A thrilling display of skill at the Semmering Women's Slalom World Cup unfolded as 20-year-old Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutic shattered the competition, capturing her first victory on the Alpine Skiing World Cup circuit.
On December 30, Ljutic commanded the slopes of Semmering, finishing the first run with impressive speed. With her father Amir serving as the course designer for the event, she completed the course on the Panorama track with a time of 51.18 seconds, pulling 0.51 seconds ahead of the second-place Lena Dürr from Germany and 0.98 seconds clear of Swiss skier Camille Rast.
Despite the formidable challenges posed by the course, which had been set to test every skier's adaptability, Ljutic managed to navigate the tricky turns and steep lines exceptionally well. She took calculative risks, leading her through the run smoothly, something she acknowledged helped her to stand out among the competitors. “I think he’s happy. It was his first time as the course setter, and he was nervous,” Ljutic said, referring to her father’s novice experience with the layout.
Ljutic's performance built excitement leading up to the finals, where she maintained her edge through several intermediate points. The second heat took place at 1:30 PM, after the initial round showed just how competitive the atmosphere was, with many athletes only narrowly missing the top spots. The hopes for maintaining the momentum lay not only with Ljutic but also with other contenders who weren't far behind her.
The day's events weren’t just about the winners; the finals depicted the stark competitiveness among the athletes. Martina Peterlini of Italy finished as the only representative of her nation to qualify for the second run, ranking 11th at +2.29 seconds back from Ljutic’s time. The overall event illuminated the struggles faced by the Italian team, similar to previous competitions this season where several athletes found themselves eliminated early.
With Shiffrin sidelined due to injury, it was expected to be a unique opportunity for other skiers to seize victory, particularly for those, like Ljutic, who were waiting for their big break. With Ljutic capturing first, followed closely by Dürr and Liensberger, many now look forward to the next World Cup events, set to take place next month, where this exciting rivalry can continue to develop.
Overall, the Semmering ski slopes proved once again to be the perfect backdrop for these exhilarating competitions. The snow conditions appeared favorable, and athletes relished the chance to showcase their talents just before going on break during the holiday season. With high hopes, this only heightens anticipation for the upcoming events already scheduled on the World Cup calendar.