The races in Levi really set the table for the slalom season. In fact, the podium in Levi last year was the exact order of the final SL standings at the end on the season and Liensberger's double podium in Levi two seasons ago presaged her eventual slalom globe. Shiffrin won the opening GS last season in Soelden, but Vlhová podiumed in that race. Then they went to Levi and Vlhová crushed Shiffrin, winning all for runs that weekend. That kind of set the tone for the entire season.
Fast forward to yesterday. Vlhová had won the last four races in Levi dating back to 2019. After a decent, but not spectacular first run Saturday, Shiffrin put down the fast second run time by skiing the critical steep section better than anyone else. Wendy Holdener responded with this look in the finish area.
Today was a continuation, winning both runs and with the Shiffrin signature: dominating the final split in each run. Just like that Shiffrin has flipped the script and has me looking at the calendar to see when she might tie/break the Vonn and Stenmark win totals.
Notes from Levi
You have to really feel for Wendy Holdener. Today was her record extending 30th slalom podium without a victory (15 2nds & 15 3rds)! She has two alpine combined victories and one city event win. Is she the best ski racer ever to have never won a traditional individual event?
Zrinka Ljutic might just be the next big thing. She won the slalom title last spring at World Juniors which gave her the right to race finals, where she finished 5th. She was 7th today and was 7th after the first run yesterday before DNFing. She definitely one to watch and an '04 birthday so plenty of time to get even faster!
Amazing start for Ava Sunshine. She managed to finish in the points both days in her World Cup debut. While Sunshine had shown speed in New Zealand this fall this is next level stuff. She finishing 21st & 27th from bibs 45 &46 this weekend. A seriously auspicious start.
Sara Hector - She was 7th & 5th this weekend in Levi. As a GS specialist this bodes well for her skiing this season.
It was not the start to the season Paula Moltzan was looking for, she was a DNF1 on Saturday and DNF2 today. Despite this she can look at the splits and see that she was really fast especially today.
With this weekend's double victory, it becomes a real possibility that Shiffrin passes and surpasses Lindsey Vonn's all-time win total for women (82) this season. There's even a remote chance of catching and passing Stenmark's total (86), the holy grail of ski racing records. With the current broadcast rights mess it begs the question, if this happens how many Americans will see it?
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