Shiffrin Top 15 in Jasna GS

JASNA, Slovakia (March 7, 2016) – A day after winning the slalom by over two seconds, Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) took 14th in the Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom in Jasna, Slovakia.

Rescheduled from Saturday’s canceled GS, the weather lacked the amount of fog, snow and wind to which the racers were becoming accustomed in Jasna. But even with the bad weather throughout the weekend, the long course was in perfect condition with the racers able to grip it and rip it.

First run was a turny one, with Shiffrin sliding through the finish in 11th. But she got bumped back second run, struggling with her timing in the tricky course and taking 14th. “I haven’t had a lot of time on my GS skis,” said Shiffrin, who is only five races back from a knee injury she suffered in December. “I don’t feel comfortable with my timing at all. I don’t feel comfortable getting [my skis] out from under me and trusting them to come back.”

Mikaela Shiffrin skis to 11th first run.

In the attack for the GS globe, Austrian Eva-Maria Brem pulled off a victory with Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany attacking from 12th place first run to take second. Federica Brignone of Italy was third.

Shiffrin blazes on to World Cup Finals, where she’ll compete in slalom and giant slalom. “Today was more disappointing than obviously yesterday was, but I didn’t want to come back and just race two races the rest of the season,” said Shiffrin. “I wanted to come back and actually ski and try to savor something from the season.”

Resi Stiegler (Jackson, WY) and Megan McJames (Park City, UT) also started the Jasna giant slalom, but did not qualify for a second run. It was Stiegler’s first World Cup GS since 2013.

Shiffrin takes 14th overall.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mikaela Shiffrin finished 14th in the Jasna giant slalom.
• It was only Shiffrin’s second GS finish this season, having taken second in Soelden in October.
• It was Shiffrin’s fifth race back on the World Cup tour after injuring her knee.
• Eva-Maria Brem sits in first for the GS World Cup title with 442 points, with Viktoria Rebensburg hot on her heels with 410 points. Lara Gut is also still in the hunt with 362 points.
• Next up, the women race super G and combined in Lenzerheide, Switzerland next weekend before World Cup Finals kick off March 15.

QUOTES

Mikaela Shiffrin
I haven’t had a lot of time on my GS skis. I don’t feel comfortable with my timing at all. I don’t feel comfortable getting [my skis] out from under me and trusting them to come back. Some of my training days have been really good. My first time back in GS gates since the injury, I was like ‘Yes! This is easier than my slalom was!’ I know it’s there, but it’s been a struggle the past two weeks. I had two or three days of GS training. [Jasna] was really tough GS training—pretty soft snow and tough visibility. Not the type of place you want to find your timing.

I was so excited to ski this race because the hill is great and was in great condition. My free skiing has felt really good, so I figured, what the heck, let’s see what happens. In order for me to really put my best skiing out there right now, everything has to set up perfectly. I’d rather be the kind of skier that can do it whenever.

My goals changed after I got injured this season. I knew that I couldn’t come back for the slalom globe. I didn’t have a chance for the GS globe and definitely no chance for the overall. I figured the saving grace of the season would be to get some experience in the last two super Gs, try to get as many World Cup points as I can and see what I can do with the rest of the slaloms and GSs. Today was more disappointing than obviously yesterday was, but I didn’t want to come back and just race two races the rest of the season. I wanted to come back and actually ski and try to savor something from the season.

RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom