(Kranjska Gora) Valérie Grenier is in her garden in Kranjska Gora! A year almost to the day after her first world success in the Slovenian resort, the Canadian did it again on Saturday by winning the giant Alpine Ski World Cup in style.
On January 7, 2023, Valérie Grenier made skiing history by becoming the first Canadian in almost 50 years to win a giant World Cup on the Kranjska Gora slope.
A year after this first victory, the 27-year-old skier from Ottawa was again the best in Slovenia on Saturday. Fourth at the end of the first round despite a big mistake, she flew over the second, traced by her coach, to win ahead of the Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami, second at 37 hundredths, and the Italian Federica Brignone, relegated more than half a second.
PHOTO GIOVANNI MARIA PIZZATO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
From left to right: Lara Gut Behrami, Valérie Grenier and Federica Brignone
The Canadian, always in the top 10 as a giant this winter, thus winning his second World Cup victory and his third podium.
Once again, I don’t have the words. I am so happy and so proud, especially after this first round which annoyed me a lot.
Valérie Grenier
Shiffrin only 9e
In the rain and on salty snow, the Slovak Petra Vlhova in the lead after the first round finished at the foot of the podium (+ 61 hundredths) while the queen of skiing Mikaela Shiffrin — imperial in Lienz two weeks ago where she had achieved the giant/slalom double — took an unusual ninth place almost two seconds behind the winner, her worst result in giant since November 2022.
The American with 93 World Cup victories, however, remains well at the top of the world rankings with 929 points and seems to be heading straight towards a sixth big crystal globe. She is ahead of her runner-up Federica Brignone by more than 230 points and her great slalom rival Petra Vlhova by more than 300 points.
With a fifth podium in six giants contested this winter, Brignone maintains its status as leader of the specialty ranking, just ahead of Lara Gut-Behrami and Mikaela Shiffrin.
The skiers continue tomorrow in Kranjska Gora with a slalom and leave next week for Austria for three speed events at Altermarkt.