Gut wins giant slalom as Shiffrin crashes near finish

Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States competes in her first run as she skis to victory in slalom during the Adui FIS Women’s Alpine Ski World Cup at the Nature Valley Aspen Winternational on November 29, 2015 in Aspen, Colorado.

Shiffrin, 20, was just two gates from making it a sweep in Aspen, crashing out with the lead at the end of the second run of giant slalom on Friday.

Mikaela Shiffrin shook off the disappointment of a fall the day before and turned in two blistering runs to win a World Cup slalom by 3.07 seconds Saturday, the largest margin of victory in the history of the women’s discipline. “Stars have to line up, and it probably won’t happen again”. But I don’t expect that to happen in the next races. It’s a little bit scary, actually, because there’s a little target painted on my back now. There is a target painted on me now. “Nobody likes to get beat by three seconds, and I would hate to be in that position”. They will be (angry).

After recording the fastest first-run time Sunday, Shiffrin came flying out of the starting gate in the second run and immediately almost missed a turn.

Her anger at that mishap provided motivation, she said, answering with back-to-back slalom wins in Aspen. I am not sorry for winning with such a margin.

“I don’t think they are ever going to let me get away with three seconds ever again”, said Shiffrin after that race. “I am surprised by the times. I am working on it”.

Behind the American the battle for a podium place was intense with Sarka Strachova (+3.88secs) nudged out of the top three by Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter (+3.26secs).

“It’s really fun to start the season with two podiums”. “But for sure it’s really impressive”.

Shiffrin has won four straight World Cup slalom races dating to last season.

Vonn said she felt good and confident even though much of her focus has been on the speed events in pre-season work. “Today was awesome. Yesterday was awesome”.

“It’s just really hard to catch her”, said Strachova, who won slalom races on this course in 2008 and ’09. “I was nervous, but I still attacked”.

Her rivals expect it could bring more of the same success she had this weekend.

One day later she was quick to put that race behind her by getting back on the hill with something to prove. But the 31-year-old was beginning to find her rhythm when her left ski popped off. She was not hurt when she slid into the side netting, calling the wipeout “super annoying”.