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A Few Good Turns

By Megan Harrod
March, 12 2023
Shiffrin family 87
Mikaela Shiffrin sits with her family after winning her 87th World Cup victory, breaking Ingemar Stenmark's record for World Cup wins. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard - Mike Dawson)

How does one summarize 87 victories over 11 years? 

It was always about just a few good turns—an approach initiated by her parents, Jeff and Eileen, and fostered and embraced by the whole family, including Mikaela Shiffrin’s older brother Taylor. Eventually, it would become the approach taken by her entire support team. And that approach would, unbeknownst to the family at the time, inspire the world and generations of skiers to come. 

It was never about 87. And it won’t be about 100 victories, if that feat ends up happening. It was always about, simply, a few good turns and the rest is history. History made. History in the making. History yet to be made. 

A two-time Olympic champion, seven-time World Champion and now, the winningest alpine ski racer of all time, Mikaela’s career can certainly be easily summed up by numberslots and lots and lots of thembut those numbers would never truly do her story justice. To know Mikaela’s story, one must attempt to fathom the years and years of blood, sweat and tears she has put into attempting to perfect her craft. And she is still well on her way in her journey for the quest for excellence. 

Like the most fluid poem or the most beautiful classical piano piece, Mikaela’s craft was always smooth and effortless. Her approach was sometimes criticized, but something many marveled at and learned from. How fast, how many disciplines, and how she could move forward after what could not so simply be summed up as a “tough few years,” but a debilitating period of suffering and heartache after the death of her father. And then, there was a public disappointment on the world stage in Beijing where Mikaela walked away capturing not gold medals, but the hearts of viewers around the globe. 

And here we are, where thousands upon thousands of a “few good turns” later, we’ve arrived at 87 in a magical place to Mikaela: Åre, Sweden. To happen here, in Åre, Sweden… 

  • Where Mikaela won her first World Cup on December 20, 2012. 
  • Where Mikaela met the young cancer survivor Emma Lundell, who made a lasting impact and is still a friend to this day, celebrating number 86 and 87 with Mikaela. 
  • Where Mikaela suffered her first major injury in 2015. 
  • Where she won three World Championships medals in 2019, and rose above exhaustion and illness to do the unthinkable and win her record fourth-straight slalom World Championships gold. 
  • Where she would attempt to return to the World Cup following the soul-crushing agony after the loss of her father, Jeff — only for the return to be delayed and the season cut short due to COVID. 
  • The home of Ingemar Stenmark. 
  • The place where she equaled Ingemar’s record, and then just one day later, reset the record—a record that stood for 34 years and most people thought would never be broken. 

Mikaela doesn’t really believe in fate, but she does acknowledge there’s something fateful about all of this. Maybe it’s the magic of Åre, Sweden or it’s the magic of Jeff looking down and reminding her that the only numbers that really matter are a few good turns. 

Diggins Third in First Ever Women's 50k

By Leann Bentley
March, 12 2023
jessie on the podium
Jessie Diggins celebrates her third place on the podium at the Holmenkollen 50k. (Nordic Focus)

"It was a beautiful day to make history," said Hailey Swirbul.

It was a historic day on the World Cup with the women racing the first ever 50k and 2023 World Champion Jessie Diggins crossed the finish line in third place. 

The Holmenkollen 50k is one of the longest running cross country ski races in the world and is known to be one of the most grueling courses on the circuit - and historically, only the men raced this course. This year, it was the women's turn. 

Diggins, Rosie Brennan, Hailey Swirbul and Alayna Sonnesyn were the four athletes to represent the U.S. on the historic start line and through the 31 miles, with over 6,000+ feet of vertical gain, contributed to one of the most exciting races we have seen all season. 

From the start, it was a test. With six total laps around the course in the metropolis of Oslo, with tens of thousands of fans camped out on the side of the trail, 32 women representing countries all around the world did what has never been done before - race the Holmenkollen 50k.

“Today was a victory for women's skiing and a victory for skiing in general," said Chad Salmela and former U.S. Cross Country Ski Team and Olympic champion Kikkan Randall said during the live broadcast. 

Through the time markers, Diggins and Brennan were in the lead pack, showcasing their strengths and pushing a fast pace. Diggins continued to pick skiers off and stayed consistent in the top three, supported by her efforts on the downhills and strong tempo on the flats and climbs. Unlike many of her competitors and supported by Randall's commentary, Diggins tuck on the downhill is lower than anyone else in the field, making her more aerodynamic and ultimately faster. With the course playing to her strengths, with a 1.5k downhill into the finish, Diggins had the tools to  finish on top.

