USA TODAY International Edition
With eye on overall title, Shiffrin carries big lead into final races
After a sweep in Squaw Valley over the weekend, Mikaela Shiffrin heads this week to Aspen, where she’s the prohibitive favorite to capture a crystal globe for her first World Cup overall title.
In California, Shiffrin wrapped up the season slalom title, the fourth time in five seasons she’s won it. She won Saturday’s slalom and a giant slalom the previous day to sweep both World Cup events in Squaw Valley.
This week she’ll race with her sights set on the overall title. She has a 378- point lead over secondplace Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia. Sofia Goggia of Italy is in third, 466 points behind Shiffrin.
Her lead is so big that she could still win the overall title even if she wasn’t able to finish any of her races in Aspen, Shiffrin said.
“It’s not a done deal yet, but it’s very close, because the two girls who even have a shot at it are mainly speed skiers,” Shiffrin said Saturday in a news conference after her victory.
“I’m looking forward to Aspen, knowing that that pressure is a little bit less than it has been.
“But at the same time, I really want to finish with a strong performance, especially in front of my home crowd, my home state. That would be amazing to have two more really good performances.”
She said she’s not planning to race Wednesday’s downhill in Aspen. The women’s slalom is Saturday, followed by the giant slalom to cap the season.
Shiffrin, who turns 22 on Monday, would become the third American woman to claim the World Cup overall title, joining U. S. teammate Lindsey Vonn and Tamara McKinney. On the men’s side, Bode Miller and Phil Mahre are the only two Americans to capture the overall.
McKinney, who won the overall title in 1983 and lives in Squaw Valley, gave out awards to the winners of Saturday’s race.
“It’s always a great inspiration to meet and talk with the great American ski racers,” Shiffrin said.
The Vail native has had success racing in her home state, winning a pair of World Cup slalom races in Aspen in 2015. Shiffrin also took gold in slalom in the 2015 world championships held at Vail/ Beaver Creek.