By USSA

ARE, Sweden — Olympic slalom champion Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail) finished 15th Thursday to lead the U.S. Ski Team in the first of two Audi FIS Alpine World Cup giant slalom races in Are.

Austrian Anna Fenninger took the win for her second straight World Cup giant slalom victory, moving her firmly into the chase for overall and giant slalom titles. Fenninger now trails Germany Maria Hoefl-Riesch by a 67 points in the overall chase and Swede Jessica Lindell-Vikarby by 54 points in giant slalom.

A second giant slalom will be staged Friday under the lights in Are with a slalom closing the three race series on Saturday.

Shiffrin finished 13th in the opening run after sliding low on a right boot turn that forced her to ski uphill to stay on course. She skied cleanly in the final, but wasn’t able to make up ground in the soft snow conditions.

Sochi super combined bronze medalist Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley) was 28th and fellow Olympian Megan McJames (Park City) did not qualify for the second run.