Shiffrin makes it eight World Cup Slalom wins from nine with Are masterclass

The near-impeccable Slalom season of Mikaela Shiffrin (USA/ Atomic) rolled onwards on Sunday, as she took victory in Are, Sweden to continue her total dominance of the event.

The US legend clocked career win number 109, finishing +0.94 seconds ahead of Emma Aicher (GER/ Head). The German’s second place was her best ever finish in an Audi FIS World Cup Slalom, and keeps her bid for the Overall Crystal Globe alive.

Wendy Holdener (SUI/ Head) grabbed third place with a crisp, aggressive run. But once again, it was the Shiffrin show: this was her eighth Slalom title of the season – from nine starts – equalling her own record from 2018/19, which she shares with Janica Kostelic (CRO).

Overall Globe a strong motivator for season run-in
Shiffrin once again dominated both runs of the race, finishing +0.51 seconds ahead of Aicher on the first go.

Those behind had to be bold if they were to stand a chance on the second run, and they rose to the challenge. Holdener in particular impressed with a fine performance to get the green light. But Aicher – the Swedish born racer who knows this piste so well – went all out, and snuck in +0.06 ahead of the Swiss.

Shiffrin however has not looked ruffled in this event all season, and her run was superbly timed, attacking and technical, as she extended her advantage over the German to end up just under a second ahead. 

Did her seventh career win on this slope make her the Queen of Are? “There can be no queen, but that was really amazing,” said Shiffrin. “I was pretty excited, but in the end it was challenging to ski. I pushed really hard and I was glad to get to the finish.

“Are is one of the places I feel a little bit at home. The last two days were spectacular race days. I wanted to push in these conditions."

“I saw Paula’s run (Moltzan USA/ Rossignol) and I thought she did a good job, pushing and having some errors, but fighting and moving, and that’s the vibe from this course."

 The key to this season’s near-whitewash – which also included Olympic Slalom gold? “A really good question,” she said. “Maybe towards the end of the season, it has been simplicity. But I really want to fight through the final races and have a good energy and good spirit and we do that together.

“In Slalom it’s felt pretty simple all season, my skiing has felt connected. I was as simple as possible and really attacking.” 

The Audi FIS Overall Crystal Globe standings also changed to Shiffrin’s advantage. Her 100 points here took her tally to 1286; Aicher, who does all four disciplines, is on 1146, but can still catch up, with more races to do.

“Pretty proud” Aicher looking forward to endgame
22-year-old Aicher is certainly enjoying her season, too. This was another step forward. 

“It feels pretty good,” she said. “Skiing in the second run was solid, but there was a little bit of a mistake. But I’m happy with my overall skiing right now.

“I’m pretty proud of where I am right now. It doesn’t matter where it’s going to end, if you look at last season, I’d come pretty far, so I’m happy and proud of that.”

Holdener was pleased with a return to form in Sweden. “Back in the podium in Are,” she said. “I really love the racing here, but the last few years, I wasn’t on point and I knew everyone can ski really fast on that hill. So I am pretty sure I am on the lucky side.

“I feel good, I was happy with that, and I knew it could be a fourth place again, which is not that fun. I was happy when I knew I was on the podium, and then tight with Emma.

"[At the] first gate, I felt 'I need this podium, I want this podium'. I felt the pressure to give everything. I’m happy I could manage it.

“Five minutes before the start I felt I was not in the right headspace, so I had to push myself a little."  

Shiffrin is certainly up for the fight for the Big Globe. “For sure, it’s the kind of thing that motivates me when we are off the slope to keep going with the mood and attitude,” she said. “But when I’m in the start gate, I just try to have the best skiing I can do.

“It’s tight. You can only get a certain number of points, and Emma is skiing so strong as well. I feel like I put my life on the line, and it’s just 20 more points (than Aicher today).”

She sees the run in as “an opportunity to explore my own limit. Sometimes it feels like the rest of the season didn’t happen so I come onto the hill and try to earn it again." 

Aicher is also keeping it simple. “I’m going to concentrate on my stuff, enjoy the skiing and see what happens,” she said.

The women’s Slalom season concludes in Hafjell, Norway on 24 March.

See the Slalom results here, and the Slalom leaderboard here.

Also, do please head to Reuters Connect and Actionpress.de to view and purchase a wide selection of photographs from this race and from all FIS events.