Appreciate the interest in alternate sports in these forums. In reference to former comments, there's 4 distinct categories of "Alpine" ski racing, roughly categorized as "speed" events: Downhill and Super-G, and "technical" events: Giant Slalom and Slalom. One might simplify the difference in noting the spacing between the gates is closer and tighter in the technical events (more turns), and further-apart and wider in speed events (less turns). Slovakian Petra Vlhova was runner-up to every Shiffrin slalom win this season until finally beating her last week in Oslo's City Event, run in a super-exciting head-to-head format in which Shiffrin had bested Vlhova previously. Was a bit surprised to see Shiffrin come back from that and win so convincingly over Vlhova in the subsequent slalom in Zagreb. Of note here is Vlhova is one of the taller women on the World Cup tour, and while that has worked for Vonn in the speed events, it's not necessarily an advantage in slalom. As Shiffrin has matured she has delved further into the speed events with success, such that when it's all said and done, barring injury, (a HUGE "if" in Alpine racing), she could retire as the most decorated Alpine ski racer of all time. On "Nordic" sticks, American Oly gold medalist Jessie Diggins finished 6th in the multi-stage Tour de Ski that culminates with a grueling climb up an alpine ski slope, Alpe de Cermis. Diggins is currently ranked 5th in the overall World Cup standings. This comment might release the Kraken, but here goes... in my humble opinion World Cup Nordic ski racers are the fittest athletes in the world. And oh yeah... Go Utes!
