Drama in Killington: slalom without Shiffrin - who will be the successor?

Drama in Killington: slalom without Shiffrin - who will be the successor?

On the first Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024, the focus is on the demanding “superstar” slope in Killington, Vermont, the women's slalom. After an exciting giant slalom on Saturday, which was overshadowed by a severe fall by the American star athlete Mikaela Shiffrin, the ski world will now experience a race that has to do without the six-time winner of Killington. Shiffrin, who was aiming for her 100th World Cup victory in front of a home crowd, has decided not to compete. Her decision came after her injury -related withdrawal, which she announced on social media, and she wished her teammates good luck for the upcoming competitions. "I will cheer on the sidelines in this race," emphasized the 29-year-old.

competition for the top

The slalom on Sunday still promises pure excitement, because many favorites are ready to enter the stage. The race begins at 4:00 p.m. CET with the first round, followed by the final at 7:00 p.m. The main players include Wendy Holdener from Switzerland, who was victorious in Killington in 2022, as well as the Swede Anna Swenn Larsson, who has remarkable technical skills and mental strength. The Austrian Katharina Liensberger, who has returned significantly this season, and German Lena Dürr, one of the most constant runners in the slalom, are also considered serious medalists.

The slalom is started at an altitude of 1,128 meters and ends at 782 meters, with a height difference of 346 meters and numerous goals that require a high precision and concentration. The weather forecast for Sunday shows winter conditions with light snowfall and temperatures between -2 and 0 ° C, which further increases the demands on the athletes. Strong outsiders like the Albanian Lara Colturi, who made a name for herself with a podium in Gurgl, and German Emma Aicher and Katharina Huber could also cause surprises, such as Skiweltcup.tv . So it remains to be seen who will decide the fight for victory on the demanding "superstar" slope.