Shiffrin pushed to the limit as Rast wins Kranjska Gora slalom

Camille Rast produced a statement performance in Kranjska Gora on Sunday, delivering two flawless runs to narrowly defeat Mikaela Shiffrin and claim victory in the women’s World Cup slalom. In doing so, the Swiss skier completed an impressive giant slalom–slalom double over the weekend and handed Shiffrin her first slalom defeat of the season in a race defined by precision, speed, and nerve.

Rast’s winning time of 1:40.20 was enough to edge Shiffrin by just 0.14 seconds on the demanding Podkoren course in Slovenia. Wendy Holdener joined her compatriot on the podium in third place, finishing 1.83 seconds back after another composed and technically sound display. The result marked a memorable day for Swiss skiing and showcased the depth of competition at the very top of women’s slalom racing.

Rast entered the second run as the overnight leader and was faced with the ultimate test of composure, skiing last with the knowledge that Shiffrin had just laid down an extraordinary benchmark. Rather than skiing defensively, Rast attacked the course with confidence and control, posting the fastest second run of the day in 49.96 seconds. That effort allowed her to extend her slim first-run advantage just enough to deny the American superstar.

The win was particularly significant for Rast. Not only did it complete a rare double across the technical disciplines in the same weekend, but it also marked the first time she has beaten Shiffrin head-to-head in a slalom race. It was also the first occasion this season on which Shiffrin failed to top the slalom standings, ending her unbeaten run in the discipline.

After the race, Rast described the victory as both exhausting and deeply satisfying. She explained that the weekend demanded everything she had physically and mentally, but the reward made it worthwhile. She praised the course conditions, the slope preparation, and the intensity of the competition, all of which combined to create what she felt was a special race.

Behind her, Shiffrin had delivered one of the most committed slalom runs of her season. Starting behind Holdener, the American carried a sizable first-run advantage and wasted no time asserting herself in the second run. From the opening gates, she skied aggressively, building speed through the middle section and charging into the lower part of the course with authority.

For much of her run, it appeared as though Shiffrin had done enough to continue her dominance. She crossed the line with a commanding lead over Holdener, and the crowd sensed they had just witnessed another trademark performance. Shiffrin herself later admitted she had pushed to her absolute limit, chasing a very specific technical feeling that she had been working to find.

Sector times supported her assessment. She was the fastest skier through the lower portions of the course and lost time only in sections where Rast delivered something exceptional. From Shiffrin’s perspective, the most satisfying aspect of the run was the execution itself rather than the final result.

She explained that she never backed off at any point and skied with full commitment from start to finish, even if that meant taking risks. For her, the sensation of skiing at full throttle on such a fast and demanding track was exactly what she wanted, regardless of whether it resulted in another win.

Even before Rast started her final run, Shiffrin acknowledged that the margin would be razor-thin. She admitted that she believed Rast was capable of going faster, given the Swiss skier’s recent form and confidence. While she naturally hoped to remain on top, Shiffrin praised Rast’s achievement, emphasizing how difficult it is to win back-to-back races in two different technical disciplines on the same weekend.

Wendy Holdener’s third-place finish added another important storyline to the race. The Swiss veteran has endured a challenging period in which her performances had not always translated into podium results. As a result, Sunday’s outcome carried extra emotional weight.

Holdener described her season as difficult up to this point but expressed satisfaction at being back on the podium and competing closely with the very best once again. She highlighted the result as a meaningful step forward and a sign that her work is beginning to pay off.

Despite boasting 38 career World Cup slalom podiums, Holdener had gone nine consecutive races without a top-three finish—her longest such stretch in over a decade. In Kranjska Gora, she showed clear signs of resurgence, recording the third-fastest time in both runs. While the race ultimately became a duel between Rast and Shiffrin, Holdener’s consistency and technical sharpness stood out.

She noted that the podium reinforced her belief that she is progressing in the right direction and that her step-by-step approach to improvement is starting to show tangible results.

The race itself was notable for its purity. The second run unfolded as a tactical and technical battle rather than a test of survival. There were multiple lead changes, no dramatic mistakes at the front, and remarkably, all 30 skiers who qualified for the second run reached the finish line. Such an outcome is rare in slalom and highlighted both the quality of the course setup and the exceptional conditions.

Because there were no DNFs, the final standings came down entirely to execution, line choice, and speed management. Shiffrin later said that this kind of race represents slalom skiing at its best—intense, challenging, and decided by the finest margins.

She added that in a field of this quality, it is unrealistic to expect any athlete to win every race. For her, the level of competition on display in Kranjska Gora was exactly what the sport should strive for, pushing athletes to their limits and rewarding the very best skiing on the day.

From a U.S. perspective, the race was also encouraging. Five members of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team qualified for the second run, and all five scored World Cup points—another reflection of how execution, rather than attrition, defined the event.

Shiffrin’s runner-up finish was the headline result for the Americans, but Paula Moltzan also impressed by finishing fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium. Moltzan described the result as bittersweet, acknowledging both how close she was to the top three and how much the experience highlighted the level still required to compete consistently for wins.

A.J. Hurt continued her comeback from injury by recording her first World Cup slalom result of the season, finishing 13th. She said it was reassuring to feel her solid skiing return and noted that she no longer thinks about her hip while racing, a significant milestone in her recovery.

Nina O’Brien produced the biggest climb in the second run, moving up nine places to finish 19th. She explained that she finally managed to bring the sensations she has felt in training into a race environment, making the result particularly satisfying.

Elisabeth Bocock rounded out the U.S. results in 30th place, earning the first World Cup slalom points of her career. Despite a costly mistake midway through her second run, she skied cleanly to the finish and achieved a major personal milestone.

Rast said she planned to celebrate her victory quietly, spending time with family and enjoying good food without pressure. Yet the lasting impression from Kranjska Gora went far beyond the celebrations. It was a day that showcased Shiffrin skiing at full commitment, Rast rising confidently to the moment, and women’s slalom racing delivering drama and excellence at its highest level.