Kranjska Gora (Slovenia) (AFP) – US ski star Mikaela Shiffrin said Sunday she was “in awe” of Swiss rival Camille Rast, who ended her World Cup slalom streak to complete a double at Kranjska Gora a day after winning the giant slalom. Shiffrin, 30, had been looking to extend her slalom run having won all five races in the discipline this season, in addition to last year’s season-ender. But the overall World Cup and slalom leader had to settle for second place, 0.14 seconds behind Rast, 26, just over a month away from the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
“I was just watching like everybody, so inspired or in awe of Camille’s skiing,” Shiffrin said. “Winning back-to-back is very hard to do.” Wearing a black armband for the second day in a row to pay tribute to the victims of the New Year’s Eve bar tragedy at Crans-Montana, Rast became the first woman to defeat Shiffrin in slalom this season. The reigning slalom world champion blitzed to the fastest time in both runs, having also led Shiffrin by 0.10 seconds after the first run.
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“This was amazing. Mikaela won five slaloms (in a row to begin the season) and today I made it,” said an emotional Rast. “It was really not easy but I gave everything I had. I heard a little bit (about Shiffrin’s run), I knew she skied really fast and I have to be even faster if I want to win,” Rast continued. “I just focused on myself and gave my best.”
Shiffrin dominates the overall World Cup standings with 823 points, 120 points ahead of Rast. The American also leads the slalom standings with 580 points, 218 points ahead of Rast. “I pushed so hard on the second run and I was really happy because there was a small technical thing I was trying to figure out on the second run and I could feel that most of the turns,” said the 106-time World Cup winner. “I was flying down this thing. It was such a pleasure to ski and so intense,” with just 0.04 seconds separating the pair in the second run.
Rast looks to have recovered from the hip problems that had plagued her since last season as the Winter Games loom. “I gave it everything I had this weekend,” said Rast, who achieved the fourth World Cup victory of her career and a fifth podium in as many races. “Achieving the double was extraordinary. I think a lot of energy (was the key). It was a big battle, my energy made the difference, the preparation was perfect.”
Swiss skier Wendy Holdener completed the podium at 1.83 seconds, having missed out on the top three in her last nine World Cup slalom races. “My season was not that easy until now so I’m really happy to be back on the podium and make a big step to compete against those two again,” the 30-year-old Swiss racer said. “Step by step, I’m trying to catch up.”
© 2024 AFP
