One hundred athletes from sixty countries around the globe took on Killington for the 7th year in an incredible weekend at the annual Women’s Audi Ski World Cup. Mother nature complied and the course on Superstar was an icy vertical sheet, just how the athletes like it.
Dropping at 1,200 vertical feet, 4,800 in length with a pitch from 30 to 50 degrees for the Giant Slalom, the course is steep. On the final headwall section, also known as Preston’s Pitch, it’s a steep, slick drop off onto some Northeast ice that’s been manicured and designed for maximal speed to the finish line. Throw in more cowbell and you get a course worthy of the finest female racers on the planet.
Mikaela Shiffrin once again proved her dominance at this year’s World Cup at Killington, placing third in the Giant Slalom on Saturday and landing the top podium position for the Slalom races on Sunday. Swiss skier Lara Gut-Behrami placed first on Saturday in the bitter cold while New Zealand’s Alice Robinson placed second.
Shiffrin ruled the course on Sunday with an even-tempered chill in the air as she burst out of the gate and hit her stride confidently and aggressively on her first run. Her second run was flawless and the crowds roar deafening as she charged down Preston’s Pitch to glory, ending at the base of Superstar in the brilliant sun.
Slovakia’s Petra Vlhová, who won Gold in Slalom at the 2022 Olympics, placed second as Swiss Wendy Holdender was third. Vlhová and Holdener joined Shiffrin on the podium for each skiers national anthems, a couple of bowls and some Vermont Teddy bears at the final awards ceremony ending the event.
Shiffrin won her 89th Slalom in Levi, Finland 2 weeks ago and was vying for her 90th adding some drama to the Burke Mountain Academy graduate’s homecoming. The course was in top shape per Killington President and GM Mike Solimano, with over 130 guns laying down the icy carpets of Green Mountain Dew for the athletes to work their magic underfoot.
With the K1 Lodge now completed Killington’s got the glitz and sparkle worthy of its Beast of the East moniker. Throw in some outstanding food choices on the first level and a nice selection of brewskis on the second floor and there’s enough to keep even the most jaded beer geek happy.
The crowds totaled 34,000 for the 2-day event as musical acts including Mix Master Mike, Young the Giant and Matisyahu entertained between races. At the athletes bid drawing ceremony on Friday, Shiffrin was given the key to the Superstar chairlift to which she replied, “This is a bad idea because I want to ski it NOW!.”
Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team member and University of Vermont graduate Paula Moltzan placed eighth on Saturday’s Slalom race raising the level of excitement for the hometown crowd. Athletes signed autographs for fans airwards including Moltzan and Shiffrin whose infectious enthusiasm for the sport and community added to the tie-dyed vibe at Killington.
Next stop on the Women’s FIS Ski World Cup schedule is December 2nd in Tremblant, Canada.
Nice report. We all want the key to the Superstar chair so we can ski it now!
Nice work, as always, Glyn.
Mikaela is from another planet. Nobody can out ski her when she has a “normal” performance.
I love your reporting.
What an exquisite essay!