Women’s World Cup Slalom in Gürgl: Shiffrin, Rising Stars, and How to Watch

Gürgl end space: GEPA photos

Girls’s World Cup Slalom in Gürgl: Shiffrin, Rising Stars, and How one can Watch

The ladies’s Alpine World Cup slalom debuts in Gürgl, Austria, on Nov. 23, highlighting the breathtaking Kirchenkar slope. Situated above the treeline at 2,475 meters or 8120 ft, this high-altitude observe combines gorgeous alpine views with intense challenges. That includes a steep 62% most gradient, a 548-meter course, and a 210-meter vertical drop, it pushes racers to their limits. Whereas males competed right here throughout final season’s profitable debut, the ladies will face this slope for the primary time in a World Cup competitors. Famend for its dependable snow and technical calls for, Gürgl guarantees thrilling motion as its ski space opens early for all to take pleasure in.

Shiffrin Dominates Levi Slalom, Prepares for Gürgl Problem

Mikaela Shiffrin kicked off the World Cup slalom season in Levi, Finland, with a shocking efficiency. The Stifel U.S. Ski Crew famous person secured her 61st World Cup slalom victory, ending a commanding 0.79 seconds forward of Austria’s Katharina Liensberger. Germany’s Lena Dürr claimed third place, making them the one skiers inside a second of Shiffrin. Sweden’s Anna Swenn-Larsson completed fourth, trailing 1.28 seconds behind.

In Levi, North American racers have been sturdy, with three athletes within the prime ten. Shiffrin led the way in which in first, whereas Paula Moltzan of the Stifel U.S. Ski Crew completed eighth. Canadian World Champion Laurence St-Germain rounded out the group in tenth. Moltzan and St-Germain honed their expertise on the College of Vermont as Catamounts.

Waiting for Gürgl, Shiffrin enters because the clear favourite. Her prime rival, Slovakia’s Petra Vlhová, stays sidelined whereas recovering from an damage sustained throughout an enormous slalom race in her residence nation final season. With out Vlhová within the subject, Shiffrin faces a unique dynamic, however the competitors will nonetheless be fierce.

Austrian skiers usually excel on residence soil, energized by enthusiastic crowds. Whereas Mikaela Shiffrin leads the sphere, different contenders are keen to say victory in Gürgl. Notably, the Austrian girls’s Slalom and tech staff has already matched final season’s podium depend within the first two races. Head coach Roland Assinger remarked, “The person performances are completely good for the staff. We hope {that a} prepare will emerge—the locomotives in entrance and the others following within the wake.”

Nationwide Power

After the opening SL race, the Stifel U.S. Ski Crew, Sweden, Germany, Croatia, and Switzerland every positioned two girls within the prime 15.

High 15 Girls’s SL World Cup Standings

Seventy-six girls from 24 nations will begin the ladies’s World Cup SL in Gürgl on Nov. 23. Switzerland and Austria entered probably the most athletes, with each nations fielding 9 opponents.

Denis Stehamik (SLO) will set the primary run, and Francis Royal (CAN) will set the second run.

Extra North American Stars in Girls’s Slalom

Ali Nullmeyer, who skied for Middlebury Faculty as a Panther, strengthens the World Cup circuit amongst North American girls. She positioned within the prime 10 in her first run in Levi earlier than a DNF in her second run however stays thirteenth on the World Cup Begin Record. Her consistency and ability deepen Alpine Canada Alpin’s roster because the season unfolds.

Amelia Good, a College of Denver graduate who skied as a Pioneer, is now a member of Alpine Canada Alpin. She completed twenty third in Levi and is ranked thirty first on the World Cup Begin Record. With accidents reshaping the ladies’s subject, she is going to begin among the many first 30, giving her a key benefit as she goals to climb the rankings.

AJ Damage: Nonetheless Lacking

AJ Damage, one of many U.S.’s rising abilities, showcased her potential final season by securing her first World Cup Slalom podium with a third-place end in Kranjska Gora, ranging from bib 38. She now holds the thirty fifth spot on the Slalom World Cup Begin Record, reflecting her constant progress. A lingering damage has pressured her to stay sidelined regardless of her momentum, ruling her out of competitors.

North American Girls on the SL World Cup Begin Record

Extra North American Faces in Gürgl

Because the slalom season continues in Gürgl, a number of North American girls are prepared to affix the sphere for the third World Cup race and the second slalom of the season. This group is a mix of skilled racers and rising abilities, bringing contemporary vitality and dedication to the North American roster.

Canadian Contender

Kiki Alexander, a member of the Sunshine Alpine Racers and Alpine Canada Alpin, begins late within the first run at Gürgl. She didn’t end her first run in Levi and struggled to seek out velocity, however her expertise on World Cup programs provides her an edge. Along with her expertise, she is poised to ship sturdy outcomes as she good points extra expertise.

Rising Stars for Crew USA

Katie Hensien from the Stifel US Ski Crew DNFed her first run in Levi, however with begin quantity 42 she earned tenth and twelfth quickest within the first two splits earlier than straddling the underside of a two-gate vertical mixture.

Additionally representing the Stifel U.S. Ski Crew, Nina O’Brien, beginning with bib 50, DNFed within the first run at Levi, coincidentally on the identical gate as teammate Katie Hensien. Regardless of this setback, O’Brien demonstrated aggressive velocity within the first two sections, highlighting her potential because the season continues.

Finishing the U.S. lineup, Kendahl Roufa, an unbiased racer with APEX2100, competes in her second World Cup in Gürgl after making her debut in Levi per week earlier. She earned her spot by sturdy NorAm outcomes final season. Whereas she completed her first World Cup run in Levi, like many newcomers, she nonetheless wants time to regulate to the circuit. With classes from Levi, she goals to enhance and ship a stronger efficiency in Gürgl.

This decided group rounds out the North American entries, every bringing distinctive tales and potential to Gürgl’s difficult slalom race.

North American Girls Racing Slalom in Levi

Bib 1, Mikaela Shiffrin, Stifel USST, Burke Mountain Academy, Atomic, Oakley

Bib 11, Paula Moltzan, Stifel USST, College of Vermont, Ski and Snowboard Membership Vail, Oakley

Bib 12, Ali Nullmeyer, ACA, Middlebury Faculty, GMVS, Atomic

Bib 23, Laurence St-Germain, ACA, College of Vermont, Mont Sainte-Anne

Bib 30, Amelia Good, ACA, Windermere, College of Denver, Atomic

Bib 43, Katie Hensien, Stifel USST, College of Denver, Rowmark Ski Academy, SHRED

Bib 50, Nina O’Brien, Stifel USST, Burke Mountain Academy

Bib 66, Kiki Alexander, ACA, Sunshine Alpine Racers

Bib 74, Kendahl Roufa, Apex2100, Ski & Snowboard Membership Vail, SHRED

How and When to Watch

The primary run begins at 4:30 a.m. Jap Time and 1:30 a.m. Pacific Time, with the second run following at 7:30 a.m. Jap Time and 4:30 a.m. Pacific Time.

U.S. audiences can watch the race dwell or as a replay on Peacock.

Sports activities fanatics in Canada can watch the World Cup on CBC Sports activities.