Mikaela Shiffrin has overcome what broadcasters called the biggest deficit overcome in a World Cup slalom since 2013, erasing roughly half a second between runs at Semmering, Austria to claim her sixth straight slalom win and her 106th career World Cup victory.
Shiffrin trailed after the first run by almost half a second after racing through what she later described as difficult conditions, "a little shelf at every gate and some chatter" across the course surface. The second run required her to trust a read from coach Karen Hardio that the course would be more responsive than it felt in practice.
"There's a little shelf at every gate and some chatter, but you can still put the tips out there, go clean and attack this whole pitch. The surface is very responsive and good," Hardio's assessment � relayed by the NBC Sports broadcast � set the second-run tactical plan.
Shiffrin committed to it. "It'll be interesting to see how much credence she gives her coach Karen Hardio," the commentary said as she left the gate. "So she needs to believe that the surface will be responsive. And when she does believe that, so quick on and off the edge like no one in the history of skiing."
The second run delivered. Shiffrin "lifts into the lead by almost a full second" by the interval, ultimately setting a winning time that produced the tightest possible margin against a late-arriving Camille Rast.
Rast, the reigning slalom world champion, had looked positioned to reel Shiffrin in. "Rast versus Shiffrin. It is Mikaela Shiffrin. Six in a row, and 106 for her legendary career," the call delivered as Shiffrin edged the Swiss.
"When you're chasing the greatest of all time, will the nerves factor in or can you manage the emotions of the moment?" the broadcaster asked mid-Rast-run. "Skiing freely right now. Ross with a little error. Oh, and she's falling behind. But right there, neck and neck with Shiffrin. 1/100th behind coming through the final gates here in Semmering."
The one-hundredth of a second separation summed up the tactical read from the coaches' side: Rast had been aggressive on her line, pushing a race-horse style that nearly worked. The error � one tiny one, as the commentary noted � cost her the second straight day at Semmering. "It was one tiny error yesterday that kept Ross from winning the Giant Slalom. It was one tiny error today that kept her from beating the greatest of all time."
Italian teenager Laura Colturi, 19, finished third after leaning across the line to secure her podium place. "Laura Colturi leaning across the line and she is on the podium into second place," one version of the call noted before the final order settled. The broadcast also observed that Shiffrin herself was the last teenager to win a World Cup slalom � at 19 � underscoring how narrow the teenage-podium window has become since her era began.
For Shiffrin, Semmering extended a sequence few analysts thought possible even a few seasons ago. Six straight slaloms on the circuit. The 106th career World Cup win. A recovery from the biggest pre-second-run deficit in slalom since 2013.
"It's remarkable. She has been so good for so long and somehow finds a way to get better in slalom," the closing commentary said. "She has redefined women's slalom skiing and continues to do so for herself. Always improving. And she's at the top of her game."
The caveat: Shiffrin made clear between runs that she wasn't enjoying the Semmering conditions. "She was fairly clear about that between runs. Had a lot to overcome, it seemed, and somehow found her way to not only win the second run by doing so by more than a half a second going that far back in the order."
