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SPORTSMonday 30 November 2015
Shiffrin wins 2nd straight
World Cup slalom in Aspen
PAT GRAHAM the reigning Olympic and the largest margin of vic-
AP Sports Writer world slalom champion. tory in World Cup history for
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — Think “It’s just really difficult to the women’s discipline. It
Mikaela Shiffrin is fast on catch her,” Strachova said. was a mark that had stood
race day? Try keeping up “She’s in another class.” since 1968.
with her in training sessions. Shiffrin insisted no one has “There’s a little bit of a tar-
Then again, maybe not. even seen her best skiing get painted on my back
She’s speedy enough once yet. She’s faster in training, now,” Shiffrin said. “No-
the competition starts. once she’s had a few runs body likes to get beat by
Shiffrin won back-to-back to warm up. three seconds. I’d hate
World Cup slalom races “I don’t know if you’ll ever to be in that position. I re-
in Aspen, overcoming an see my best skiing in a member being in (Finland)
early mistake in her final race,” said Shiffrin, who’s and two seconds out and
run Sunday to still win by a from nearby Eagle-Vail. thinking, ‘I’m so mad.’ I’m
gigantic margin. Sort of hard to believe, es- sure they are probably
The 20-year-old American pecially considering the (mad), too.”
finished in 1 minute, 40.18 margins she’s winning by at Not so much mad as mo-
seconds, beating Frida the moment. tivated. Hansdotter plans
Hansdotter of Sweden by Shiffrin got a little wild and to watch video of Shiffrin’s
2.65 seconds. Sarka Stra- was off balance early in races, just to see if she can
chova of Czech Republic her last run Sunday or the spot something she can
was third, 2.90 back. Those gap may have been even use.
were the only two compet- more. She won the slalom “I really love how she
itors within three seconds of Saturday by 3.07 seconds, makes it (look) so easy to
United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin reacts after finishing her second
run during the women’s World Cup slalom ski race Sunday,
Nov. 29, 2015, in Aspen, Colo. Associated Press
ski,” Hansdotter said. She’s slalom Friday, but bounced
skiing so economic. Like, back for an impressive vic-
real easy.” tory. “Three great races, re-
Part of Shiffrin’s dominance ally,” said Shiffrin, who was
this weekend may have carried off the slope on
been that she’s skiing on the shoulders of her team-
such familiar snow — an mates. “The GS was disap-
aggressive surface that pointing, but still a great
suits her well. At least, Hans- race. Today was awesome.
dotter is hoping that’s the Yesterday was awesome.”
case. But don’t hand Shiffrin her
“I hope it will not be like this fourth straight World Cup
in the future,” said Hans- slalom title just yet. There
dotter, who has finished are plenty of races left to
second in 13 World Cup close the gap.
slalom races in her career. “I think we will try to catch
“But for sure it’s really im- her, for sure,” said Slova-
pressive.” kia’s Veronika Velez Zuzu-
This was Shiffrin’s fifth lova, who finished second
straight World Cup slalom Saturday but wiped out in
win dating to last season. her first run Sunday. “It’s just
It’s the longest streak in sla- the beginning of the sea-
lom by a female skier since son. We’ll see. We will find
Marlies Schild of Austria a way to catch her.”
took five in a row in 2011- Any friendly advice to
12. make that happen?
Shiffrin’s performance Sun- “They’re not that far away,”
day capped off quite a Shiffrin said. “There wasn’t
weekend of racing after a lot of time between yes-
a rough start. She crashed terday’s race (and Sun-
near the finish in the giant day) to regroup.q
