The stage is set for a thrilling finale to the 2024-25 World Cup, with just one slalom event left to go. The finals in Sun Valley, USA, on March 27 promise to be an electrifying conclusion, and the current standings have created an atmosphere of high anticipation. Four contenders – Zrinka Ljutic, Camille Rast, Katharina Liensberger, and Wendy Holdener – are in the running for the top spot, with Ljutic currently holding a 515-point lead, 41 points ahead of Rast, 51 points ahead of Liensberger, and 96 points ahead of Holdener.
In the most recent competition, held in Are, the conditions were vastly different from those of the previous day’s Giant Slalom event. The draw for starting positions placed Mikaela Shiffrin, the most successful skier in the event, at the top of the list. With 100 World Cup victories under her belt since the previous week, Shiffrin was poised to make her move towards her 101st win on a course where she had already tasted victory seven times, six of those wins coming in slalom events. As she took to the slopes, the snow conditions were challenging, with salted snow underfoot, but Shiffrin was undaunted, setting a time of 51.27 seconds – a mark that her competitors would struggle to match.
The crowd held its collective breath as Sara Hector and Liensberger took to the course, but neither was able to surpass Shiffrin’s time, finishing 0.52 and 0.48 seconds behind, respectively. However, the real surprise came when Zrinka Ljutic, the current leader in the slalom standings, made a critical error in the final sector, leaving her more than a second behind Shiffrin. Camille Rast, Ljutic’s closest rival for the slalom title, also struggled, finishing 1.60 seconds off the pace. The implications of these results were clear: Ljutic’s lead in the slalom standings had been dented, and the door was now ajar for her competitors to capitalize on her mistake.
As the competition progressed, Lena Dürr from Germany emerged as a dark horse, finishing just 0.43 seconds behind Shiffrin. The conditions on the course were becoming increasingly challenging, with the snow deteriorating and making it difficult for the skiers to maintain their speed. Shiffrin’s time at the top of the leaderboard seemed almost unassailable, but Marta Rossetti from Italy had other plans. Her blistering second run, which included a time of 49.19, left many in awe and set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the event.
The second run saw its fair share of drama, with Sara Hector being disqualified due to an issue with her ski measurements. This development opened up opportunities for other competitors to make their move, and Camille Rast was the first to take advantage, although her time was still 0.24 seconds off Rossetti’s pace. The challenge of beating Rossetti’s time proved too great for many, with even the reigning champion, Mikaela Shiffrin, unable to overhaul the Italian’s time. However, it was Katharina Truppe from Austria who ultimately stole the show, taking the lead with a stunning performance that left the crowd on the edge of their seats.
As the final skiers took to the course, the tension was palpable. Anna Swenn Larsson from Sweden put in a strong run, finishing 0.48 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, while Zrinka Ljutic did just enough to secure her position at the top of the slalom standings. However, it was Truppe who emerged victorious, claiming her first-ever World Cup win and capping off a remarkable day for Austrian skiing. The last time Austria had achieved a 1-2 finish in the women’s slalom was back in 2012, and this result marked a significant milestone for the team.
The current standings in the Overall World Cup have Federica Brignone at the top with 1,294 points, a significant 322 points ahead of Lara Gut and 504 points clear of Zrinka Ljutic. With seven events remaining, the competition is heating up, and the stakes are high as the skiers prepare for the final push towards the end of the season. The slalom title, in particular, hangs in the balance, with Ljutic, Rast, Liensberger, and Holdener all still in contention ahead of the final event in Sun Valley. One thing is certain – the conclusion to the 2024-25 World Cup promises to be nothing short of electrifying.
Key Takeaways from the Event
- Zrinka Ljutic maintains her lead in the slalom standings despite a critical error in the final sector.
- Katharina Truppe wins her first World Cup event, leading an Austrian 1-2 finish in the women’s slalom.
- Mikaela Shiffrin finishes third, unable to overhaul Truppe’s time despite a strong first run.
- The Overall World Cup standings have Federica Brignone in the lead, with Lara Gut and Zrinka Ljutic trailing behind.
The final event in Sun Valley will undoubtedly be a nail-biting conclusion to what has been an exhilarating season. Will Ljutic hold on to her slalom title, or will one of her rivals capitalize on any mistakes to snatch the crown? The world of skiing waits with bated breath for the answer.
