Second Straight GS Win For Marta Bassino

Italian star Marta Bassino won the second giant slalom of the season with a back to back victory, demonstrating her period of extreme shape in the discipline in question.

The day took place under heavy snowfall in both runs and despite the poor visibility, the race went well with a solid surface. Marta Bassino (ITA), second at the end of the first run, managed to ski as if the snow and fog did not exist, with the lightness that characterises her skiing.

Behind her an incredible Sara Hector (SWE) who climbed 2 positions to reach her third podium in her career after 6 years of absence from the top steps of the ranking.

And what about Petra Vlhova (SVK)? In 5 races the Slovakian skier scored 5 times with 3 victories and 2 podiums, including today's one. The Slovakian skier is in incredible physical shape, solid in all the tech disciplines and course sets.

Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), third after the first run, lost significant time in the second run when she got bounced by the terrain between a pair of gates.

Mikaela sat in third place after first run, but hit a bump and threw her skis sideways on the pitch, which caused her to lose valuable time. But she acknowledged that the line she chose was a risk and the ever-positive skier was still happy about her showing and her future in giant slalom racing this season.

“I felt pretty good. I’m pretty excited,” she said. “My first run, I was more surviving. Some good turns—a good starting point—with a pretty big mistake in the second run. I was trying to go more aggressive, but I knew it would be bumpier with the snow and running later.”

Mikaela was also quick to shine a light on Sara Hector, who she’s long admired as a ski racer and has had a long return to snow after a major injury six years ago in Are—the same weekend Mikaela was injured. “She’s had a really difficult comeback,” said Mikaela. “She’s a fighter and she wants to be fast all the time and I’m always wondering if she would approve of how hard I’m trying because she's always the one who tries the hardest and is willing to put in the most effort into every single turn in order to make speed!”

Overall, Mikaela was excited about the progress she’s making, given her lack of training and over 300 days out of a World Cup giant slalom start gate. She had skipped the Soelden GS in October due to a back injury. “All in all, it was a pretty incredible day and not quite so stressful as Levi,” she said. “I felt like I could do some good skiing and the rest of it is just stuff I still need to pick up on—learn how to find the cleaner line and push through the bumps like the way some of these girls are doing. I know I can do it and it’s just the matter of getting to that point again.”

Nina O’Brien was another shining star for the Americans, snagging 19th place in Courchevel after finishing 15th in the first giant slalom this season. On top of that, Nina was skiing with a brace on her left hand after breaking her thumb in 15 places in a crash in training prior to the World Cup in Lech Zuers, Austria. Her skiing is one to keep an eye on this season as she continues to climb the ranks and score more World Cup points.

Paula Moltzan, Keely Cashman, and AJ Hurt also started for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team but did not qualify for a second run.

Petra Vlhova(SVK) leads the overall ranking with 420 points, 162 points ahead of Marta Bassino (ITA) and 213 ahead of Michelle Gisin (SUI).