Shiffrin Dominates Levi Slalom; Colturi Second on Birthday, Aicher Earns First SL Podium

Levi podium 2025: GEPA photos

Shiffrin Opens Olympic Slalom Season With Good Win in Levi

Colturi celebrates her nineteenth birthday with second; Aicher earns first World Cup slalom podium.

Mikaela Shiffrin delivered an announcement victory within the opening ladies’s World Cup slalom of the Olympic season on Saturday in Levi, Finland, sweeping each runs and successful by a commanding 1.66 seconds beneath the Arctic lights. The American celebrity claimed her ninth profession Levi slalom win, her sixty fifth slalom victory, and the 102nd World Cup win of her profession.

Nineteen-year-old Lara Colturi, racing on her birthday, produced some of the electrifying runs of her younger profession to complete second. Germany’s Emma Aicher skied with full dedication to land her first World Cup slalom podium in third.

Moltzan Assaults and Climbs 15 Locations With the Second-Quickest Run

For the Stifel U.S. Ski Staff, Paula Moltzan delivered one of many standout performances of the day. She charged by way of the second run with dynamic steadiness and world-class timing, posting the second-fastest second run (52.84 solely Shiffrin was faster at 52.84) and used it to rocket up the standings.

Moltzan began the second run in nineteenth place and climbed an astonishing 15 positions to complete fourth, lacking the rostrum by simply 0.15 seconds. Her run featured the quickest first and fourth sectors and stood because the benchmark for greater than half the sector.

LEVI, FINLAND,11.NOV.23 – Paula Moltzan (USA). Photograph: GEPA photos/ Harald Steiner

Second Run Drama Builds Beneath Arctic Sky

Because the solar hovered completely beneath the horizon, the second run unfolded completely beneath synthetic mild. Racers fought by way of a refined floor that punished hesitation.

Moltzan sat within the chief’s chair as a number of the greatest teams in ladies’s slalom tried—and failed—to match her tempo. She held off:

Reigning world champion Camille Rast

2025 slalom globe winner Zrinka Ljutic

Elite veterans Katharina Liensberger, Anna Swenn Larsson, and Wendy Holdener

Germany’s Emma Aicher lastly broke by way of, charging into the lead by 0.15 with the identical attacking model that has made her some of the thrilling younger skills on this planet.

Slovenia’s Neja Dvornik skied clear however slipped into seventh, whereas Norway’s Mina Fürst Holtmann—one of many quickest from the primary run—straddled in Sector 2 and didn’t end.

Then got here Colturi.

Colturi Takes the Lead on Her nineteenth Birthday

Colturi lit the course on fireplace with some of the impressed runs of the day. She attacked from the primary gate, carried velocity by way of the steep center part, and executed world-class timing on the decrease pitch. She crossed 0.93 seconds forward of Aicher, guaranteeing her thirteenth profession World Cup podium and fifth slalom podium.

Her run pushed Moltzan to 3rd and Aicher to second with just one skier left: Mikaela Shiffrin.

Shiffrin Decides It With a Run Solely She Can Produce

The world’s greatest slalom skier ended the race with a efficiency that showcased why she continues to reset the bounds of the game. Shiffrin constructed on her first-run lead and prolonged her margin at each cut up.

She crossed the road a outstanding 1.66 seconds forward of Colturi, securing her ninth Levi win—greater than any lady in historical past at a single venue.

Mikaela Shiffrin Quote

“I trusted the coaching I did with my crew—we put in such good work over the summer season. The ultimate step right now was mentality and pushing, and it simply felt very nice to race once more. Levi is beginning to really feel an increasing number of like house, and I’m actually pleased to kick off the slalom season this manner. This 12 months, it’s necessary for me to start out with a powerful mindset and carry that into each race. After the accidents the final couple of seasons, I’m simply tremendous pleased to have two races now the place I felt actually good.” – Mikaela Shiffrin