The 2025/26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women’s slalom season couldn’t have kicked off with more fireworks. American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin wasted no time asserting her supremacy, exploding out of the starting gate with bib 3 and storming to the top of the leaderboard after the first run on the Levi Black course. Crossing the finish line with a blistering time, Shiffrin vaulted into the lead by an astonishing 1.49 seconds, leaving the chasing pack in awe and the Finnish crowd in a frenzy.
The 30-year-old Olympic double gold medalist, fresh off a resilient return from injury, posted a flawless 52.14-second run through the 62-gate track. Her explosive rhythm on the steep upper section blended seamlessly with pinpoint control in the bumpy finale, evoking echoes of her eight prior Levi triumphs. “What a way to start the season,” Shiffrin beamed post-run, her poise belying the margin of victory. “The course is demanding, but I felt locked in from the first turn.” This performance not only positions her for a potential ninth win here—surpassing Lindsey Vonn’s venue record—but also her 102nd career World Cup victory overall.
Colturi’s Sensational Surge Steals the Spotlight
Adding fuel to the fire, 20-year-old Liechtenstein sensation Lara Colturi delivered a bib 12 bombshell, charging into second place just 1.08 seconds adrift of Shiffrin. The young gun’s aggressive line choices and fearless recovery in the rutted lower pitch marked a career highlight, signaling her arrival as a genuine podium contender. “I’m over the moon—pushing hard paid off,” Colturi said, her breakthrough run injecting youthful energy into what was shaping up as a one-woman Shiffrin show.
Germany’s Lena Dürr rounded out the provisional podium in third at +1.49, matching Shiffrin’s gap exactly and keeping her own Levi medal hopes alive. Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić, the defending slalom Crystal Globe champion, lurked in fourth (+1.58), while Switzerland’s Camille Rast held fifth (+1.62). Austria’s Katharina Liensberger, a Levi regular, sat eighth (+2.01), and U.S. teammates Paula Moltzan (12th, +2.45) and AJ Hurt (18th, +3.12) posted respectable times. Debutante Annika Hunt advanced in 45th (+4.56), a bright spot for American depth.
With the first 22 starters complete, the leaderboard reflects a blend of experience and emergence under ideal conditions: firm, grippy snow at -7°C with light winds. The second run fires up at 13:00 CET (1:00 PM WAT), where Shiffrin can ski from the leader’s bib and Colturi will aim to claw back ground in the reverse order.
Global Eyes on Levi Drama
This opener has already lived up to Levi’s reputation for early-season shocks, with absent stars like Petra Vlhová sidelined by recovery leaving the door ajar for history. Fans in Nigeria and beyond—synced at 10:00 AM WAT for the first run—can track every split live on the FIS app (fis-ski.com) or via FIS TV, Eurosport, and the World Cup app.
As the Arctic chill deepens, Levi buzzes with the question: Will Shiffrin’s buffer hold for another reindeer prize, or can Colturi’s fire spark the upset of the season? The answer drops soon.
