SöLDEN (AUSTRIA) - US teenage ski star Mikaela Shiffrin and Austrian rival Anna Fenninger tied for victory in the first World Cup giant slalom of the season on Saturday in Solden.
Mikaela Shiffrin competes in the World Cup women's giant slalom in Soelden, Austria on October 25, 2014
They both finished with a combined time for the two legs of 2min 39.85sec after Shiffrin had led after the first leg by the slender margin of 0.09sec.
It is not the first time that the resort has seen a tie for first place, in 2002 three skiers shared top spot in the shape of Slovenia's Tina Maze, Norwegian Andrine Flemmen and Nicole Hosp of Austria.
For 19-year-old Shiffrin, who has carried all before her in the slalom discipline, this was a first success in the giant slalom after recording two podium finishes in the World Cup series last season.
"My hear was beating so fast, luckily I am a fan of thrillers!" said Shiffrin.
Shiffrin said it was a fulfillment of a dream for her although she wasn't quite sure whether it counted as a victory.
"I have wanted this win in a giant slalom for a long time. I don't know if it really counts as a victory but it is still a dream to share the top step of the podium with Anna (Fenninger)," said Shiffrin.
A second Austrian skier, Eva Maria Brem, was third with a time of 2:40.12.
Shiffrin took full advantage of being first down the slope on the first leg for a time of 1:17.92, but Fenninger, the defending World Cup giant slalom champion, made up the difference by finishing fastest over the second.
France's world champion Tessa Worley, returning from injury, could only manage seventh, in 2:41.42, having been third, 0.42sec off the pace, after the first run.
"I am very very happy. The course was very difficult so to get such a result is more than I ncould have hoped for," said Worley.
She fared considerably better than Olympic champion Maze, who finished a lowly 22nd over four seconds adrift.