Tuesday was a first for Parkite speedskier Lauren Macuga. While many of her peers were jetting off to vacations following the weekend’s speed races at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, Macuga stuck around for one more race. The 22 year old raced the finals’ giant slalom, finishing in 1 5th place. It was Macuga’s first cup-level giant slalom. She was allowed to enter the event because she obtained 500 FIS alpine points throughout the season.Macuga finished with a combined time of 2:16.88, almost seven seconds behind the winner Lara Gut-Behrami from Switzerland. Gut-Behrami was one of Macuga’s top competitors this season in speedskiing, also among the world’s best in giant slalom. Despite not racing a giant slalom in nearly a year, and never one at this level, Macuga fit right in. Macuga was thrilled to cross off another career goal in racing the tech event. She had home crowd and family support backing her once more. Macuga puts a bow on her breakout cup season, finishing ranked 13th in the world as an overall alpine skier. She finished the 2023-24 season ranked 43rd in the world. The Parkite will now take some time to relax, albeit still on her skis, on a family ski trip to Japan, before wrapping up her entire season next month at Palisades Tahoe for a FIS giant slalom event. Wednesday in Sun Valley, the men raced their giant slalom, with Loic Mellard of Switzerland winning with a finish time of 2:15.21. Mellard was one of the top giant slalom skiers all season. Thursday, both the men and women will race their slaloms, with Macuga’s U.S. teammate Mikaela Shiffrin in action.The post Lauren Macuga finishes 15th in World Cup giant slalom debut appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less