Shiffrin is one step closer to 82 in Kranjska Gora

Peter Lange

Shiffrin is leader after run 1 – Phot: GEPA Pictures

Mikaela Shiffrin is leading the first run on Day two in the Kranjska Gora slalom and is in a prime position to take another step toward her 82nd World Cup victory and matching the career World Cup victory record held by Lindsey Vonn.

The weather in Kranjska Gora couldn’t be better; while there was fog yesterday, there is none today. After yesterday’s race, Mikaela Shiffrin said she was happy with her skiing, but that doesn’t mean she was the fastest skier. She said she would review her video and find the little things that would provide the small differences. All evidence says she found it. “I couldn’t ski faster,” Shiffrin said. “I felt much, much better this first run than yesterday. I had to try to change my feeling from yesterday. It was very good skiing and I’m happy with that.”

While the determination didn’t appear different, Shiffrin’s line seemed to be. She was again very clean on her edges, but today, it appeared she was trusting the lateral energy she creates with the ski to catapult her across the course so she could keep her skis in the fall line with just that little bit of extra time. However, Shiffrin seeing a course’s timing and then trusting herself to execute nothing new.

Shiffrin, with bib one, finds herself 0.24 ahead of second-fastest Federica Brignone. Canada’s Valerie Grenier is currently 3rd, 0.39 behind the leader, proving yesterday was no fluke. Today Shiffrin’s first run performance has created a lot of headshakes as racers cross the line. After the first 15 finished their first runs, only seven athletes were within a single second.

Home nation favorite Ana Bucik has had another inspired run to ignite the Kranjska Gora crowd. Bucik is 10th, only 1.23 seconds behind the leader.

Today no other woman could find a clean ski quite as early as the world’s number one. Therefore no one else could create the same level of energy across the hill to allow them to utilize the fall line as much as Shiffrin.

USA’s Paula Moltzan had another good qualifying run, and although she is 1.11 behind Shiffrin, she is tied for 8th. She will, however, need to have an impressive final run to threaten the podium. Moltzan’s GS is world-class, but today’s first run was certainly no threat to the world’s best.

Nina O’Brien continued to progress to her best skiing. She is, however, still finding her top form after the Olympic injury she suffered in Beijing. Today, O’Brien skiing with bib 30 crossed in 17th, qualified quickly for the second run finishing in 19th place. She was clearly pleased.

Grenier is not the only Canadian skiing with inspiration. The young Canadian Britt Richardson continues to enjoy her time in Slovenia. Richardson is a known talent, but now she is finding her confidence in the big show. She used a very fast second sector to complete the first run 14th. Richardson, bib 34, was the fastest of five women to qualify for the final run with a start number above 30.

Five North American women qualified for the final run; two are in the top three. Four athletes are among the best 15. Shiffrin is the only one in pursuit of matching the all-time women’s World Cup victory record.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.