Shiffrin sets mark with her 10th career slalom victory

REDISCOVERING HER strength in slalom, Mikaela Shiffrin became the most successful U.S. skier in the discipline yesterday in Kuehtai, Austria.

Shiffrin, 19, racked up her 10th career slalom win, beating the records set in the 1980s by Tamara McKinney and on the men's side by Phil Mahre, who both had nine wins in ski racing's most technically demanding event.

"I wasn't thinking about that today," Shiffrin said. "Somebody mentioned it and I was like, 'Ha, that is very cool.' I had no idea. But I am just mostly looking forward to enjoying being fast instead of just trying too hard. If you try too hard, you often don't get what you want."

After dominating the discipline the past 2 years while winning Olympic and world titles, Shiffrin struggled during the first 2 months of the new season.

After three races without a podium finish, Shiffrin bounced back in impressive style yesterday. It was her 11th win overall after also triumphing in the season-opening GS in October.

Shiffrin posted the fastest time in both runs and finished in an aggregate 1 minute, 43.39 seconds.

Second-place Sarka Strachova, of the Czech Republic, was 0.80 second behind for her first podium in 5 years, and Wendy Holdener, of Switzerland, came third, trailing by 0.92.

Tina Maze, of Slovenia, placed sixth to extend her lead in the overall standings.

The women's World Cup continues with another slalom Sunday in Zagreb, Croatia.

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