With Mikaela Shiffrin out, Petra Vlhova grabs 1st career win in slalom

Now the U.S. Ski Team tech ace who recently expanded her competitive repertoire into speed at the Lake Louise super G will head home to the U.S. for further evaluation of what doctors initially believe is an MCL injury and bone bruise.

“I fell during free skiing on the race hill and I’m waiting for an MRI this afternoon to see what’s going on”, Shiffrin confirmed in a Facebook post.

Overall World Cup leader Lindsey Vonn also sat out, as she no longer races slalom.

“I haven’t done really any GS training”, Vonn said, laughing, after her first run.

“She basically flipped over into the net”, Albrecht told the AP in describing how the injury occurred.

The veteran American was fastest in the first leg after compatriot and nearest challenger Mikaela Shiffrin pulled up with a knee ligament injury during the warmup.

“I’m young enough to still be able to ski well in GS, but not young enough to still be good at slalom”, she said, laughing.

Shiffrin also won the opening two slaloms this season in Aspen, Colorado, last month – one of them by 3.07 seconds, the largest margin of victory in World Cup history for the women’s discipline.

Seeking a fifth straight overall World Cup title, the 26-year-old Hirscher already holds a commanding lead, but Kristoffersen’s classy performance will give him something to think about in his bid for a fourth straight slalom title.

The Olympic slalom champion was unable to compete in Sweden and was taken to hospital for a scan.

Only 23rd on the slalom starting list standings, she started with the No. 19 bib.

“I love racing here in Are under the lights”, Vonn said.

Mikaela Shiffrin sustained a possible right knee injury warming up prior to the race.

With Tina Maze taking this season off and defending overall victor Anna Fenninger out injured for the year, Shiffrin and Vonn are the top two overall contenders.

Frida Hansdotter was unable to celebrate her 30th birthday with a slalom victory in her homeland as Petra Vlhova secured a surprise maiden FIS Alpine World Cup triumph in Are.