At the halfway point in the race, there were no ski exchanges meaning that all athletes were still skiing on their original racers. But, that quickly changed on the next lap through the stadium, when the majority of the field skied into the exchange zone for a fresh pair of skis. Diggins and Brennan both exchanged quickly and gained some time on their competitors, putting nearly five seconds from the next racer.

"I was excited and honored to be part of this historical moment where women were able to do a 50k, and not just a 50k but a 50k on the hardest course we race," said Brennan. "It certainly was challenging but we did it and that was really cool."

With American fans lining the course with the signature 'USA' face paint drawn on their faces, the vibes were high and the cheering could be heard for miles. The Holmenkollen has been called one of the most electric places to race on the World Cup circuit and the athletes can agree, saying that racing this course is an unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

With the atmosphere surely inspiring the skiers on course, Brennan, Swirbul, Sonnesyn and Diggins gave it everything they had. 

With a couple of kilometers left, the highlights of the day center around several points, including Diggins winning nearly every sprint bonus on course and earning more points and time toward the FIS crystal globe, to Brennan skiing a gutsy and hard race while helping set a fast pace for over 30 miles, to the younger Sonnesyn and Swirbul skiing on the biggest stage on the World Cup. 

"You have to be so methodical and confident over the long run to find success as this level," said Randall. "And today's race was about as good as it gets in ski racing."

In the end, Diggins took the advantage by tucking and drafting into the finish lane, to which she then sprinted into the finish and toed the line only .5 seconds from second and third. The day was ultimately won by Ragnhild Haga of Norway. In second was Astrid Oeyre Slind of Norway and third was our very own Diggins. 

"I was out for bonus points and skied a smart and controlled race," said Diggins. "I did the very best job I could in preparing for this race, but I did start cramping at 25k, which is pretty early on! But, I knew that I would feel this, it was not unexpected and instead I focused on what I could control. I was thrilled to find myself in the sprint-out fighting for the win, especially to battle back after all of the muscle spasms. It was such a cool thrill and stoked for the women that were on the podium with me!" 

Coming off a packed World Championships, where she competed in every race, Brennan was 13th overall. Swirbul, crossing the finish line with a huge smile across her face was 25th and Sonnesyn, who expressed how incredible it was to be on this historic start-line, was 30th. 

"I am really stoked to have checked that goal off the list," said Swirbul as she reflected on racing the 50k. "My coach calls these long distance races the 'races of royalty' and I think that really sums up what the feels like to me. I feel like a race like the 50k really embodies the spirit of nordic skiing as a whole and what it's really all about." 

"It definitely was a tough day out there but so happy for Jessie and the team!" said Sonnesyn. "I had a really good first three laps and unfortunately not everything was dialed but really proud of the effort I gave out there considering everything. So cool to be a part of the historical day - and there were so many American fans out there cheering which was really cool to hear my name being yelled, so that was really cool."

Now that the 50k is in the bank, there are two weeks left of the World Cup season. Diggins is a top contender for the overall World Cup crystal globe and the distance overall, only a few points behind Norway's Tiril Udnes Weng. Brennan is in fourth in the overall points standings, in both distance and overall. 

To cap off the day, Diggins reflects on the importance of this race. "I think it absolutely is the right message we want to send to young girls all over the world that you work just as hard as the guys, you train just as hard, you should get to race the same exact races. Today, we got a chance to show that we absolutely can do this and it was awesome." 

The team will rest before the Drammen city sprints this Tuesday, March 14. 

RESULTS
Women's 50k Skate Results
Overall World Cup Results

Jacobellis Third at Sierra Nevada World Cup

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
March, 11 2023
Lindsey Jacobellis Sierra Nevada
Lindsey Jacobellis stands on the podium in Sierra Nevada, Spain. (FIS)

Two-time Olympic champion Lindsey Jacobellis scored a third place finish in Sierra Nevada, Spain at the FIS Snowboardcross World Cup. This is her first podium of the 2022-23 season. 

The women's big final saw Jacobellis racing Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain, Chloe Trespeuch of France and Eva Adamczykova of the Czech Republic. Jacobellis fought throughout the entire run as the lead continued to change to snag third. Bankes took the win with Treshpeuch in second.

Jacobellis is fresh off a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia just over two weeks ago.

