Low-ranked Slovakian leads 1st slalom leg with Shiffrin out

Vonn now leads Schiffrin by 104 points in the overall standings with the younger American highly doubtful for Sunday’s slalom where she would have been expected to make up some of the lost ground. But at the same time I know my ability and I know what I can do and I know in different situations what is required of me.

When Vlhova finished her second run, she placed her hands on her head in clear disbelief then collapsed to the snow in joy.

The Olympic slalom champion was unable to compete in Sweden and was taken to hospital for a scan. We can’t afford to lose any more athletes so I really hope that they’re both OK.

Rounding out the podium was Attacking Viking Nina Loeseth, matching her career best from Zagreb, Croatia, last season.

“I am working on letting my control go”, she explained.

“I just like it. …” “I’m always going to push myself to the limit in every race that I enter”.

In a repeat of the first run, the final pitch on the slope caused trouble for several women; a hairpin combination into a series of quick turns just before the finish line caused some hesitation among the field.

Vlhova won the slalom at the 2014 world junior championships but had never finished better than seventh on the World Cup circuit – although that result came in Aspen, Colorado, last month.

Noticeably absent from the race was slalom powerhouse, American Mikaela Shiffrin, who was sidelined yesterday after she crashed during a warmup run and sustained bone bruising and a possible MCL injury.

The U.S. Ski Team did not immediately issue a statement on Shiffrin’s status, as per team policy to await full injury details. The first women’s downhill training run is scheduled for December 16.

ARE, Sweden (Dec. 12, 2015) – Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) scored her 71st World Cup victory, and her first giant slalom victory since 2013, Saturday on a wind-shortened course. This was the fourth straight win for Vonn, having taken three speed races last weekend in Lake Louise, Alberta. Cross your fingers and get psyched to watch the second run for the men in Val D’isere and women here in Åre.