Vlhova leads 1st run of WC finals slalom; Shiffrin 4th

Petra Vlhova. GEPA pictures.

SOLDEU, Andorra — Slovakian Petra Vlhova posted the fastest time in the opening run of the last women’s World Cup slalom of the season Saturday, while Mikaela Shiffrin finished in fourth position.

Vlhova drew bib one, and in soft conditions, she skied well and earned a first-run lead of (-0.32) seconds. Vlhova is in search of her second slalom victory of the season.

Bib four, Croatian Leona Popovic, finished the run in second (+0.32). Bib five, Swedish racer Anna Swenn Larsson, was third (+0.56) behind Vlhova.

Starting with bib two, Mikaela Shiffrin was fast in the first three sectors. However, in the final split, she struggled and lost significant time to finish the first run in fourth (+0.59). She remains in contention for her 88th career World Cup victory.

Historically, Shiffrin has struggled in soft salted snow, but at the level she is skiing, anything is possible. Having earned the 2023 slalom title earlier this season, she will receive the slalom globe at the afternoon awards.

Stifel US Ski Team member Paula Moltzan ended the morning tied for sixth, 1.29 seconds off of Vlhova.

The Canadians have the World Champion Laurence St-Germain in 10th, Ali Nullmeyer 19th and Amelia Smart 20th. Smart will start third and Nullmeyer fourth in the final slalom run of the women’s season. Both have a great opportunity to move into the top 15 and score World Cup points.

The time spread among the top fifteen is 2.13 seconds.

The temperatures were warm and the slope required chemical treatment from the start through the finish. The surface did deteriorate and was a disadvantage for the later bibs.

The second run is scheduled for 1:30 pm CET.

First run results and analysis of the fastest three and North Americans

Analysis of the fastest three and North Americans

The Associated Press contributed to this report.