Sunday's Slalom
Yesterday Wendy Holdener became the first Swiss women since Vreni Schneider in 1994 to win back-to-back World Cup slalom events! It is so exciting to see Holdener, who persevered through so many disappointments (30 podiums before the first victory two weeks ago) get to taste victory. Holdener is exhibit A for what self-belief and confidence can do for a ski racer. Holdener's skiing doesn't seem different than in years past, but she is clearly skiing with newfound belief and it is absolutely well deserved and fantastic to see.
But I wonder if one can extrapolate beyond Holdener. In many ways World Cup racing is a story of the constant struggle of youth vs. experience. There's a never-ending conveyor belt of up and coming racers constantly nipping at the heels of established athletes. But we've largely forgotten that narrative in women's slalom for the last decade as Mikaela and Petra seemed lightyears ahead of the competition. While it's largely been the usual suspects on the podium this season, albeit with a reshuffling of the order, one senses the veil of invincibility has been lifted from the two great champions.
It feels increasingly likely that youth will again be served. And that is the other major narrative in women's slalom. The next generation hasn't yet arrived, but they're coming. Six athletes who were born after the year 2000 scored points yesterday, including 16 year-old Italian born Albanian Lara Colturi who built on her sucess in Killington. Colturi is the daughter of Italian Daniela Ceccarelli the gold medalist in the Salt Lake City Olympic super-g.
But the most impressive of all the young athletes was Hanna Aronsson Elfman. She had a storming run and won the second run by a Shiffrin like margin of 0.85 seconds over the second fastest racer (Holdener) and in so doing jumped from 16th to just off the podium in 4th. Aronsson Elfman has finished no worse than 11th in World Cup slalom races this season and was strong in Cerro Castor during the prep period. She won the GS at the Bansko Junior Worlds in '21 and was a DNF2 in the SL there. Yesterday wasn't a fluke, usually win you see someone with such a margin in run two it's course/weather related. That's not what happened yesterday with Aronsson Elfman, she has top end speed and it feels like only a matter of time before we see her on a SL podium.
Notes
Gisin looks like a speed skier trying to ski slalom. Her slalom pace looks far from the winning speed she had in Semmering two years ago. While the results in Lake Louise were strong, her tech skiing has been a bit concerning so far this year.
Eleven bibs from outside the top 30 made run 2.
Croatian Zrinka Ljutic notched another top 10. She is the real deal finishing 7th.
Moltzan gets so much snap out of the ski. Fantastic skiing from her today to finish in 5th.
Zoe Zimmerman took her first points in only her sixth WC start.
I continue to be blown away by Nina O'Brien. How she's already back out there and skiing fast after her horrific injury in Beijing is incomprehensible.
It was a poor weekend from the Austrians. Their best place skier was only 14th both days and they had only two in the points in Sunday's SL.
Sestriere GS
A lot of snow fell in Sestriere from Thursday night into the early hours Saturday. The course crew and local volunteers had a herculean task to get the piste ready for racing. Former racer and current ski commentator Tina Weirather described it as a "rumplepiste" and Vlhova complained the conditions were poor. I'm speculating but because they were time constrained they probably used a snowcat. It seems maybe the cat dug into the hard surface below the fresh snow, creating an uneven and rattly surface.
Regardless, the conditions were the same for everyone and I think most were happy to see a race after so many early season cancellations.
Marta Bassino of course took the victory on Saturday showing the importance of homecooking. Bassino is from Cuneo which is just outside of Genoa and only about two hours drive from Sestriere. After winning four times in route to the GS discipline globe in the 20-21 season, Bassino seemed a little out of sorts, only finishing fifth in the GS standings without a victory. Saturday she put two solid runs together to return to winning ways and put her nose in front in the GS globe race.
Notes
After a very uninspired trip to North America Federica Brignone was on fire in the second run on home snow. Great to see her skiing fast again.
Asja Zenere skis into 11th from bib 43! She has an inspiring story of returning from multiple injuries.
Elisabeth Kappaurer led the Austrians. She took advantage of a clean course in run 2 and finished 14th from bib 46.
It's so nice to see Sara Hector confirm her good skiing from last season. She won run 2 in finishing second and might have the fastest top gear of any GS skier. If you want to learn more about her, here is a link to an excellent interview.
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