Mikaela Shiffrin keeps World Cup slalom streak going but slams course conditions in night race

After dominating the first four World Cup slaloms this season, Mikaela Shiffrin has only just managed to keep her winning streak intact ahead of the 2026 Olympics.

Not that Sunday's night slalom in Austria, the final event of the calendar year, could make the American ski star particularly happy.

Shiffrin came from half a second behind in the first run to edge out world champion Camille Rast of Switzerland, but then slammed race conditions on the Panorama course.

Mikaela Shiffrin wins 6th straight World Cup slalom, edges Camille Rast in Austria

"I have to say this: It was not safe to ski for the girls," Shiffrin told Austrian TV. "For me, don't question it, bib 4 on the first run, it's not a problem, right. But for these women who were starting bib 13, 15, 18, in the 60s (start numbers), this is not OK."

The recent mild weather affected the course and organizers attempted to harden its surface by injecting water and salt beforehand.

However, the surface broke on an increasing number of spots during the afternoon run, which started at 2:15 p.m.

Conditions then slightly improved for the evening session 3 1/2 hours later, when temperatures dropped.

"It was a very challenging and distracting day," Shiffrin said. "My understanding is that there were no big injuries, but the way the surface was breaking ... The second run was a bit better, for sure, but I am frustrated with how that went for these women."

Only 40 out of the 77 starters completed the first session and a deficit of 5.94 seconds was still enough to qualify for the final run.

"It should be a good show, but it should be something that the athletes want to do and are not terrified on the start, looking at the first two turns with these enormous holes. There is a