Mikaela Shiffrin Wins 98th World Cup Slalom

American ski star Mikaela Shiffrin dominated the first women's World Cup slalom of the season in Levi, Finland, claiming her 98th career victory, which extends her record in the sport. Shiffrin maintained a strong lead from the first run, ultimately defeating Austria's Katharina Liensberger by 0.79 seconds and Germany's Lena Duerr, who finished third. This victory adds to Shiffrin's impressive tally of 61 slalom wins and her eighth World Cup season title in the discipline, despite a previous knee injury. The early snowfall has allowed several ski resorts, including Mt. Bachelor in Oregon and Aspen Mountain in Colorado, to open earlier than usual, showcasing positive developments following climate-related challenges in the sport. Shiffrin expressed satisfaction with her performance, noting the challenges of the course conditions but was pleased with her skiing. Her triumph in Levi marks her eighth win in the Finnish Lapland slalom, where winners receive a reindeer as a prize.