Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s Mikaela Shiffrin delivered another podium finish, charging to second place in a nail-biter of a World Cup that came down to the final turns in Sunday’s slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. “I’m motivated to push harder to find more speed for the next race, but today was really fun,” said Shiffrin.  On a track offering perfect course conditions from top to bottom, Shiffrin laid down two aggressive runs to put herself firmly in the fight for the win. With time tight throughout the field, the race remained undecided until the final racers, making for one of the most exciting slaloms of the season. The first through fourth place skiers from run one stayed in the same positioning after the second run.  Shiffrin was up against the winner from Saturday, Switzerland’s Camille Rast, who is proving to be a strong force in the technical disciplines this season and took the win.  “The biggest accomplishment for me today was to execute some small things with my skiing and then to watch the other women, especially Camille, and imagine what speed is still out there,” said Shiffrin.   Shiffrin claimed her 163rd career World Cup podium, and remains podium perfect this season in slalom with five wins and Sunday’s second place out of the six slalom races thus far. “I don’t believe it’s possible to win every race in the season with the competition level,” said Shiffrin, who was just 0.14 seconds off Rast. “I wanted to give it my best shot, but I think that this was a really amazing show today.”  Behind Shiffrin, her Stifel U.S. Ski Team teammates put together a strong collective showing. Paula Moltzan skied one of her best slalom races of the winter, attacking both runs to finish fourth. Moltzan was content to have two strong races this weekend, after finishing on the podium in the giant slalom.   “I’m happy to try and compete with the best here,” said Moltzan. “Clearly Mikaela and Camille are on an entirely different level, so it kind of just shows how much room for improvement there is.”  AJ Hurt continued her return to racing form, finishing 13th in her first slalom start after spending time away earlier this season due to a hip injury. Hurt showed solid execution and speed, a promising sign as she builds momentum moving forward. “It feels really good to be back and be in the top 15 again,” said Hurt.   Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Nina O’Brien and Elisabeth Bocock scored points for the U.S. team, placing 19th and 30th, respectively. For Bocock, the result marked a meaningful milestone: her first career World Cup slalom points. Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener rounded out the podium in third. Shiffrin continues her lead of the overall standings, as well as the slalom standings.  The U.S. women remain at the top of the Nations Cup standings with the team’s performances in Kranjska Gora and will look to add to their advantages in Zauchensee, Austria at the speed events Jan. 10-11. The tech women will race again in Flachau, Austria on Jan. 13. RESULTSWomen’s slalom The post Shiffrin takes second in tight slalom appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less