Mikaela Shiffrin goes BACK to BACK in Aspen. (video)

Rippers gonna Rip. Mikaela Shiffrin wins back-to-back World Cup races in Aspen.Mikaela Shiffrin is a dominant performer in Slalom and she proved it by blowing out the field for the second straight day in Aspen.  Two World Cup wins in a row for the USA's skiing prodigy from Eagle-Vail, Colorado. Her 3.07 second triumph in Saturday's  slalom race was the largest margin of victory in the history of the Women's World Cup slalom.   On Sunday she had a small bobble at the top of the course and  "only" scored a 2.65 second spread over the second place finisher.  Shiffrin is the first American woman to stand atop the podium in Aspen since 1981.

When Mikaela Shiffrin skis...the other slalom racers just watch and wonder how they can make up the time. She's a World Champion, an Olympic Champion and the odds on favorite to take the overall World Cup Globe for 2016.

Shiffrin is clearly a once in a generation athlete.  In addition to possessing off-the-chart talent, Ms Shiffrin is incredibly poised and mature for a 20 year old woman.  Mikaela has an extremely strong work ethic and a drive for perfection.   She's humble, she's nice, and she's very, very friendly to the fans. One thing you don't notice on the surface when encountering this pretty 20 year old...she has the killer instinct.  She wants to win every single time...and she will do whatever it takes to go for the Gold. She has a quiet confidence that exudes dominance.  Despite possessing that drive to win..every time...all of her teammates and even her international rivals seem to like Mikaela  Whatever she's doing it's certainly working.

AspenSpin has had encounters many, many all-star athletes from a wide variety of sports as well as tons of celebrities from the entertainment world.  Mikaela Shiffrin is probably the classiest, most down to earth, most dedicated performer we've met.  All the accolades and trophy's she wins are well earned and deserved.   Aspen loves her.

LONG LIVE the QUEEN (of ski racing).

Also huge kudos go out to the free spirit from Jackson Hole and fan favorite RESI STEIGLER for her awesome top 10 performance in Aspen.   Way to go Resi!!!

Superstar Mikaela Shiffrin Photo: AspenSpinResi rocks it with the fans.

The Champion and her biggest fan.

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         

Going for Globes. Aspen World Cup

The White Circus is back in Aspen.  The Women's World Cup is back in Fat City for another sesh.   Aspen is the only FIS Skiing world Cup on U.S. soil.  It's always just after Thanksgiving and it's always a highlight for the American Girls.

It's probably unprecedented in American skiing that two ladies are among the favorites to capture the over-all World Cup title.   LINDSEY VONN has been there done that.  She's the most decorated American ski racer of all time and is vying for the most World Cup Globes (trophies) of anyone, ever.  

At the U.S. Ski Team Press conference, Lindsey seemed supremely confident.   She said "travelling with globes is easier when you don't have to fly with them"  in reference to next season's World Cup Finals in Aspen.   She also admitted that she built a new trophy case that leaves room for a few more globes.

MIKAELA SHIFFRIN the 20 year old darling of American Skiing is also in the running for the overall championship.  She's the clear favorite in Slalom.  She's always a top seed in GS and now she's adding the speed events to her repertoire.

Veteran free spirit Resi Steigler and new ladies coach Paul Kristofic also participated in the presser...along with a whole slew of AVSC Groms.

When the fastest chicks on sticks hit Aspen...you know it's ski season.   Let's Ride!!

2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail / Beaver Creek

By every measure the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships was an astounding success.  

Bode crashed, Travis Ganong ripped, Lindsey cried and in the end Ted three-peated and Mikaela repeated as World Champions.  Word leaked out of the Vail Valley to Aspen that the hospitality tents, the party scene and the free music were off the charts.  "Amazing" cooed a well known party girl from Aspen.

