The imperious Shiffrin, who grew up four miles from the resort, led after the first round and maintained her advantage in the second, finishing in a time of 1min 38.48sec to complete her monopoly of the slalom medals after she won the 2013 world title and then Olympic gold at Sochi 2014. 

Sweden's Frida Hansdotter claimed silver, 0.34 seconds behind the dominant 19-year-old, while Sarka Strachova of the Czech Republic won bronze, 0.77 seconds off the pace.

Veronika Velez-Zuzulova of Slovakia narrowly missed out on a medal despite posting the quickest second run time, while Tina Maze's quest for another world championship podium ended in disappointment as she could only finish eighth.

The result gives America their second consecutive gold medal after Ted Ligety clinched victory in the men's giant slalom yesterday.

"It's pretty crazy, now that I think about it," Shiffrin told NBC. 

"Just before the second run I was trying to convince myself how much I wanted to win this race.

"Some of that was good, but then I was like, 'Stop it! Stop that!.

"I kind of pulled myself together."

Mikaela Shriffin's victory in Vail and Beaver Creek completed a hat-trick of major titles for the American after she won the 2013 World Championships and then Olympic gold at Sochi 2014  ©Getty Images


Shiffrin, who does not turn 20 for another month, came out for her opening run eager to give her home crowd something to cheer, and she did just that as she raced round the Birds of Prey course in 50.07sec to ensure she was the one to catch going into the second run.

Hansdotter however laid down a quick run in the second round, and in fact Shiffrin was behind the Swede's split times right up until the last 14 seconds, before she stepped on the gas to become only the second woman to defend a world slalom title, following in the footsteps of Croatia's Janica Kostelic.

The American will also etch her name into the history books as if she can overhaul a 41-point gap to Hansdotter, she will equal Swiss great Vreni Schneider's record of three straight overall World Cup titles.

The World Championships conclude tomorrow with the men's slalom. In which Ligety will be aiming to capture a world double.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
February 2015: Ligety achieves historic third consecutive giant slalom world title win
February 2015: Olympic champion Fenninger claims second gold of Alpine World Ski Championships
February 2015: Austria justify top seed standing with team event gold at Alpine World Ski Championships
February 2015: Maze moves a step closer to history after winning Alpine combined world title
February 2015: Hirscher storms back in slalom to seal combined title at Alpine World Ski Championships