Schild claims 31st slalom win

LIENZ, Austria - Reuters

Marlies Schild claimed her 31th career victory in the slalom, her specialty.

Marlies Schild continued her dominant form with a fourth successive World Cup slalom victory in Lienz yesterday. 

The unbeatable Austrian claimed her 33rd World Cup victory, the 31st in her favorite discipline, in a combined time of one minute 51.42 seconds. It was the world champion’s third career victory in Lienz and the second on home snow this winter after Flachau last week. 
Giant slalom world champion Tina Maze of Slovenia was second, 0.79 seconds adrift, for her second slalom podium this season. 

Third place was far more unexpected and went to 16-year-old American Mikaela Shiffrin who finished 1.30 behind Schild to earn her first World Cup podium finish. 
“To win four slaloms in succession is exceptional,” Schild told reporters. “But I’m not thinking about breaking records. 

“I don’t know whether I’ll be able to catch Vreni Schneider but it’s important for me not to think about it and to stay focused and determined,” added the Austrian, who is three wins short of Schneider’s record 34 victories in the discipline.