Women’s Levi Slalom starter to set tone for era-defining season

Will Mikaela Shiffrin (USA/Atomic) continue a dominance that is almost unrivalled in modern sport? Or are we headed firmly into the Zrinka Ljutic (CRO/Atomic) v Camille Rast (SUI/Head) era? Can the likes of Wendy Holdener (SUI/Head), Lena Dürr (GER/Head) and Katharina Liensberger (AUT/Rossignol) turn extraordinary consistency into career-defining victories? Or do they all need to shift over and make room for the thrusting young talent that is Lara Colturi (ALB/Blizzard) and Emma Aicher (GER/Head)?

The answers to all these questions – and more – are what makes the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women’s Slalom race in Levi, Finland on Saturday, 15 November (start time 11:00 CET) a must-watch.

‘Let’s go again’

While the incomparable Shiffrin ruled the start and finish last season, in-between fans got a glimpse of what the future might look like. From the beginning of December 2024 to the end of January 2025, Ljutic v Rast took center stage.

The Swiss star struck first before the Croat hit back. By the end of eight thrilling weeks, the 21-year-old Ljutic had three wins to her name, Rast two. Enough to send the pair into the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley locked together at the top of the Slalom Globe race and facing up to a rivalry that may just come to define the future of the discipline.

“It was really fun,” Rast reflected ahead of the new season. “Every day at the start it was ‘good luck’ and you just gave your best.”

Her best was not quite as good as Ljutic’s in the end, with the latter grabbing the first Globe of her fast-blooming career. Although the 26-year-old Rast had her moment too, claiming Slalom World Championship gold in Saalbach.

“I can take maybe that day as an example because my mental strength on that day was really good,” Rast said, before looking ahead. “Maybe I have a bit more expectation now but at the end, it's still only ski racing. Let’s go again. I will give my best every time and try to ski fast.”

When she does, Ljutic will be there.

“I am ready to race,” the reigning World Cup champion said. “I see that people are really watching, and they pay attention, and they're really happy for me.”

‘Something we’ve been missing’

To rule the podium once more the young duo will have to get the better of Shiffrin on slalom skis. Not something many – or even any – have managed. Absent with injury during that middle period last season, the USA icon came roaring back to seal her 100^th and 101^st World Cup wins in the final weeks. Triumphs that seem to still surprise the skier herself.

The remarkable numbers are almost endless when it comes to the 30-year-old. Not only has she already bagged a record eight Slalom Globes, but she is also just six wins short of winning twice as many World Cup Slalom races as her nearest challenger in the all-time list.

And the bad news for Ljutic, Rast and the rest is that catching Shiffrin cold in Levi looks like an Everest-esque task.

The four-time Slalom world champion has won eight times in Levi already, appearing on the podium in 13 of the past 16 races in the famous Finnish resort. In fact, the only person other than Shiffrin to have won in Levi since 2014 is Petra Vlhova (SVK/Rossignol) – who has done it six times.

While still recovering from serious injury, the Slovakian is hoping to be back competing later this season. Something Shiffrin cannot wait for.

“Her general presence on the World Cup tour makes it really hard for anyone else to win races,” Shiffrin said. “Not just me, literally anyone. And that is something we've been missing.”

‘Take the chances life gives’

Holdener, Liensberger and Dürr know just what it is like to race Vlhova and Shiffrin at their very best, and the experienced trio will line-up in Levi ready to take advantage of any chance they get.

With the Olympic Games looming large, the coming season offers huge opportunities, and few are better on the biggest of stages than Swiss star Holdener. Five Olympic and nine world championship medals is some haul. Grab one or two more, plus turn a few of her regular World Cup podium finishes – she has 52 already – into victories and Holdener will cement her spot at the very top of the sport.

Liensberger has got it done when the pressure is high – the Austrian took double gold at the 2021 World Championships in Cortina D'Ampezzo – but it has been a while. Her last victory came in March 2022 but after closing out last season with five successive top-five finishes to grab second in the Slalom Globe race, Liensberger is full of hope.

“Always believe in yourself,” said Liensberger who has already been on the Levi podium four times. “Stay true to your dreams and take the chances that life gives to you.”

Dürr’s Levi record is even better, having come third four times and second once. The 34-year-old knows it is now or never to turn her consistency – 16 World Cup podium places to date – into big wins.

‘Doing something right’

Big wins came late last season for fellow German Aicher. The fact they were not in Slalom, her previously favorite discipline, was as much as a shock for the 21-year-old as it was for her fans. But with four World Cup top-10 finishes in Slalom already, plus those Downhill and Super G wins, Aicher has become a star turn.

As for where her attention lies this time out?

“I’m focusing on every discipline,” Aicher said with a smile. “It’s only a positive for me.”

Positives are what fellow young gun Colturi is focused on in Levi. Three years ago she made her World Cup debut in the resort. Now she is back as a real contender, having grabbed a first podium finish last season. It’s her 19^th birthday on Saturday, could she spoil everyone else’s party and grab the best possible present?