Home / Sports / Shiffrin Explores New Skiing Path: Less Slalom, More Curiosity
Shiffrin Explores New Skiing Path: Less Slalom, More Curiosity
6 Oct
Summary
- Shiffrin alters her World Cup schedule, prioritizing giant slalom and super-G.
- She plans to skip early-season slalom events in Levi and Gurgl.
- This season marks a shift driven by curiosity, not just on-paper logic.
Mikaela Shiffrin is set to redefine her approach to the Alpine skiing World Cup season, labeling the upcoming period an "exploration season." This strategic shift involves a notable reduction in slalom races, with a concurrent increase in focus on giant slalom and super-G disciplines.
This new approach stems from Shiffrin's desire to explore her own curiosity within skiing, moving beyond her long-standing, stable focus. She intends to grant herself more freedom to pursue disciplines and challenges that genuinely ignite her passion and inspire her to push her limits.
Historically dominant in slalom with 73 wins and multiple Olympic and World Championship titles, Shiffrin will skip the traditional early-season slaloms in Levi, Finland, and Gurgl, Austria. Instead, her first slalom race of the season is scheduled for November 29 in Killington, Vermont.
This adjustment allows for more time at home in Colorado, a welcome change from the typical European-centric schedule. Shiffrin acknowledges the inherent risk and discomfort in this new path, but also emphasizes the excitement and potential for growth it represents. She clarifies that this is not an exit from slalom but a deliberate choice to explore other facets of her skiing career.
Her decision follows a period of reflection after recent Olympic cycles and overcoming mental obstacles, including a PTSD diagnosis, after a severe crash in November 2024. She has since worked to regain confidence in GS, finishing the previous season ranked fourth, and has also seen success in super-G, her 2019 World Championship discipline.
