‘Perfect’ Vlhova lays down a marker in thrilling slalom season-opener
Nov 11, 2023·Alpine Skiing
It took Petra Vlhova (SVK) just one minute and 50.59 seconds of the new Audi FIS World Cup slalom season to confirm that she is back to her best and Alpine skiing fans are in for a real treat over the coming five months.
The Beijing 2022 Olympic slalom champion produced a masterclass in Levi, Finland, dominating the field in both runs to finish a vast 1.41 seconds ahead of Lena Duerr of Germany, with a similarly resurgent Katharina Liensberger (AUT) rounding off the podium.
Vlhova, who revealed that she found motivation hard to come by after her Olympic triumph, spent much of last season watching on as Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) powered to victory after victory. But looking fresh, confident and aggressive right out of the gate, the Slovakian was untouchable in claiming her sixth win in Finnish Lapland.
“I am quite surprised but of course I am happy because both runs were perfect from my side,” said Vlhova who cut her lines so sharp all day, taking risks that the rest of the field simply could not live with.
“Sixth victory here in Levi, what to say? Honestly, I didn’t expect so much of a gap between me and Lena and Katharina but I feel good. I am enjoying skiing and I feel confident too.”
It is a second World Cup slalom win in a row for Vlhova, having triumphed in the World Cup Finals in Soldeu back in March. Combine that with her third place finish in the opening Giant Slalom race in Sölden two weeks ago and the season is set up perfectly for the 2021 overall World Cup champion.
“Of course, before the race I was a little bit under stress because you don’t know where you are (with your slalom skiing) but in the end I won again here and it’s amazing,” the winner said with a smile large enough to light up the dusk in Levi.
Duerr is another delighted to be underway in fine style. The German, who was typically powerful on the flats, was so shocked by her first run that she had to check her stated time was really correct. Trailing just Vlhova after that opening run, there was no such just disbelief at the end.
“It’s really important for me to get this confidence and know we worked good in the summer, because you never know what all the others are doing,” Duerr said.
After winning her first major individual medal at the 2023 World Championships – bronze in slalom – and recording her first ever World Cup slalom win in the penultimate event last season, the 32-year-old is flying.
It is a sensation Liensberger has been longing to regain and to the delight of many, she did in Levi.
Two years ago the Austrian was the reigning queen of women’s slalom. The winner of the season long Crystal Globe and the 2021 slalom world champion, Liensberger’s fearless style made her a match for anyone. But, along with the rest of the Austrian women’s Alpine ski team, she endured a hugely challenging 2022/23, finishing in the slalom top-10 just twice.
“For me especially, it was amazing to show this performance today into the new season, it’s really a new beginning for me,” a beaming Liensberger said in the finish area.
Starting the first run in bib No.21 she instantly looked a different skier. Confident and aggressive, she surged up the field to finish the morning fourth. And it only got better in the afternoon.
“I just wanted to ski fast, ski fast for myself and it turned out really good. I am happy and also thankful for all the coaches, all the staff that helped our team, not only me, but also the other girls. I had a lot of fun today,” Liensberger said.
The performances of all the top-three finishers confirmed that the great Shiffrin has a real battle on her hands this season.
Fresh from six World Cup slalom wins last season including two in Levi, the American star was typically positive in both runs. But perhaps slightly hampered by bruising to her left knee after a training run fall, Shiffrin made several small mistakes, particularly on the steep pitches, to leave her just shy of the podium.
With Vlhova having now matched her career hall of six Levi wins – victories that each famously come with a local reindeer – all eyes will be on the second of the weekend slalom double-header, getting underway at 10:00 CET on Sunday.
