Shiffrin slides out 3 gates from finish: Lara Gut wins GS in Aspen

The feeling of victory was so close she could taste it. USA's Mikaela Shiffrin faltered slightly with three gates to remaining which resulted in her DNF in the GS at the Aspen Winternational.  Shiffrin, in first place after the first run and was building on her advantage and skiing with poise and confidence. In what I can only imagine was a minor drop in concentration for the champion, she slid out with only 3 gates remaining. Shiffrin's digger opened the door for Swiss hottie Lara Gut to take the gold medal. Last years winner, Eva Marie Brem from Austria finished 2nd and Italian race Frederica Brignone placed 3rd.    

It was a great day of racing in Aspen. A snowy and beautiful day on Aspen Mountain. The home-town crowd that was pulling heavily for Mikaela Shiffrin was visibly an audibly heartbroken.  AspenSpin had a chance to speak briefly with Shiffrin after the race and while she was supremely disappointed her mental toughness was evident. It appeared as she was already moving forward from the race that got away. Described by U.S. Coach Paul Kristofic as "a tough cookie" Shiffrin will be favored in todays slalom.  

1) Gut / Sui 2) Brem Aut 3) Brignone Ita. Aspen World Cup Giant Slalom. photo: AspenSpin         

The Raptor and Birds of Prey at Beaver Creek.

Both the men and women made FIS World Cup stops in Beaver Creek.  The Womens races were dominated by Lara Gut who won Gold on the new Raptor downhill course and followed that up with another win in the Super G.  America's newest snowsports super-star, 18 year old Mikaela Shiffrin took second in the G.S., her first World Cup podium in that disipline. 

The men showed up with a foot of fresh snow and sub-zero temps.  Not ideal racing conditions...but they put on a show anyway.  The downhill on Friday was shredded by Aksel Lund Svindal.   Fireworks occurred on Sunday for the U.S. Ski Team as Ted Ligety and Bode Miller finished 1-2 in the G.S.  

It was freezing but Vail / Beaver Creek lived up to its status as one of the best ski racing tracks in the world.  Photos and video Courtesy  U.S. Ski Team, FIS, Vail Valley Foundation, Getty Images and ski racing mag.   For all the results click Raptor and Birds of Prey.

Lara Gut wins the Downhill and Super G on The Raptor course at Beaver Creek.Hometown favorite Mikeala Shiffrin raced to a second place finish in the GS at Beaver Creek.Aksel Lund Svindel ripped the fastest lap in the downhill at Beaver Creek.

 Ted Ligety and Bode Miller went 1-2 in the GS on Sunday at Beaver Creek.