American alpine star Mikaela Shiffrin, a three‑time Olympic gold medalist, revealed on social media that she plans to cut back on slalom races for the upcoming World Cup season. The 31‑year‑old champion, who captured her second Olympic slalom gold at the Milano‑Cortina Games this year, described the new approach as an “exploration” into giant slalom (GS) and super‑G disciplines.
Why the shift?
Shiffrin said curiosity has driven her throughout her career, and she now feels that curiosity pulling her toward GS and super‑G. “Right now, I feel that curiosity with giant slalom and super‑G. This season is an exploration,” she wrote. She added that she will still compete in slalom, but at a reduced frequency, noting, “I’m planning to race less slalom this season. Not necessarily no slalom.”
Schedule changes
After dominating slalom with nine World Cup crystal globes and winning nine of ten slalom races last season, Shiffrin will skip the first two slalom events on the new calendar. She indicated that her first slalom of the season will be at Killington, with the possibility of a few additional slalom starts later in the year. The adjusted schedule, she explained, will give her more time to recover, train differently, and focus on building stronger GS and super‑G blocks.
Career context
Shiffrin first hinted at a possible transition in February, telling Reuters that she sensed a shift in her career but was unsure what it would look like. After securing a record‑tying sixth overall World Cup crystal globe last season, she reflected on the temptation to stick with the discipline where she has been most successful. “Ironically, the more predictable choice might be to race only slalom. From a purely results‑oriented perspective, maybe that’s the obvious move,” she said. “But staying only where I’ve been most successful, rather than taking a risk and following my curiosity into something less known, feels like a faster path toward retirement.”
Past achievements
Shiffrin’s résumé includes nine slalom crystal globes, two GS globes, and a super‑G victory in 2019, which came during her best overall season when she also captured the slalom and GS overall titles. She holds the record for most World Cup race wins, with 73 of her 110 victories coming in slalom.
Looking ahead
The season kicks off with a giant slalom in Solden, Austria, on October 24. Fans can expect Shiffrin to bring the same competitive fire to GS and super‑G that she has shown in slalom, while using the reduced slalom load to preserve her health and extend her elite career.
Shiffrin’s decision underscores a broader trend among elite athletes to manage workload and diversify skill sets, aiming for longevity in a sport that demands both physical resilience and technical precision.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