CLICK to SEE ALL the RESULTS:

2015 ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Ted Ligety shreds to a repeat GOLD in the GS. Courtesy PhotoMikaela Shiffrin lived up to the hype....again!! Repeat World Champ in slalom. Courtesy photo.

World Cup Weekend is World Class in Aspen

After a years hiatus, the FIS World Cup Ski races returned to Aspen.  Fat city again hosted the world's fastest women in the Slalom and Giant Slalom.  The best ski racers in the world ripped laps on Aspen Mountain returning to one of their favorite tour stops.

Aspen missed the world's fastest women, a.k.a. chicks on sticks last year...and it turns out the feeling was mutual.  All the ladies made it very clear that Aspen is a highlight stop on their World Cup tour.  For the U.S. Ski Team and several American girls who are funded independently it's the only tour stop on U.S. soil and the only time their friends and families attend their races.  The Euros all commented on the special feeling they have for Aspen Mountain and it's fast, highly technical race course.  Aspen hosted Giant Slalom on Saturday and Slalom on Sunday.

Click 4 pix: WORLD CLASS in ASPEN

Conditions were prime, maybe a touch warm...but the course was skiing great.  Saturday's Giant Slalom challenged the ladies with plenty of technical terrain changes and the famous airplane turn above strawpile. Sunday's slalom competition was broadcast live worldwide on NBC TV.  

The strong Austrian team dominated the results taking 4 of the 6 podium spots including both first place finishes. Eva-Marie Brem broke through for her first WC win ever, topping the field in the GS.  She was quite emotional, crying during the awards ceremony and the press conference.  All the other girls seemed truly happy for her.  "We're all friends" shared one Canadian racer.  Katrin Zettel, also Austrian finished second.   She always finds a way to the podium in Aspen, holding the record for most top 3 results of any world cup skier on Aspen Mountain.  

Nicole Hosp from Austria topped a very competitive field in Slalom. It was Hosp's first win since 2008 after overcoming a series of excruciating injuries.    USA's Mikaela Shiffrin had a great weekend with a 6th in the GS and 5th in Slalom.   2 top 10's was cause for celebration 2 years ago in Aspen for Shiffrin.   This year, however, the expectations are about as high as they can be for the Queen apparent of U.S. Skiing.   Shiffrin is the reining WC champ and Olympic champ in Slalom...so she is now expected to win...every time.   She had a good chance to take the slalom victory..but a slight falter on run 2 led to 5th.  While disappointed at not taking the top spot on home soil...Shiffrin is poised and ready to move on to the next race.   She is currently in 2nd place in the overall World Cup standings behind Zettel. 

All-in-all it was a great weekend.  Aspen Mountain and Snowmass  are open and skiing beautifully.  A kick-off party to celebrate the bib draw along with an autograph signing with the U.S. Ski Team started it all off on Friday   Reel Big Fish a ska-punk band from Huntington Beach, Ca. played a free outdoor show at the base of Aspen Mountain followed by the prerequisite fireworks display. A full-on sponsors village anchored by Audi, plus free food from Aspen Skiing Company's catering department made those of us who are not VIP's feel like VIP's.  The stands were packed on both days.  The crowds were the largest I've seen in my 12 years attending the races in Aspen.  Perfect weather for spectating did not hurt.  The WC set up seemed to have it turned up a notch...perhaps in preparation for Aspen's hosting of the WC Finals in March of 2017.  

It was good to have the "White Circus" back in Aspen.

Click 4 pix:  WORLD CLASS in ASPEN

GS winner Eva-Marie Brem of Austria ripping a lap on Ajax. Photo: Art BurrowsMikaela Shiffrin had 2 top 10's in Aspen, not bad, but she is expected to win every week now. Photo: Art Burrows.

The GS Podium in Aspen 1) Brem Austria 2) Zettel Austria 3) Brignone Italy Photo: AspenSpin

The Slalom Podium in Aspen. 1) Hosp Austria 2) Hansdotter Sweden 3) Zettel Austria Photo: AspenSpin