Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia delivered one other smashing efficiency in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, to assert her second World Cup victory in simply seven days, reinforcing her place as one of many brightest skills in alpine snowboarding. The 20-year-old triumphed in Sunday’s slalom, edging out Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener by a mere 0.16 seconds in a dramatic duel that captivated followers on the Slovenian resort. Holdener and Ljutic in bib 1 and a couple of respectively had certified for Run 2 of the Slalom race with the very same time, sharing the chief’s seat within the end space for the whole thing of Run 1.
The primary run had set the stage for an intense battle, with nothing separating Ljutic and Holdener as they pulled over a second forward of the remainder of the sector. Holdener, 31, set a blistering tempo in her second run, momentarily taking the lead and showing poised for victory. Nevertheless, Ljutic’s skill to elevate her sport even increased within the face of stress secured her the highest spot. “I used to be making an attempt to push in every single place,” Ljutic defined. “I hoped it was sufficient, and it was.”
Ljutic’s win marked a decisive second for the rising stars of the game. Reflecting on her efficiency, she mentioned, “I had my very own concept and was actually specializing in myself. I made a decision the tempo of the run, how I wished to ski, and I actually tried to stay to that imaginative and prescient.” Her focus and willpower had been evident as she stored her composure regardless of the stress, narrowly growing her benefit within the first three splits of her second run earlier than holding on for victory. With this victory, Ljutic not solely claimed her second profession victory but in addition claimed the lead within the 2024-25 season Slalom standings and Total standings, awarding the younger gun the purple chief’s bib.
Holdener was gracious in defeat, stating, “I attacked, I gave the whole lot. It’s a tremendous struggle.” The 31-year-old had naturally hoped to grab the season standing lead within the absence of legends like Mikaela Shiffrin of the US and Petra Vlhova of Slovakia, however now faces the problem of holding off the youthful era.
Workforce USA’s Katie Hensien delivered a standout efficiency at Kranjska Gora, ending twelfth for her first top-15 lead to a World Cup slalom. Beginning the day with bib 36, she made a exceptional restoration, snowboarding the fifth-fastest second run and incomes a while within the chief’s seat within the end space. “It reassures me that I’ve been snowboarding quick all season,” Hensien mentioned. “It reveals my velocity has all the time been there, and I’m excited for what’s to return.” Teammate AJ Harm had a powerful first run, inserting eleventh, however skied out in her second after an aggressive begin. Paula Moltzan additionally scored factors, ending twentieth, whereas Nina O’Brien didn’t qualify for the second run.
The ladies’s technical racers put together for the subsequent slalom in Flachau, Austria, on January 14, whereas the velocity ladies will compete at St. Anton, Austria, on January 11 and 12. The ladies’s staff will head again to the Stifel U.S. Ski Workforce headquarters in Toblach for coaching.
