In a display of vintage Mikaela Shiffrin mastery, the American alpine icon seized control of the 2025/26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women’s slalom season right from the opening gate. Blasting down the iconic Levi Black course under crisp Arctic skies, Shiffrin clocked the fastest time of the first run by a staggering margin, leading her closest pursuer by 1.49 seconds and setting the stage for what could be her ninth victory—and 102nd career World Cup triumph—at this reindeer-rich venue.
The 30-year-old from Edwards, Colorado, wearing bib 3, carved through the 62-gate setup with surgical precision, blending explosive speed on the upper pitch with flawless line choices in the rutted lower sections. Her time of 52.14 seconds left the field scrambling, as Shiffrin extended her Levi legacy—where she already holds eight wins and a collection of live reindeer prizes—to potentially record-breaking heights. “The snow is holding up beautifully, and I just focused on committing to every turn,” Shiffrin said post-run, her signature humility intact amid the roar of an international crowd. “It’s early, but it’s a strong start.”
Provisional Podium Shake-Up
Shiffrin’s buffer was nothing short of commanding. Liechtenstein’s Lara Colturi, the 20-year-old breakout sensation, slotted into second at +1.08, her aggressive attack earning her a career-best World Cup slalom position and injecting fresh intrigue into the chase. Germany’s Lena Dürr, a two-time podium finisher at Levi, held third at +1.49, just ahead of Croatia’s reigning slalom Crystal Globe winner Zrinka Ljutić (+1.58, fourth). The top five was rounded out by Switzerland’s Camille Rast (+1.62, fifth), the 2025 world slalom champion, who showed flashes of her technical prowess despite the deficit.
Austria’s Katharina Liensberger, last year’s Levi runner-up, sat eighth at +2.01, while Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener, the bib 1 starter, managed ninth (+2.12). From the U.S. side, Paula Moltzan clocked +2.45 for 12th, and AJ Hurt +3.12 for 18th—solid showings that bolster America’s depth. Notably, 19-year-old American debutante Annika Hunt survived the cut in 45th (+4.56), a promising sign for the next generation.
The gaps—already exceeding 1.5 seconds to third—underscore Shiffrin’s unchallenged form after a injury-marred 2024/25 season. She rebounded with back-to-back slalom wins in Sun Valley to hit 101 career victories, and today’s run evokes memories of her 2024 Levi masterclass, where she led by 0.60 after the opener en route to her eighth reindeer.
Course & Conditions: A Slalom Skier’s Dream
Organizers hailed the “farmed” snow—preserved via cutting-edge summer techniques—as firm and grippy, with temperatures at -7°C and minimal wind aiding clean lines. The Black course’s notorious bumps emerged late in the run, testing recovery, but Shiffrin’s adaptability shone through. With the second run looming at 13:00 CET (1:00 PM WAT), chasers like Colturi and Dürr will need flawless executions to close the chasm, while Shiffrin can afford a conservative approach from the leader’s perch.
Eyes on History and the Broadcast
A ninth Levi win would eclipse Lindsey Vonn’s venue record and inch Shiffrin closer to untouchable territory in women’s alpine history. Absent rivals like Slovakia’s Petra Vlhová (still recovering from injury) only amplify the spotlight on this generational talent. Teammates Moltzan and Hurt, meanwhile, eye personal bests to fuel U.S. Olympic momentum.
Fans worldwide, including those in Nigeria syncing up at 10:00 AM WAT for the first run, can catch the drama live on FIS TV, Eurosport, or the World Cup app. Stateside viewers: Ski and Snowboard Live at 4:00 a.m. ET.
As the Arctic sun climbs higher, Levi pulses with possibility. Can Shiffrin cruise to another reindeer ranch addition, or will youth and grit spark an upset? The second run promises answers—and perhaps another chapter in the Shiffrin saga.
