Will Shiffrin Come Good in Week Two of World Ski Champs?
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships are underway. Action began on Monday with the women’s Alpine Combined contest when, as she did repeatedly at the 2022 Olympic Games, America’s Mikaela Shiffrin scuppered a winning opportunity.
Mikaela Shiffrin in week one World Ski Championship action. Disaster would strike just three gates from home in the Alpine Combined event. ©GettyImages
This time, with the clock on her side in the second and decisive slalom race, the most successful female skier of all time straddled a gate with the line in sight. Victory went to Italy’s Frederica Brignone as 27-year-old Shiffrin was disqualified.
Favorite backers have plenty of time to recuperate. The 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships spans 14 days concluding on February 19th with the Men’s Slalom. The event is being staged at two neighboring French resorts, Courchevel and Méribel.
Is Shiffrin a Play or Lay?
Shiffrin has had a remarkable season claiming five Slaloms, five Giant Slaloms and a Super-G on the World Cup tour. But her recent record in major events – particularly the 2022 Winter Olympics – has to be a concern.
The best winter sports betting sites currently make her 5/4 to claim the Women’s Giant Slalom on February 16th and 5/6 to take the Slalom on February 18th. But some bookmakers are keen to take her on.
Bwin have a market on Shiffrin versus the field in the Slalom and offer even-money about her being beaten. She is 4/1 to finish outside of the top-three in what is her favorite and best discipline.
The season’s main event is about to begin! Who is looking forward to the World Championships? 🇫🇷
2️⃣ weeks 6️⃣ disciplines 2️⃣ different slopes (La roc de fer 💃🏼 et l’Eclipse 🕺) 3️⃣9️⃣ medals 🥇🥈🥉 6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ skiers ⛷️ 7️⃣5️⃣ nations
We are thrilled! What about you??? #fisalpine pic.twitter.com/NQwPwED4Tc
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) January 31, 2023
What Are the Dates and Start Times?
| 12 February 2023 | Men’s Downhill | Courchevel |
| 14 February 2023 | Alpine Team Parallel Slalom | Méribel |
| 15 February 2023 | Men & Women Parallel Giant Slalom | Méribel |
| 16 February 2023 | Women’s Giant Slalom | Méribel |
| 17 February 2023 | Men’s Giant Slalom | Courchevel |
| 18 February 2023 | Women’s Slalom | Méribel |
| 19 February 2023 | Men’s Slalom | Courchevel |
The Men’s Downhill and Parallel events will start at 12.00 CET. The first run of Slalom competitions will get underway at 10.00 CET. All the action will be broadcast live on Eurosport.
Ryding 33’s in a Wide Open Slalom
Whereas the Women’s Giant Slalom is a race that seemingly involves one contestant racing against her nerves, the Men’s Slalom looks wide open. 2021 Alpine World Ski Championship bronze medalist, Henrik Kristoffersen narrowly heads the betting at 3/1.
French hopes are pinned on Clement Noel. The 2022 Olympic gold medalist is 4/1. Switzerland has a strong hand with its representatives, Ramon Zenhauser and Daniel Yule each trading at 7/1. Britain’s Dave Ryding, who recently collected a silver medal in a World Cup race, can be backed at 33/1 with Unibet.
A Duel to Eclipse All Others
The duel between Marco Odermatt and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde in the Men’s Downhill will be a showstopper. 25-year-old Odermatt, who represents Switzerland, leads the World Cup standings courtesy of eight Giant Slalom and Super-G victories this season.
But he has not yet managed to win a Downhill – finishing second seven times since 2021 – and has watched Kilde win five times in the fastest ski discipline. Additionally, the Austrian has won the two Super-G races that Odermatt did not.
Tiny margins have separated the pair – just six-hundredths of a second in the Beaver Creek Downhill – and with the new L’Éclipse slope in Courchevel described as ‘technical and challenging’, maybe Odermatt can prevail this time.
The best odds offered by the leading winter sports betting sites show Kilde is narrowly favored. 2020’s overall World Cup winner is chalked-up at 7/4. Odermatt can be backed at 5/2.
