BREAKING: Mikaela Shiffrin has just secured her sixth consecutive World Cup slalom victory in Semmering, Austria, despite facing challenging conditions that have often posed difficulties for skiers. In a dramatic second run, Shiffrin moved up three places to clinch the win on December 28, 2025, finishing just 0.09 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Camille Rast.
“It was a really hard day today, tough conditions, a really big fight, and the pressure’s on,” Shiffrin stated in her post-race interview. This victory marks Shiffrin’s fourth win on the Panorama slope, showcasing her resilience as she battled through the toughest run since her last slalom victory in 2013.
Conditions were perilous, with Shiffrin initially sitting in fourth place after the first run. The surface, described as “crusty on top and sugary underneath,” made for a treacherous course. 39 athletes recorded Did Not Finish (DNF), underscoring the race’s unpredictability. Shiffrin noted, “It’s a very strange race. Challenging,” as she advocated for her fellow competitors facing the difficult terrain.
Officials from the International Ski Federation (FIS) made adjustments to the course after consultations with the athletes, ensuring the safety of the competitors. Shiffrin expressed her gratitude for the changes, stating, “In the end, they readjusted it so that this was not a problem on the course, which I’m really happy about.”
Shiffrin’s remarkable performance in the second run included the fastest first sector and a time that was 0.63 seconds quicker than any other skier. Rast, who had led after the first run, acknowledged her near-miss, saying, “Nine-hundredths is not a lot. The smallest mistake, and first place is there.”
Young star Lara Colturi secured third place, marking her fourth podium finish in just five races. “It’s amazing to finish the year with a podium,” she remarked, demonstrating her growing prowess on the slopes.
With this latest victory, Shiffrin has extended her lead in the slalom cup standings to 220 points over Colturi, as well as maintaining a strong position in the overall crystal globe standings, leading by 195 points over Rast. The pressure mounts as the countdown to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics intensifies, with three more races on the horizon.
Looking ahead, the women’s World Cup circuit will next head to Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, for a giant slalom and slalom event next weekend. As Shiffrin continues to dominate, fans and competitors alike will be eager to see if she can maintain her winning streak and inch closer to Janica Kostelić’s record of ten consecutive World Cup slalom victories.
Stay tuned for more updates as the skiing season progresses!