Rounding out the U.S. Snowboard Team women, Faye Gulini finished ninth, Stacy Gaskill 13th and Brianna Schnorrbusch 17th.

On the men's side, Senna Leith was the top American, making is to the quarterfinals and finishing in ninth place overall. Hagen Kearney did not qualify out of the 1/8 finals and took 25th. Jake Veddder, Nick Baumgartner, Connor Schlegel and Cody Winters did not qualify out of the 1/16 finals.

RESULTS
Women's snowboardcross
Men's snowboardcross

Shiffrin Achieves 87th Win; Moltzan Fourth

By Sierra Ryder
March, 11 2023
moltzan
Paula Moltzan Skis to a Fourth Place Finish in Are, Sweden (Getty Images, Jonas Ericsson/Agence Zoom)

On Saturday, Mikaela Shiffrin became the greatest skier of all time, surpassing the record she tied the day prior, and now has the most World Cup of any alpine skier with 87 wins. She won her 87th race in the slalom in Åre, Sweden, the same location of her first ever World Cup win and exactly 12 years after her first World Cup start.

“I can’t put a name with the numbers,” said Shiffrin. “I don’t know how to define that. When you have these special moments like being on the podium with Paula Moltzan in Semmering, seeing my brother and Kristi and my mom in the finish today-–that’s what makes it memorable. I’m so proud of the skiing I did both runs today and so proud of the team this whole season. Every step of the way, being strong and focused and positive and having the right goals and helping me manage my own focus and distractions. It’s been incredible. It’s been incredible to be part of that. I’m just really thankful.”

It was also a tremendous day for teammate Paula Moltzan who landed just off the podium in fourth place. Moltzan and Shiffrin shared a podium in December in Semmering, Austria. Notably, Moltzan achieved this massive result coming out of hand surgery just a few weeks ago.

“I think I need to bring more intensity this run, but the same mindset to go as hard as I can,” said Moltzan after her first run that landed her in fifth. “The conditions were awesome so it’s nice to see it holding up for everyone.”

Second place went to Swiss skier Wendy Holdener, and third place Sweden’s own Anna Swenn Larsson. Rounding out the top five was 2023 World Championship slalom gold medalist Laurence St. Germain of Canada. This result marks her best World Cup result of her career. She is also a former University of Vermont teammate of Moltzan. 

The top 25 women in slalom will now head to Soldeu, Andorra for World Cup Finals, which runs March 15-19.

RESULTS
Women’s slalom
 

Shiffrin Wins 87th World Cup, Becomes Winningest Alpine Skier in History 

By Courtney Harkins
March, 11 2023
Shiffrin 87
Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates with her brother after winning her historic 87th win. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom - Jonas Ericsson)

Exactly 12 years after she began racing on the World Cup, Mikaela Shiffrin of the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team won her 87th World Cup in the Åre, Sweden slalom on March 11, 2023, breaking the tie of 86 wins set by Ingemar Stenmark in 1989 to become the winningest alpine skier in history.

For the second day in a row, Shiffrin dominated the Swedish course to take her second win in two days and officially break the record. She held the lead in the first run by .69 seconds and skied an aggressive and smart run second run to win the race by .94 seconds. As she crossed the finish line, she took a moment to let her historic win soak in, and then she saw her brother Taylor and sister-in-law Kristi, who surprised Shiffrin by flying in from the U.S. to celebrate with her, and swept her up in a hug. 

“I can’t put a name with the numbers,” said Shiffrin. “I don’t know how to define that. When you have these special moments like being on the podium with Paula Moltzan in Semmering, seeing my brother and Kristi and my mom in the finish todaythat’s what makes it memorable. I’m so proud of the skiing I did both runs today and so proud of the team this whole season. Every step of the way, being strong and focused and positive and having the right goals and helping me manage my own focus and distractions. It’s been incredible. It’s been incredible to be part of that. I’m just really thankful.”

Just off the podium was Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team teammate Moltzan in fourth place, who recently had hand surgery after breaking it during the World Championships. But she ignored the three plates and 25 screws in her hand, and attacked the slalom course to secure a banner finish.

Shiffrin won her first World Cup at the same venue in Åre, Sweden in 2012 and has been on a streak since then, winning 87 Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cups throughout her 12 years on the circuit. Her dominance has been unmatched, winning 35% of the races she starts and podiuming in nearly 60%. The win places her securely in the history books and makes her the greatest of all time in the sport of alpine ski racing. 

