BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Alice Robinson of New Zealand delivered another commanding performance on Sunday, taking the lead after the first run of the World Cup giant slalom and positioning herself for what could become her third consecutive victory in the discipline. The 24-year-old continued her impressive form on North American snow, clocking a sharp and composed 1 minute, 7.44 seconds to top the opening run.
Robinson, starting third on the course, skied with the same precision and aggression that earned her wins in Mont-Tremblant a day earlier and in Copper Mountain on November 29. She holds a narrow 0.16-second advantage over Austria’s Julia Scheib heading into the decisive second run later in the day. American skier Nina O’Brien also put herself in contention, finishing 0.52 seconds behind Robinson to sit third.
Italy’s Asja Zenere produced one of the most notable surprises of the morning, surging from bib No. 22 into fourth place with a clean and assertive run that placed her within striking distance of the leaders.
Six athletes are currently within a second of Robinson, including American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, who is tied for sixth and trails by 0.72 seconds. Shiffrin, who owns the women’s World Cup record for giant slalom victories with 22, remains a significant threat as she rebuilds momentum in the discipline.
Shiffrin has been working her way back to full form after the frightening giant slalom crash she endured in November 2024 at Killington, Vermont. The fall resulted in a puncture wound and substantial damage to her oblique muscles, leaving both physical and psychological challenges in its aftermath. She has spoken openly about dealing with lingering fear in the discipline but has shown steady improvement, finishing sixth in Saturday’s race at Mont-Tremblant.
While the day brought strong performances from several contenders, it also included disappointment. Canada’s Valerie Grenier, who thrilled her home crowd with a third-place finish on Saturday, failed to complete her first run Sunday.
With the final run set to determine the podium, the women’s World Cup circuit will soon shift its focus. Following Sunday’s race, athletes will travel to St. Moritz, Switzerland, where next weekend features two downhill contests and a super-G as the season intensifies.
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