Brignone wins ski World Cup opener as Shiffrin flops

SOELDEN, Austria: Italy´s Federica Brignone won the World Cup opener at Soelden on Saturday as Mikaela Shiffrin flopped on her second run of the giant slalom.

It was a 28th career win in the World Cup for 34-year-old Brignone, and her 13th in the giant slalom.

Shiffrin was fastest over the first descent which started at 3,040m altitude, but the American failed to attack the second run leaving Brignone to grab the first victory of the 2024-2025 season ahead of New Zealand´s Alice Robinson and Julia Scheib of Austria.

The 29-year-old superstar was unfazed by her slump and said she would analyse “where I need to improve” before the next giant slalom at Killington in the United States. With festive weekend crowds in full voice at the Austrian resort, Shiffrin was the star attraction, and as winner of the first run came out of the starter´s gate last.