“It’s been hard to describe,” said Shiffrin of her record. “It’s not over yet, which is even more ridiculous! I still had the same feeling at the start of this run that I have every race—I shouldn’t feel pressure, but somehow I feel something in my heartbeat. That’s the anticipation we want to feel as ski racers and I have it—it’s stronger than ever. I’m just getting started.”

Shiffrin tied the World Cup wins record on March 10 in Are, Sweden with 86 wins, which had been held by Sweden’s Stenmark for 34 years. Shiffrin also tied and then broke Lindsey Vonn’s women’s record of 82 wins in January in Kronplatz, Italy. She has been unstoppable this season, winning 13 races so far, securing three World Championship medals in slalom, giant slalom and super-G and clinching the slalom, giant slalom and overall crystal globe for the 2022-23 season. 

Shiffrin’s 87th win is just 12 years after she started her first race on the World Cup in 2011 when she was only 15. She won her first World Cup nine months later in December 2012, becoming the second-youngest American to win an alpine World Cup. Since then, she has won three Olympic medals—including two golds—and 14 World Championship medals—the record for World Championships medals in the modern era—and has 15 crystal globes, including the three that she will receive at World Cup Finals.

Out of her 87 wins, 53 of them are slalom wins, the most of any skier, man or woman, in one discipline. But while she started off as a slalom specialist, she quickly expanded her repertoire to win a race in each of the World Cup’s six disciplines and became the first skier in history to do so: slalom (53), giant slalom (20), super-G (5), downhill (3), combined (1) and parallel (5). She holds the record for the most slalom wins and is tied for a women’s record for the most giant slalom World Cup victories. 

“It is truly magnificent to be able to watch Mikaela Shiffrin write her name into history,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President & CEO Sophie Goldschmidt. “She is the definition of a champion, both inside and out, and the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team couldn’t be happier to celebrate this massive achievement with her. We can’t wait to watch Mikaela win even more in the future!”

Shiffrin and members of the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team who have finished in the top 25 of a discipline will now head to World Cup Finals in Soldeu, Andorra next to wrap up the season. 

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

Radamus 15th in Kranjska Gora Giant Slalom

By Sierra Ryder
March, 11 2023
radamus
River Radamus races to a 15th place in the giant slalom (Getty Images/Agence Zoom - Stanko Gruden)

In the first day of the two-day giant slalom series in Kranjksa Gora, Slovenia, River Radamus led the way for the Americans with a 15th place finish.

The conditions were warm with very soft snow underfoot with course workers salting the course the day prior to try and keep a strong surface for the World Cup racers.

Marco Odermatt of Switzerland won the race to clinch the overall World Cup title for the second year in a row. He also extended his lead over Kristoffersen in the giant slalom standings with 140 points to go with two more races: Sunday's giant slalom and the World Cup Finals GS. In second place was French skier Alexis Pinturault, and in third was Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen.

George Steffey (37th) and Brian McLaughlin (45th) also raced but did not qualify for a second run. Tommy Ford did not finish.

The giant slalom men will now look to Sunday for another crack at the giant slalom.

RESULTS
Men's giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH
times in ET

Sunday, March 12
3:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup, Men's Slalom, Run 1, Kranjska Gora, SLO, watch on skiandsnowboard.live
6:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup, Men's Slalom, Run 2, Kranjska Gora, SLO, watch on Peacock/NBC, skiandsnowboard.live
3:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup, Women's Slalom, Giant Slalom, Are, SWE, watch on CNBC**

**Encore presentation

Four in the Top 30 in Holmenkollen 50k

By Leann Bentley
March, 11 2023
david norris
David Norris charging uphill in the Holmenkollen in Oslo, Norway. (NordicFocus)

The Holmenkollen mass start 50k race is one of the most attended and popular races on the World Cup circuit. Held in downtown Oslo, the race dates back to the early 1900s and officially became part of the FIS World Cup circuit in 1981. Since then, it is a staple on the calendar and brings tens of thousands of spectators to the long, windy course to cheer on the best ski racers in the world. 

Today, March 11, just a week after many of these athletes raced in the 2023 World Championships 50k race in Planica, Slovenia, lined up to the finish line in Oslo. Representing the U.S. was Scott Patterson, Hunter Wonders, Gus Schumacher and David Norris. Just last week, Patterson led the team in 16th in Slovenia, while Norris was seconds behind in 22nd, Schumacher in 28th and Wonders in 31st. Today, results were similar, but better!

