A historic day for 26-year-old Ilka Štuhec, who on Friday stood on the podium of the World Cup for the first time in her career. And took no less than the topmost place. Štuhec’s win marks the jubilee 50th victory of Slovenian female skiers and 73th in Slovenia’s total outcome. Foto: Reuters
A historic day for 26-year-old Ilka Štuhec, who on Friday stood on the podium of the World Cup for the first time in her career. And took no less than the topmost place. Štuhec’s win marks the jubilee 50th victory of Slovenian female skiers and 73th in Slovenia’s total outcome. Foto: Reuters

"Incredible, I can hardly believe this. I had had the feeling at practice that I was well-prepared. I envisioned how to perform well, I had the feeling I was fast, but when I saw number one and green colour after crossing the finish line, I thought to myself: awesome," explained the surprising winner. The runner-up became Sofia Goggia of Italy, who was slower by 22 milliseconds, while Kajsa Kling (Sweden) and Lara Gut (Switzerland) finished third and fourth respectively. The current World Cup leader, Mikaela Shiffrin, also competed in Friday's match and took 18th place. In an attempt to win the overall Crystal Globe this year, last season's winner of the slalom cup has decided to participate in faster disciplines, too.

Particularly fast in the upper part
Charging downhill on Stoeckli skis, the brand also used by Tina Maze, Štuhec proved fastest throughout the ski course, which was particularly suitable for alpine skiers with exceptional sliding skills. She faced the ski run in the style of Lindsey Vonn – the queen of Lake Louis (14 wins in downhill), who currently does not compete due to her injury –: fearlessly, confidently, with finesse and, first and foremost, fast. After half a minute, at the second measuring, Štuhec was already 63 milliseconds ahead of Sofia Goggia, who had skied right before Štuhec and unexpectedly took the lead.

Slow progress toward podium
The 26-year-old from Maribor has finally shown her full potential. After winning two titles of junior world champion (slalom in 2007, downhill in 2008), Štuhec made small steps toward the top but did not step on the World Cup podium until this Friday. She has, however, drawn quite some attention with her posts on Facebook – a recent picture of her bare back as a greeting from Chile earned numerous likes.

Slovenia's two-year drought
Lake Louis will host another downhill match on Saturday. Who would have thought that Ilka Štuhec would don the red shirt of the leading downhill skier! Her words about excellent summer practice (she was the only female among Slovenian skiers who practised in South America) have turned into flesh at the very first race of the season. Slovenian skiing has got another winner of a World Cup match almost exactly two years after Tina Maze's last victory in Are, Sweden (giant slalom, 12 December 2014).

T. O., MMC; translated by K. Z.