Unstoppable Shiffrin caps stunning season in style

The final race of the women’s Audi FIS World Cup season went just like it started, with Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) on top.

The greatest skier of all time finished her record-shattering season in style with another giant slalom victory. Shiffrin led after the first run and put together a nearly flawless second run to set the lead pace by just 0.06 seconds.

It is the seventh giant slalom win of the season for the giant slalom champion. The win gives her 21 World Cup giant slalom wins, yet another record for the American. It is the most GS wins by a woman in World Cup history.

It is her second giant slalom title with the first coming in 2019.

She continues to extend her record as the most decorated skier ever with her 88th career World Cup win. 53 of those have come in her favorite discipline of slalom.

With the win, she set a record for most World Cup podiums by a woman, 138.

She also set a new personal best for season points, 2206, as she claimed her fifth overall crystal globe this season. Her second overall globe in a row. Marcel Hirscher (8), Annemarie Moser-Pröll (6) and Marc Girardelli (5) are the only other skiers to win the overall World Cup at least five times.

Shiffrin picked up an astounding 14 World Cup wins this season to go along with the giant slalom world championship victory.

The accolades roll on as Shiffrin ends the 2022-23 season as the title holder in the overall, slalom, and giant slalom. This gives her 10 career discipline titles.

Shiffrin received another surprise after the race as she was interviewed by her partner and fellow skiing star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR), who was acting as fill-in journalist. Through joyous laughter Shiffrin made it clear that there will be more highlights to come next season.

“I feel okay, this is amazing. I feel great. All these women were fighting in the second run. I barely squeezed past Thea (Stjernesund), big congrats. A big congrats to Val (Grenier) and all the women this season. I am excited to come back and do it again next season,” Shiffrin told Kilde.

The American star has no plans of slowing down or a huge celebration planned.

“I will get a little bit of time on the beach just for a few days and then back here in Europe for a few ski tests and then a little bit of a longer break,” said Shiffrin. “We will be back in Europe for the start of next season before we know it.”

Thea Louise Stjernesund (NOR) put together a beautiful second run to take the top of the table when she finished. She would eventually end up taking second after getting passed by Shiffrin. Saving the best for last, it was the best finish for the Norwegian all season.

The 26-year-old was in tears of joy as she clinched the spot on the podium. Her previous best finish in giant slalom was eighth.

“It is something you work for every day. Two years ago, it was one of the toughest seasons for me. I didn’t take a single point in GS and now this happens. It has been a tough road and an emotional one. To get confirmation that my work leads me somewhere gives me amazing confidence in the future,” said Stjernesund.

Despite the struggles, the Norwegian never quit.

“I always believed I was good enough, but the wish was taking over. I was wishing too much. I never found the ability to just let go and relax and ski. I think you get older and realize it is enough now, just use the opportunity. I was lucky to be there and left it all on the table. I went for it and had nothing to lose, it was an amazing feeling,” said Stjernesund.

Valerie Grenier (CAN) was nearly out on multiple turns in her second run, but she pulled together a strong finish to make the podium in third. The Canadian finishes the season with two podiums.

“I just really had to go for it. I made a couple mistakes at the top and was not skiing that well. I just kept thinking about my clean skiing at the bottom and it worked. I am just happy to be on the podium. It is the perfect way to end the season,” said Grenier.

Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) needed to dig deep to propel herself to a strong finish, and that is exactly what she did on her second run. The Swiss star saw the green light after her stellar second run with five racers to go. However, he was immediately passed with the next skier and finished fourth.

Behrami also took second place in the giant slalom season standings, clinching the spot with the final race.

With the sun starting to peak through the clouds, Marta Bassino (ITA) could not do enough to make another podium this season. Bassino finished sixth and ended up settling for third in the giant slalom standings, dropping from second in the final race.

The 2022 giant slalom champion Tessa Worley (FRA) took the slope for her 255th World Cup start and what may be her final run as she hangs up the skis. The 33-year-old finished 11th**.** Worley calls it quits after a long-storied career with 36 career World Cup podiums.

Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR) dramatically improved this season with five podiums across the World Cup and World Championships, including two giant slalom podiums. The Norwegian stayed up for two decent runs to finish ninth in the final race of the season.

Michelle Gisin (SUI) finished her incredible run of competing in every single race this World Cup season. The Swiss workhorse capped her jam-packed season with a 21st place finish.

Shiffrin dominated the season, but many skiers made their names known this season. There will be many gunning for those victories the American hoarded next season.