Ski Chatter: Mikaela Shiffrin

The Ski Racing Phenom on the Brink of History

She is considered one of the greatest alpine skiers of all time and is on the brink of making history. Brian Pinelli caught up with her at the start of the season.

Mikaela Shiffrin is certainly not shy or ever at a loss for words, however, the 97-time FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup winner prefers, ideally, not to engage in lengthy discussions about records. Naturally, it is a hot topic considering the almost-routine dominant performances delivered by the 29-year-old Colorado ski racer.

The decorated US athlete is knocking on the door of an unprecedented 100 career World Cup race victories this season, in addition to a potential sixth career Overall World Cup title – a mark that would equal Austrian legend Annemarie Moser-Pröll, who stormed to six titles in the 1970s.

Shiffrin appeared on course for victory No. 98 at the season-opening World Cup giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, on 26 October. She clocked the fastest first run, leading New Zealand’s Alice Robinson by 0.22 seconds. However, she made an uncharacteristic mistake, amid deteriorating course conditions and decreasing visibility in the second run, and settled for a fifth-place result.

No need to be alarmed: the resilient and ultra-motivated competitor has frequently charged back from adversity, on and off the mountain, over her illustrious 15-year World Cup career. Shiffrin sustained a violent, high-speed crash on the Olympia delle Tofane downhill track in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, last January. She walked away relatively unscathed, spraining her MCL and tibiofibular ligament in her left knee. However, the ski racing star was sidelined for 11 races, ending her chances for World Cup title No. 6.

In December, Shiffrin experienced another significant setback when she crashed during a training session, further complicating her season. Despite the injury, she focused on recovery and made a remarkable return to competition in February, demonstrating her trademark determination and skill.

Shiffrin is now back, full speed ahead this winter – albeit opting to skip time-consuming and potentially dangerous downhill races – and considering a World Cup schedule encompassing 37 races across 20 venues and 11 countries. One need not rely upon a crystal ball to predict more victories.

Interview with Mikaela Shiffrin

Brian Pinelli (BP): Hi Mikaela, thanks for your time today. Considering 100 – we know that you’re not chasing or thinking about numbers, but everyone talks about them. What is your mindset this season and do these milestones keep you energised?

Mikaela Shiffrin (MS): I’ll be honest – the numbers, the records, I don’t like to talk about the records, I don’t think about the records. But while that may be true, bringing energy to the sport is never a bad thing. I’m feeling energised now by the people who bring up ‘the 100’ and I think it’s incredible that they are still following along this journey.

BP: With the World Championships in February, in Saalbach, Austria, how are you prioritising that versus the overall title?

MS: I almost think of the World Championships as a World Cup race – my overall goal in ski racing is to be as prepared at every start to fight for wins or podiums. The same goes for World Championships; the priority is pretty simple, but it is challenging, because you can’t go for a proper peaking strategy for a World Championship or Olympics from a sports science perspective if you are racing World Cup races up until the weekend prior and immediately after. Obviously, those World Cup races are a priority for me. Easier said than done, but I’m going to try to peak at the start of the season and ride it to the end, which basically is not scientifically possible.

BP: What is the reason behind your decision for not racing downhill this season, and might that change?

MS: It is unlikely to change. It is a culmination of things, but mainly I find it nearly impossible to be able to prepare and train for every event without sacrificing quality. I was prepared for downhill at the beginning of last season but, as the season went on, I didn’t have time to get on the downhill or super-G skis.

BP: Was the decision to forego downhill races particularly difficult, considering you have arguably the world’s greatest downhiller in your corner – obviously referring to your fiancé Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. You’ve said many times that no one is better at analysing and breaking down downhill than him, so did that factor into your decision?

MS: It is extremely incredible to discuss downhill with Aleksander – I totally geek out when we talk about it! It is the same with super-G and, to be honest, I also think he is one of the strongest GS skiers in the world. I love talking about slalom with him too. People who have watched his combined races think he is a beautiful slalom skier also. He’s just a great skier and understands the sport so well, so I won’t be missing any of these analytical chats with him.

BP: Now that you are not racing downhill, perhaps you will have more time for powder skiing and freeskiing days?

MS: Probably not – part of the reason I’m not doing downhill is because I didn’t really have time in the first place, and I’m just sort of coming to terms with that. I won’t write off the powder days, but I do tend to take those days as much-needed recovery days. I kind of feel like I’m always running around like a headless chicken and am always behind and late for everything!

BP: You’ve won 16 Crystal Globes so far in your career – which means the most to you?

MS: My first Overall [won in 2016-17, a title Mikaela achieved at age 21].

BP: Have you ever lost or broken any of your Crystal Globes?

MS: One broke during travel back to the US, but that wasn’t my fault… and one fell out of a car, and that definitely was my fault.

BP: You recently announced an ambassadorship with the Share Winter Foundation – why is it important to you?

MS: Share Winter (sharewinterfoundation.org) has such a beautiful task of trying to increase accessibility for youth who historically have been denied access to snow sports. One of the main goals of my career is not just to inspire people who are already accessing snow sports, but to help share that passion and access to people beyond that – especially kids who otherwise wouldn’t be able to. I think it’s such a beautiful goal at this stage of my career and I’m so excited, because it’s an incredible opportunity to bring more eyes and, ideally, more passion to the sport.