Mikaela Shiffrin blasts to slalom victory in Levi

American Mikaela Shiffrin laid down a marker for the Olympic season ahead by obliterating her rivals to easily win the opening Alpine Ski World Cup slalom race on Saturday in Finland.

The 30-year-old was in a class of her own, going quickest on both her runs to win by 1.66 seconds for her ninth career win in Levi and a record-extending 102nd World Cup victory.

Albanian Lara Colturi was second on her 19th birthday while fellow youngster Emma Aicher of Germany was third for the first World Cup slalom podium of her career.

American Shiffrin captures a 9th World Cup slalom victory in Levi

Canadians Sarah Bennett, Kiki Alexander, Arianne Forget, Amelia Smart, and Ali Nullmeyer did not advance to the second run.