American skier Mikaela Shiffrin showcased her dominance in a World Cup slalom event in Colorado, maintaining a flawless record in the discipline for the Olympic season. Shiffrin secured her fourth consecutive victory in slalom, adding to her wins from the previous and current seasons. This triumph marked Shiffrin’s 104th World Cup win and her 67th victory in slalom, setting records in both categories.
During the competition, Shiffrin navigated the slopes amidst light snowfall, widening her lead in the second run and finishing an impressive 1.57 seconds ahead of Lena Duerr from Germany, who climbed from ninth place in the initial leg. Fans at Copper Mountain, near Shiffrin’s hometown of Edwards, Colorado, cheered her on with supportive signs, which she acknowledged with gratitude.
In a notable performance, Lara Colturi of Albania surged from fourth place after the first run to secure third position, despite a significant error early in her second run. Wendy Holdener took fourth place, followed by Anna Swenn Larsson in fifth. This victory in Colorado marked Shiffrin’s first win in the state in over ten years, with a total of 12 of her 104 World Cup victories achieved in the United States.
Shiffrin’s success extends beyond the World Cup, as she previously claimed victory in the slalom at the 2015 world championships in Vail-Beaver Creek, Colorado. Her recent win in Copper Mountain also marked the fourth occasion in her career where she triumphed in the opening three slaloms of a season, showcasing her consistent excellence in the discipline.
Looking ahead, Shiffrin is anticipated to shine at the Milan Cortina Olympics scheduled for February 6-22, with women’s Alpine skiing events set to take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Following her upcoming races in Tremblant, Quebec, Shiffrin will shift her focus back to European competitions for the remainder of the season.