Switzerland's Camille Rast has delivered a stunning performance in Slovenia, ending Mikaela Shiffrin's dominant six-race winning streak in World Cup slalom events. The Swiss world champion secured victory by a narrow margin of 0.14 seconds after posting the fastest time in both runs.
A Thrilling Duel Ahead of the Olympics
With just 45 days remaining until the women's slalom at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, the rivalry between Shiffrin and Rast is intensifying. This result marks a significant shift, coming just a week after Rast led Shiffrin in Austria after the first leg, only for the American to claw back time on a deteriorating course to win narrowly. On this occasion, Rast held firm to her first-run advantage.
"Her skiing is so strong, and it’s been building, building, building," a gracious Shiffrin said of her rival. "Today, how I saw her ski the first run, ah, I had to go 120% in order to have a shot. So, it was a big, big, amazing day for her." Despite the loss, Shiffrin was satisfied with her own technical execution, celebrating with a fist pump after her final run.
A Weekend Double for the Swiss Champion
Rast's slalom victory completed a remarkable weekend double, having clinched her maiden World Cup giant slalom win on the same Slovenian hill the previous day. She dedicated that first win to the victims of a tragic fire at a bar in Crans-Montana, near her hometown of Vétroz.
"I gave everything I had this weekend. Double on the same weekend is quite amazing. I’m so happy," an elated Rast stated. She credited "a lot of energy" for her success, describing the race as "a little bit a battle, but I had a lot of fun."
The Field Left in Their Wake
The duo were in a class of their own, finishing far ahead of the competition. Rast's Swiss teammate, Wendy Holdener, trailed by a massive 1.83 seconds to take third place, her first podium in nearly a year. The only other skier within two seconds of the winning time was Shiffrin's American teammate, Paula Moltzan, in fourth.
The race saw disappointment for others. Defending slalom World Cup champion Zrinka Ljutić of Croatia failed to finish for the fourth time in six races this season. Italian prodigy Lara Colturi, competing for Albania, fell on the first run set by her father and coach.
The Road to Milan Cortina
Shiffrin, the 2014 Olympic slalom gold medallist and four-time world champion in the discipline, had won the final race of last season and the first five of this campaign. This victory brings Rast's career World Cup tally to four wins, three of which are in slalom.
The Alpine skiing World Cup now moves forward with the next women's slalom, a night race in Flachau, Austria, on 13 January. This is followed by a final pre-Olympic slalom in the Czech Republic on 25 January. The upcoming weekend will feature downhill and super-G events in Zauchensee, Austria.