On the 31 mile track, with over 6,000 feet of elevation gain, Norris led the way in 17th, Patterson was 18th, Wonders was 23rd and Schumacher was 28th - all landing within the top 30 and adding more World Cup points to their 2022-23 season resume. 

The sun was out, the fans were ready and you could feel the excitement even on the furthest part of the course. With great conditions, the course was fast and the pace never slowed. 

Norris led the team for the day and taking a deeper dive into his splits, he never ventured from the top 20. At the 27.9k marker, Norris was in 12th place, in the chase pack. From there, he fell a few spots to 19th at 36.2k but stayed consistent in his pace and crossed the line in 17th in a time of one hour and 58 minutes. His 17th place marks a career best World Cup 50k result. 

"Today went well for me," said Norris. "No major mishaps and I have pretty good energy considering my schedule. Third 50 in three weeks! I'm so grateful that the Steamboat Winter Sports Club allowed me to come here for two weeks. This has been a great experience. The team here has been wonderful to join back up with."

For Patterson, he finished right behind Norris. In the start of the race, Patterson was keeping position within the top 15. At the 3k to 19k markers, Patterson was moving between 12th place and 14th place, taking turns leading the chase pack. At the end of the day, Patterson still broke into the top 20 and finished only three minutes behind the leader. 

"It was an interesting tactical race," said Patterson. "It was a so-so day, hoping for a little more but we still have two more weeks of the World Cup and looking to finishing off the season strong!"

For Wonders, the story was similar to that of his teammates. Wonders never ventured far from the top 25. He was 13th going into the first marker and then in the mid 20s through the rest. The pace was fast around the tight corners of the course and Wonders stuck his ground and crossed the line in 23rd, a career-best individual World Cup 50k result. 

Schumacher skied right with Wonders nearly the entire race, going back and fourth with him and his teammates in the 20-28th place range. For Schumacher, he crossed the line in 28th and will leave this race with a career-best individual World Cup 50k result. 

"it was a crazy day!" said Schumacher. "I am psyched on it. It felt really good for the first four laps. The atmosphere was great and it was just really fun. I wouldn't trade it for the World, my first time was all I expected it to be and I am looking forward to the rest of the season!"

At the end of the day, Norway took over the podium. Simen Hegstad Krueger took first, Hans Christer Holund was second and ML Nyenget was third. 

Now, the men will rest before heading to Drammen for Tuesday's race. 

RESULTS
Men's 50k

Visa Digital Content Series: Ep 1-Mikaela 83

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
March, 10 2023
shiffrin
Mikaela Shiffrin Celebrates her 83rd Win (Getty Images, Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom)

Mikaela Shiffrin is a game changer. Her training and consistency have laid the foundation for a record-breaking American season on the World Cup, and Visa is proud to present a behind-the-scenes look at her historic run.

See what it takes to become the winningest woman in Alpine history with this four-episode series debuting on March 8, 2023.

Ep. 1 -- Record Breaking 83.

Watch HERE.

Shiffrin Wins 86th; Moltzan and O’Brien Top 20

By Sierra Ryder
March, 10 2023
Shiffrin
Shiffrin clinches her 86th win, while Moltzan and O'Brien cracked the top 20 (Getty Images/Agence Zoom - Jonas Ericsson)

On Friday, March 10, Mikaela Shiffrin made history. Crossing the finish line in first, Shiffrin clinched her 86th career World Cup win and tied longtime record holder Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden, who has held the record since 1989, with the most-ever World Cup wins. 

“This is just a spectacular day,” said Shiffrin after the race. “It's a pretty spectacular position to be in. I don’t take it for granted to be in this place where people ask me when I’m going to win 86 or 87. That’s a pretty cool place to be, even though it can be difficult to focus sometimes, but today I felt like the focus was there when I needed it to be and it was really fun to ski.”

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team teammates Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien also skied great giant slalom races, with both of them landing in the top-20. Moltzan was 15th and O'Brien was 16th, respectively. Moltzan skied an impressive race where only three weeks ago sustained a hand injury that led to surgery when she crashed at World Championships - the same race where she won gold in the team event.

“Hand is hanging in there,” said Moltzan. “The doctors put in three plates and 25 screws to stabilize fractures in my three, four and five metacarpals.”

Moltzan will now focus on the slalom on Saturday, March 11 and added that, "giant slalom is a lot easier to manage than slalom," she said in regard to her hand injury. "I have had one day of slalom since before World Championships with a couple runs to test it and I am hoping to give it my all tomorrow with minimal pain.”

