At a Glance
- Mikaela Shiffrin wins her 106th World Cup slalom in Austria amid rough course conditions.
- She extends a five-race winning streak that matches her personal best from 2018-19.
- The win boosts her lead in the World Cup slalom standings by 220 points over Lara Colturi.
Why it matters: The result keeps Shiffrin in top position heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics and underscores the impact of course conditions on elite competition.
The final World Cup slalom of the season took place in Semmering, Austria, where Mikaela Shiffrin defended her title against a deteriorating course and a field of 77 starters. Despite challenging conditions, she secured her 106th career win and extended her lead in the slalom standings.
Race Conditions and Course Deterioration
The mild weather at Semmering prompted organizers to inject water and salt into the Panorama course, but the surface broke on increasing spots during the afternoon run that began at 2:15 p.m. Only 40 of 77 starters completed the first session, and a 5.94-second deficit still allowed Shiffrin to qualify for the final run.
- The course surface deteriorated as temperatures dropped.
- Shiffrin noted the conditions were unsafe for women starting bib 13, 15, and 18.
- No major injuries were reported, but the broken surface frustrated competitors.
Shiffrin’s Performance
In the first run, Shiffrin emerged from half a second behind to edge out world champion Camille Rast. The evening session, 3½ hours later, saw her post the fastest time and beat Rast by 0.09 seconds, with Italian-born Lara Colturi third, 0.57 back.
Mikaela Shiffrin said:
> “It was a very challenging and distracting day. My understanding is that there were no big injuries, but the way the surface was breaking… The second run was a bit better, for sure, but I am frustrated with how that went for these women.”
Her 106th career win extends a five-race streak that matches her personal best from 2018-19 and solidifies her position as the 2014 Olympic champion and holder of the women’s World Cup record of 69 slalom victories.
Season Standings and Future Races
Shiffrin’s victory widens her lead over second-placed Colturi to 220 points in the slalom standings. The World Cup schedule includes three more slaloms in January before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, followed by two in March. A race win is worth 100 points.
| Position | Athlete | Nation | Time Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikaela Shiffrin | USA | – |
| 2 | Camille Rast | Switzerland | +0.09 s |
| 3 | Lara Colturi | Albania | +0.57 s |
The women’s World Cup will travel to Slovenia for a giant and slalom in Kranjska Gora next weekend.
Key Takeaways
- Shiffrin’s 106th World Cup win keeps her in the lead ahead of the 2026 Olympics.
- Course conditions at Semmering were a major factor, with only 40 of 77 starters completing the first run.
- The victory extends her five-race winning streak, matching her best start from 2018-19.
Shiffrin’s resilience on a deteriorating course underscores her dominance in slalom and sets the stage for the upcoming Olympic season.
