Camille Rast and Mikaela Shiffrin stand apart at thrilling Slalom World Cup in Kranjska Gora

Sunday’s slalom World Cup in Kranjska Gora delivered high drama, technical brilliance and relentless tension, but by the end of the day it was unmistakably clear that two skiers were competing on a different level entirely. Camille Rast and Mikaela Shiffrin produced performances that left the rest of the field far behind, turning the Slovenian classic into a showcase of elite slalom skiing.

Rast claimed victory by the narrowest of margins, edging Shiffrin by just 0.14 seconds, yet both racers crossed the finish line more than a second and a half clear of third-placed Wendy Holdener. The result confirmed Rast’s dominance in Kranjska Gora this weekend, following her giant slalom triumph the day before, and further underlined the growing rivalry between the Swiss star and the most successful skier in World Cup history.

Mikaela Shiffrin embracing victor Camille Rast. | Image: FIS Alpine

As is customary in slalom, the competition unfolded over two runs, with the fastest 30 athletes from the opening leg earning a place in the decisive second run. Combined times determined the final standings, and from the earliest moments it was clear the course would reward aggression, precision and confidence.

Germany’s Lena Dürr opened proceedings, laying down an initial benchmark of 52.51 seconds. That time, however, did not last long. Last season’s Slalom Crystal Globe winner Zrinka Ljutić saw her hopes vanish early after failing to finish her run, an early reminder of how unforgiving the Kranjska Gora slope can be.

The Swiss-American podium: Camille Rast 1st, Mikaela Shiffrin 2nd, Wendy Holdener 3rd. | Image: FIS Alpine

Mikaela Shiffrin, wearing bib number three, immediately demonstrated the pace required to contend for victory. Her first run was exceptional, stopping the clock at 50.34 seconds—more than two seconds quicker than Dürr and a clear statement of intent.

While Holdener skied solidly, she could not match Shiffrin’s relentless speed. Camille Rast, however, was operating at the same elite level. The Swiss skier attacked the course with confidence and fluidity, stealing the lead from Shiffrin by a razor-thin margin of 0.10 seconds and setting up a tantalising battle for run two.

Behind the leading trio, Shiffrin’s American teammate Paula Moltzan slotted into fourth place, while drama continued further down the order. One of the remaining top contenders, Italian-Albanian skier Lara Colturi, made a costly early error and joined Ljutić among the non-finishers.

Camille Rast made it 2 for 2 at Kranjska Gora this weekend. | Image: FIS Alpine

Completing the top seven after the opening run were Austria’s Katharina Truppe, Germany’s Emma Aicher and Italy’s Lara Della Mea. Further down the standings, Team USA enjoyed encouraging signs. AJ Hurt, starting with bib 31, advanced comfortably into the second run in 15th place, while Elisabeth Bocock qualified in 25th, suggesting she had finally put recent DNFs behind her. Nina O’Brien also progressed, scraping into run two in 28th.

The second run, contested in reverse order, began with Italy’s Emilia Mondinelli, who capitalised on her opportunity to score World Cup points for the third time in her career. Nina O’Brien followed and delivered one of her strongest performances of the season, launching herself into the leader’s chair and holding that position through several challengers.

AJ Hurt at Kranjska Gora. | Image: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team

The lead then began to change hands rapidly. Italy’s Giulia Valleriani briefly moved ahead before Lena Dürr stormed back into contention, reminding everyone why she remains among the world’s top slalom racers. Dürr’s advantage, nearly three-quarters of a second, did not last long. Martina Peterlini soon took over, only to be displaced moments later by Latvia’s Dzenifera Germane, whose second run ranked among the fastest of the day.

As the field narrowed to the final nine competitors, the tension inside the finish area grew. Sweden’s Sara Hector, Cornelia Øhlund and Anna Swenn Larsson all struggled to match Germane’s pace, but Italy’s Lara Della Mea did just enough to seize the lead by 0.21 seconds.

That advantage proved fleeting. Emma Aicher slotted in just behind, before Austria’s Katharina Truppe delivered a powerful run to move into first place, edging Della Mea by 0.15 seconds.

Paula Moltzan on course at Kranjska Gora. | Image: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team

With only four skiers left to race, the podium positions were still wide open. Paula Moltzan rose to the occasion, producing a clean, aggressive run to take the lead by nearly a quarter of a second. Her time, however, was quickly beaten by Holdener, who moved into first by 0.14 seconds and guaranteed herself a place on the podium.

Then came Shiffrin.

The American produced a second run of breathtaking quality, gradually extending her advantage over Holdener through precise, powerful turns. By the time she reached the finish, Shiffrin had added more than a second to her margin, crossing the line with a commanding 1.69-second lead and appearing untouchable.

A league of their own: Camille Rast and Mikaela Shiffrin. | Image: Swiss Ski FB

But the story was not finished.

Camille Rast attacked the course with fearless intent, matching Shiffrin’s speed from the very first gate—and then finding even more. She posted an extraordinary second run, overturning Shiffrin’s lead and reclaiming first place by 0.14 seconds. The pair embraced at the finish, a moment of mutual respect after one of the most compelling duels of the season.

Despite the defeat, Shiffrin remains firmly in control of the slalom standings, leading the discipline with 580 points—more than 200 ahead of Rast. She also tops the overall World Cup rankings with 823 points, though Rast has closed the gap to 120. Alice Robinson sits third overall on 484 points.

The World Cup now shifts focus. Speed specialists will head to Zauchensee for downhill and super-G races on January 10 and 11, while the technical skiers resume competition on January 13 in Flachau.

For now, though, Kranjska Gora belongs to two skiers operating at a level few can reach. Camille Rast and Mikaela Shiffrin were not just winners on Sunday—they were unmistakably in a league of their own.