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Shiffrin and Scheib Shine at Semmering World Cup Amid Slope Concerns
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A record-breaking crowd witnessed a weekend of thrilling alpine skiing at Semmering, Austria, as Mikaela Shiffrin secured her 106th World cup victory and local favorite Julia Scheib delivered a historic home win. The event,a festivity of the 30th World Cup anniversary at the venue,drew nearly 16,000 spectators over two days of competition.
Shiffrin Claims Victory in Challenging Conditions
US ski superstar Mikaela Shiffrin continued her dominance, winning the night slalom on Sunday despite “borderline” piste conditions. The victory marked her fifth slalom win of the season and eighth career win in Lower Austria. Shiffrin demonstrated remarkable resilience, overcoming a fourth-place finish in the first run to claim the top spot.
However, the race wasn’t without controversy. Shiffrin openly criticized the slope planning, leading to a course setting change after nearly half the field, including Austrian competitor Katharina Huber, were eliminated in the first run. “I’m very happy with my performance, even though the conditions were extremely tough,” Shiffrin stated. A senior official confirmed that adjustments were made to ensure fairer conditions for all competitors.
Scheib Delivers Emotional Home Triumph
Saturday belonged to Julia Scheib, who ended a 13-year drought for Austrian women at the Hirschenkogel with a stunning victory in the giant slalom.The 27-year-old Styrian, competing just 90 minutes from her hometown, described the win as a “fight,” adding, “I didn’t think it would be enough. It was so restless. I knew I had to let my skis go down there. But it was enough.”
The win was celebrated with a special team event at the ÖSV headquarters, where Scheib promised a “Wiener Schnitzel” feast for the entire team. The victory resonated deeply with Austrian fans, marking a notable moment for the ÖSV women’s team.
Semmering Steps up as Replacement Venue
This year’s World Cup at Semmering was unexpectedly added to the calendar after the cancellation of the event in Lienz.Despite the short notice, organizers successfully hosted the races, attracting enthusiastic crowds and receiving positive feedback. “The spectator interest and the mood were very good,” said chief organizer Franz Steiner. “We were happy to jump in and are also proud that we managed the races in this way.”
Steiner acknowledged concerns raised by Shiffrin regarding the slope conditions, attributing them to a foehn wind that softened the upper portion of the course overnight. he assured that every effort was made, in collaboration with FIS and ÖSV, to create a fair and competitive habitat. Approximately 400 volunteers, including 120 along the route, contributed to the success of the ski spectacle.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Semmering is now firmly re-established as a bi-annual stop on the Women’s World Cup circuit, with the next event scheduled for the end of 2027.The ÖSV is currently evaluating potential locations to share hosting duties with Semmering for races between Christmas and New Year. The success of this year’s event underscores Semmering’s ability to deliver world-class alpine
