German skier Emma Aicher wins her first World Cup slalom race

LEVI, Finland (AP) — German skier Emma Aicher claimed her maiden World Cup slalom victory on Saturday, capitalizing on the absence of Mikaela Shiffrin. Born on the same day as Aicher, the 23-year-old athlete secured the top spot in the first run and maintained her lead in the second run during the season's inaugural women's slalom event in Finland. Lara Colturi of Albania secured the second position, while Austria's Katharina Truppe rounded out the podium.

Last season, Aicher came in second place overall, trailing Shiffrin by a narrow margin, as the American skier secured a record-tying sixth World Cup title. This year, the focus of the women's slalom season is expected to be diminished by Shiffrin's reduced participation in the discipline she has historically dominated. Shiffrin is shifting her attention to giant slalom and super-G, referring to this campaign as an "exploration season."

Shiffrin has nine slalom wins at the Levi venue, including last year's race. Aicher, on the other hand, claimed third place in the women's giant slalom at Solden, Austria, just last month.