Alpine

Shiffrin Returns to Dominate Crans-Montana

by
USSA
2016-02-15 07:38
 

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (Feb. 15, 2016) – Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) returned from injury to dominate the Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom Monday, taking her 18th World Cup victory.

“That was a pretty incredible race,” said Shiffrin, who suffered a knee injury warming up for a race in December. “I’m glad it’s over, but I enjoyed skiing that last run, it was really rough and a challenge at every single gate. It was just bumpy and a wild ride – tough, but a good fight, and that’s the way it should be."
 

Shiffrin
Mikaela Shiffrin charges en route to her 18th career World Cup victory Monday in Crans-Montana. (Getty Images/AFP-Fabrice Coffrini)

Proving that her rehab and training over the past couple of weeks had prepared her to return to top form, Shiffrin soaked up the first run sunshine and support from an enthusiastic crowd cheering her to the finish. She cruised into the first-run lead by 0.27 seconds.

“I was really nervous for the first run,” she said. “So nervous that I thought I left my legs at the start. But the second run was better, I felt like I was back in the groove.”

Mikaela Shiffrin slays her first run.

And indeed she was! Starting as the final racer in the second run, Shiffrin watched as racer after racer battled deteriorating course conditions and visibility issues as clouds shrouded the upper portion of the course. In dominating fashion though, she extended her first-run advantage through the rutted course and cruised to victory by 0.45 over France’s Nastasia Noens. Marie-Michele Gagnon of Canada finished third.

“There were some scrappy turns … none of the girls skied their best, and I didn’t ski my best,” Shiffrin said of the challenging course conditions. “It was just one of those things where you had to be really mentally tough, and I’m glad my mental side is there, because that component is tough to get back.”

Resi
Resi Stiegler posted her best World Cup result of the season Monday in Crans-Montana (Getty Images/AFP-Fabrice Coffrini)

Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) skied to her best slalom result of the season in eighth.

“I feel awesome,” Stiegler said. “But I’m still hungry for more. I wasn’t totally satisfied with today, but I’m very, very happy. Starting the second run with a better position for getting toward the podium is huge for me.”

Lila Lapanja (Incline Village, NV) showed significant promise starting 43rd in the first run, skiing to a 17th place first run finish. However, she got caught in a rut on the top section of the course, straddled, and failed to finish.

Shiffrin skis to the win.

“I didn’t want to ski to finish for just points,” Lapanja said. “I just wanted to go, and go and go. I went a little too direct tactically where I needed to give a little bit. So, it didn’t work out, but the mental approach is getting pretty strong and I definitely can’t wait until Jasna (Slovakia, March 5-6).”

Up next, the women’s tour moves to La Thuile, Italy for two downhill races – including a make-up from Crans-Montana – and a super G race Feb. 20-21, then to Soldeu-El Tarter, Andorra for super G and alpine combined events Feb. 27-28. Jasna, Slovakia will host giant slalom and slalom events on March 5-6.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Mikaela Shiffrin won her 18th career World Cup race, equaling former U.S. Ski Team member Tamera McKinney’s World Cup total. She is second among U.S. Ski Team women behind Lindsey Vonn, who has 76 World Cup wins.
  • This was Shiffrin’s third slalom win of the season. She also won both slalom events in Aspen, CO.
  • Resi Stiegler scored her best slalom result of the season in eighth place.
  • Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN) also competed for the U.S., though she failed to finish the first run.

 

QUOTES

Mikaela Shiffrin
That was a pretty incredible race. I’m glad it’s over, but I enjoyed skiing that last run, it was really rough and a challenge at every single gate. It was just bumpy and a wild ride – tough, but a good fight, and that’s the way it should be.

It’s good to be back! I was really nervous for the first run. So nervous that I thought I left my legs at the start. But the second run was better, I felt like I was back in the groove.

I felt like I was training well in the last week, but I wasn’t sure if I could bring good skiing out in this race. There were some scrappy turns … none of the girls skied their best, and I didn’t ski my best. It was just one of those things where you had to be really mentally tough, and I’m glad my mental side is there, because that component is tough to get back.

My goals for the end of the season are just to see how many races I can win, or how well I can do in every race. I have an opportunity to branch out a little bit, maybe focus more on GS now before Jasna. Hopefully both my GS and slalom will be up to par and it will be a good end of the season.

Lila Lapanja
I didn’t want to ski to finish for just points. I just wanted to go, and go and go. I went a little too direct tactically where I needed to give a little bit. So, it didn’t work out, but the mental approach is getting pretty strong and I definitely can’t wait until Jasna.

Resi Stiegler celebrates in the finish after taking her best finish this season.

Resi Stiegler
I feel awesome. But I’m still hungry for more. I wasn’t totally satisfied with today, but I’m very, very happy. Starting the second run with a better position for getting toward the podium is huge for me.

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

 


 


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