Camille Rast secured a narrow lead in the women’s World Cup slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, with a stunning late-performance run that clocked in at 50.24 seconds, edging out American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin by just a tenth of a second. Rast showcased her strength in the final segments of the course, where her speed surpassed that of her competitors, setting up an exciting conclusion to the competition. Close behind them are Wendy Holdener of Switzerland and Paula Moltzan from the U.S., rounding out a tightly contested top four, all within a second of the front runner.
Rast’s strategy appeared effective as she hadn’t begun with dominant splits but gained momentum as she approached the final sectors. Shiffrin, with a storied history in slalom and aiming for her seventh consecutive World Cup slalom victory, showed her prowess by ranking second in the last three segments, positioning herself well for a potential comeback in the second run. While Shiffrin’s performance was not her very best, she expressed confidence in the course conditions, which offered good support and encouraged aggressive skiing.
“I felt like I was pushing as hard as I can,” Shiffrin remarked, emphasizing the competitive spirit as she approaches the second run.
Rast’s recent form has been remarkable; she won the giant slalom the previous day and is already a two-time World Cup slalom champion, although neither win came against Shiffrin, which adds extra intrigue to this face-off. As ski enthusiasts await the next run, the stakes are high, as both skiers aim to claim victory and set the tone for the rest of the season.
In contrast, the Canadian contingent faced challenges, with no skiers advancing after a particularly tough day, marking a rare setback for the team. Meanwhile, the U.S. team demonstrated their depth, with A.J. Hurt in 15th and Elisabeth Bocock making her World Cup slalom second-run debut, a noteworthy achievement for the emerging skier.
With the timing spread revealing significant opportunities for skiers lower on the start list, the late starters are well-positioned to capitalize on the unfolding drama. As the competition heats up, fans can look forward to an exhilarating second run where the battle for the podium continues.