still stressed on the second run and in the end I'm so proud to pull off my best skiing again."

Shiffrin's best skiing seemed far away last winter when she returned to the tour in tentative fashion late in the season after suffering a serious puncture wound in a Giant Slalom race in Kilington in November.

But after two Slalom wins late last season and a solid block of summer training, she registered an encouraging fourth place in the season-opening Giant Slalom in Sölden, before strapping on the Slalom skis and returning to her form of old.

On Sunday, Shiffrin led Colturi by 0.38 seconds after the first run despite describing the snow as "hard to handle", then exploded in the second run, increasing her advantage at every split and winning both runs for the second week in a row.

"It was actually great conditions (in the second run) — it was totally different from the first, it felt handle-able," said the Atomic skier, who had no thought of skiing cautiously to protect her lead.

"It's good for me to be pushing on the second run even if it gets a little rough," she said.

The Slalom skier challenging Shiffrin the most in the early going this season is 19-year-old Colturi, the daughter of 2002 Olympic Super G champion Daniela Ceccarelli (ITA).

Colturi, who competes for Albania despite her Italian roots, made her fifth World Cup podium and registered back-to-back podiums for the first time in her career after finishing second to Shiffrin in Levi last week.

In the second run, Colturi fell behind Rast's leading time at the last intermediate split, but a strong closeout vaulted her into the lead and showed her that she can compete on any slope.

"The conditions were really tough, unfortunately," Colturi said. "The first impression after the first inspection, I said, 'Probably it's not my day.'

"Especially in soft snow, I don't have good feelings normally. But I really impressed myself too, so I'm really proud for what I've done today. I'm reminding myself that I can do it when conditions are not my best and I don't like them.

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

Though Colturi pushed Rast into third, the reigning world Slalom champion was delighted with reaching the podium after her first two races this season in Sölden and Levi yielded a pair of 15th-place finishes.

"I had some trouble with my hip during the whole summer and the beginning of the season," Rast admitted. "I'm really happy to be back on the podium and I hope to keep going."

Rast was level with Swiss and Head teammate Wendy Holdener (SUI/Head) after the first run, and after Holdener went first in the second run and took the lead, doubts crept into Rast's mind.

"I was a bit nervous as the start gate because I had the same time like Wendy and I know she's really fast," the 26-year-old admitted.

A great bottom section saw her edge her experienced teammate by 0.18 seconds, however, pushing Holdener into fourth, with Paula Moltzan (USA/Rossignol) one spot back in fifth.

With Rast being a late bloomer at 26, and 21-year-old defending Slalom globe winner Zrinka Ljutic (CRO/Atomic) having a day to forget with a second-run straddle, Colturi is carrying the flag for the next generation.

Far from feeling threatened by the youngsters nipping at her heels, however, Shiffrin is grateful that they're forcing her to continue to raise her game.

"I'm excited for all the amazing Slalom skiing that's happening right now and what's possible for the future," the American said.

Click here for full results from Sunday's race.