Industry News
In the first World Cup race of the season 17-year old New Zealander Alice Robinson stunned Mikaela Shiffrin in the giant slalom in Soelden, Austria this morning.
Robinson overcame a .14 deficit after the morning run to edge Shiffrin by .06 after the afternoon run, with Tessa Worley of France in third.
Robinson is the first skier from her nation to win a World Cup in 22 years and the youngest from any nation to do so since Shiffrin nearly seven years ago.
“I’m pretty shocked, but super happy and super excited,” said Robinson. “I was a bit nervous for the second run, but I just tried to hold it together. Just keep my nerves at bay and just try and enjoy it. Yeah, that’s what I did. I’m happy with it.”
Robinson denied Shiffrin her 61st World Cup win, which would have moved the American within one of fourth place all-time behind Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell.
The women’s next race is the slalom in Levi, Finland, in four weeks. The men start in Soelden tomorrow.
Last spring I was on the hill when both Shiffrin and Robinson were up there…free skiing and running gates….amazing, and two rare talents for sure. It is a joy to see such graceful, yet powerful skiers.
After doing a few runs in the vicinity of Robinson, I said to a co-worker that was some of the most beautiful skiing I had seen. My co-worker said yes, that is Robinson, a new up-and-comer who everyone says will give Schiffrin a run for her money! Pretty cool!
Last’s years last race in Andora scared the hell out of me. Out of no where comes Alice Robinson to beat Petra and almost beat Mikaela. Now this year with former Vonn coach Chris McKnight now guiding Robinson down the course, Robinson gets a first victory lap at Solden. The US Alpine team just met a new arch rival. Mike Day has his work cut out for him and I’m sure they are burning the mid night oil in Salzburg.
Well said