The same names have dominated slalom in recent years, but Wendy Holdener (SUI) is breaking through to add her name to the mix.
After sharing the top of the podium in the previous slalom race in Killington, Holdener claimed the top prize all for herself in Sestriere. It is her third podium in this early portion of the Audi FIS World Cup season.
She became the first Swiss female skier to win back-to-back World Cup slalom events since Vreni Schneider in 1994.
Holdener bested the two slalom legends Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) and Petra Vlhova (SVK). Shiffrin came across 0.47 off the pace while Vlhova finished 0.70 behind.
Holdener held second in the table after the first run and was ecstatic after crossing the line with the green light after her second run.
“It is amazing. I can believe it, but it is unreal I guess. My second run was the best run I showed in a race actually,” said Holdener.
Holdener now has 47 career World Cup podiums and five career victories on tour.
After the result Shiffrin and Holdener share the lead in the slalom standings, each with two slalom victories to their name this season.
Shiffrin’s second place gives her 123 career World Cup podiums as she chases her 77th World Cup win.
Shiffrin knows this slalom season will not be as easy to dominate as years past. It will take some fight to get through the schedule to stay on the podium.
“I am quite exhausted. I think I had some really good turns and some things to fix for the next slalom. It is a step from Killington and a step in the right direction. It was two really difficult days, there was some really impressive skiing from Wendy (Holdener) and Petra (Vlhova) this weekend,” said Shiffrin.
The American skier made the podium but wanted more.
“I had a lot of fatigue from yesterday. And then we had the award ceremony, which is always very exciting and an honour to be a part of that but, it takes an hour and a half in the evening when you want to be eating or recovering so you just have to take these days and enjoy it. If I am fast enough to be at the award ceremony that is wonderful. You just have to recover the best you can. Today I am mostly happy with my performance but not completely satisfied,” said Shiffrin.
Shiffrin’s main rival in slalom Petra Vlhova settled for third. It is the fourth time the decorated skier came up bronze this season.
Vlhova now has 61 career World Cup podiums to her name.
“I am happy because I am consistent, and it is not so easy to fight for podium, but I am always fighting. Yesterday and today, I was in first position after the first run but then I had a few little mistakes to get third place. But I am happy,” said Vlhova.
Behind the big names at the top came a bit of a surprise.
19-year-old Hanna Aronsson Elfman (SWE) came from the 15th start position to finish fourth. Elfman was 16th in the standings after the first run was completed but shredded her second run to reach her highest career World Cup finish.
Elfman had the fastest individual run of the field with a time of 56.69 seconds and led the field for first until the final three skiers finally bested her.
The Audi FIS Women’s World Cup tour now moves to St. Moritz for three speed races.