Emma Aicher leads Levi slalom after first run, Camille Rast fourth and Wendy Holdener eighth

Aicher sets the first-run pace

In the first run of the World Cup slalom in Levi on 14 November, Emma Aicher posted the fastest time and pushed almost the entire field more than a second back. Only two competitors finished within a second of her: Albania's Lara Colturi, 0.36 seconds back, and Croatia's Zrinka Ljutic, 0.88 seconds back. Ljutic, starting with bib 24, moved sharply up the standings after the first run. Aicher is still seeking her first slalom victory, after five podium finishes in the discipline last season. The Swiss would need an exceptional second run to close the gap.

Lara Colturi0.36

Zrinka Ljutic0.88

Camille Rast1.02

Wendy Holdener1.2

Lara Colturi

0.36 seconds

Zrinka Ljutic

0.88 seconds

Camille Rast

1.02 seconds

Wendy Holdener

1.2 seconds

Data from the article text

Swiss skiers fall back

Camille Rast, the world champion at 27, finished fourth, 1.02 seconds off the lead. Wendy Holdener, 33, was eighth at 1.20 seconds, and she made an error on the upper section that she could not recover on the second part of the course. Rast had expected the upper section to decide her run, but it turned out the other way round. She lost speed on a small wave, which she told SRF she felt immediately, while setting the third-fastest sector time in the steep section. Rast said of her result:

“I've never been this good here in Levi before. I take what comes.”

Holdener was more measured after her run, having started her 19th race in Levi. She said she had missed the first wave and lost a great deal of time there.

“I missed the first wave, and that cost me a lot of time. The steep section, however, I am very happy with.”

Shiffrin absent from the start

Mikaela Shiffrin is not on the start list in Levi. She has chosen to race less slalom this season in favour of the speed disciplines, giant slalom and super-G. RTS puts her Levi record at eight wins since 2016, while watson counts nine wins since 2012, along with four second places and one third. Petra Vlhova, who is returning from injury, was the only rival to keep pace with Shiffrin in recent years, according to watson. Holdener has been asked about the absence repeatedly since the season opener, and she finished second behind Shiffrin three times in Levi. Holdener said the chances were now better, but she was careful about how she framed it.

“Yes, the chances are certainly better now. But I must not think: 'She is not here, so it will be easier.' Otherwise it backfires.”

Injury and the wider Swiss squad

Mélanie Meillard crashed in training and travelled to Switzerland for further examinations. A torn cruciate ligament is feared, which could end her season. Nine Swiss women start in Levi, including Eliane Christen, Janine Mächler, Aline Höpli, Selina Egloff, Aline Danioth, Nicole Good and Anuk Brändli. Holdener is the only Swiss skier aside from Rast whose result has been measured against the leaders so far. Paula Moltzan, the American who won the surprise giant slalom at the season-opening race in Sölden, was eliminated in the first run in Levi. Holdener finished 20th in that Sölden giant slalom, and she said the result gave her some encouragement.