Schladming, Austria – Eagle, Colo.’s teen slalom sensation Mikaela Shiffrin had an impressive debut in her first major championship event, finishing a career best sixth in Thursday’s giant slalom at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Schladming. First run leader Tessa Worley of France was a runaway gold medalist, taking the title by 1.12 seconds over Tina Maze of Slovenia with Anna Fenninger of Austria third.

Shiffrin knifed the bottom section of the course to score her best international GS finish ever.

“It felt different than a normal World Cup start because I had really good training and had a lot of confidence going into the race. But in the end, it was just me, my skis and red and blue gates,” Shiffrin said. “It was loud but it helps me get down because the crowd has so much energy. I feel a little bit of pressure but it doesn’t distract me. But I don’t let it bother me. It’s just racing and I’ve done it so many times that I can’t possibly be disappointed. It’s the best GS result of my career and I’m really happy about that, but I know I can do better.”

Shiffrin was fifth after the first run, tied with Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter. After dropping back mid-course, she came charging back with an aggressive line on the steep bottom face to make up over a half second and come within .02 of Hansdotter’s lead at the time.

“I felt like I skied both runs really well at the bottom and just kind of solid at the top. I could have been faster,” Shiffrin admitted. “I was searching for that place where I can take my training into the race. In training I tend to get better top to bottom. I go out of the start in a race and have to figure out how to get six training runs into one race run. It’s a little bit mind boggling but I love racing.”

Canada’s Marie-Michèle Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Quebec, delivered a determined performance that earned the 23-year-old an eighth-place finish, her best result at a world championships and her second-best finish of the season in giant slalom.

“It was a fight but I laid it out there, I attacked,” said Gagnon, who is competing at her third world championships. “For sure, some mistakes happened but I gave it all I had today and eighth place – I’m really happy. It was a great experience – the crowd was crazy.”

Super G bronze medalist Julia Mancuso, of Squaw Valley, Calif., closed her sixth World Championships with 22^nd.

“For me in GS, I need to have more confidence skiing fast in training. But I also know it will come back soon,” Mancuso said before reflecting on the success of U.S. skiers at these World Championships.

“It’s exciting to see the success of the team. Everyone is skiing well. Everyone asks why we do so well but I think it’s just because we think of everything like it’s about the skiing. It’s not like we have to get a medal on these races – you just go out and do your best and try to win. It’s really about wanting to win – look at Ted (Ligety), he doesn’t just want to get a medal, he wants to win. And he’s having awesome runs. Mikaela’s just a really solid skier and this hill suits her. It will be interesting to see her slalom after the result today in GS.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Alpine Ski World Championships
Schladming, Austria – Feb. 14, 2013
Women’s Giant Slalom