Nina O’Brien has also clinched her spot to the alpine World Cup Finals in Soldeu, Andorra, March 15-19. The top 25 in each discipline are invited to the alpine World Cup Finals. Prior to the Åre giant slalom, O’Brien was in the 27th position.

The women will now switch gear to slalom on Saturday, March 11. 

RESULTS
Women's giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times in ET

Åre, Sweden

March 10
4:00 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, first run – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live
7:00 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, second run – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live

March 11
4:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, first run – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live
7:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, second run – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live

March 12
3:00 p.m. – Women’s giant slalom and slalom – CNBC*

World Cup Finals – Soldeu, Andorra

March 15
5:30 a.m. – Women’s downhill – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live

March 16
4:00 a.m. – Women’s super-G – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live

March 18
4:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, first run – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live
7:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, second run – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live
3:00 p.m. – Women’s slalom – CNBC*

March 19 
3:00 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, first run run – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live
6:00 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, second run – Peacockskiandsnowboard.live
3:00 p.m. – Women’s giant slalom – CNBC*

*delayed showing

 

Shiffrin Clinches 86th Win, Ties Stenmark for Most World Cup Wins 

By Courtney Harkins
March, 10 2023
Mikaela 86
Mikaela Shiffrin takes a moment after winning her 86th World Cup win. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard - Mike Dawson)

On Friday, March 10, 2023 at the site of her first career win in 2012, Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Mikaela Shiffrin won her 86th World Cup race in Åre, Sweden, tying Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark for the most Word Cup wins by any alpine skier in history. 

This is just a spectacular day,” said Shiffrin after the race. “It's a pretty spectacular position to be in. I don’t take it for granted to be in this place where people ask me when I’m going to win 86 or 87. That’s a pretty cool place to be, even though it can be difficult to focus sometimes, but today I felt like the focus was there when I needed it to be. It was really fun to ski and that is how I hope it would be.”

The win also clinched Shiffrin the giant slalom crystal globe, making her the most dominant giant slalom skier throughout the 2022-23 season. She already clinched the slalom globe and the overall title. She also now has a women’s record 20 World Cup victories in giant slalom, tying her with Vreni Schneider.

Stenmark dominated the men's slalom and giant slalom disciplines for a decade from 1975 before retiring in 1989. Stenmark’s record 86 victories has stood the test of time for 34 years.

“His legacy is synonymous with ski racing,” said Shiffrin. “If anyone knows anything about ski racing at all and even if they don’t, they know Ingemar Stenmark. I don’t think that will ever pass. He set the standard for what ski racing has become.” 

Stenmark passed the compliment right back to Shiffrin—the two share a comparable humble nature. “She’s much better than I was. You cannot compare,” Stenmark said of Shiffrin. “She has everything. She has good physical strength, she has a good technique, strong head. I think it’s the combination of everything makes her so good.”

Shiffrin was able to send him a video message after the race, stating, “No matter what I do, it doesn’t ever compare what to what he achieved. Maybe I get the 87th victory or maybe not, but the biggest dream is to be mentioned in the same sentence as you. Who you are and who you were as a ski racer and what you achieved as a human—that’s been the most inspiring thing.”  

The new record comes just 46 days after Shiffrin claimed the title of the winningest woman alpine skier in history with 83 victories when she won the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Kronplatz, Italy. 

Shiffrin had a stand-out day in Åre, winning first run by almost six tenths and skiing a smart second run to take the win by .64 seconds. This was her second time clinching the giant slalom globe for the second time in her career. She came through the finish and put her hands over her face second run, as her Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team teammates celebrated in the finish. This is Shiffrin’s 12th victory of the 2022-23 season.

Shiffrin’s 86th victory came at the venue of her first World Cup win in 2012. Now 27 years old, Shiffrin is rewriting alpine skiing history for generations to come. 

“86 wins is truly remarkable, but what makes Mikaela profoundly special is her kindness, humility and ability to inspire the world,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “We are so proud to have her as part of our team. We are excited to see her break the record and continue to dominate for years to come.”

Shiffrin’s success began at a young age. At only 17, Shiffrin won her first World Cup in an Åre, Sweden slalom in December 2012, and became the second-youngest American to win an alpine World Cup. While she originally specialized in slalom, and continues to be dominant in the discipline, having won six of the nine slalom races this season alone, she expanded her repertoire over the years to become a force in all six disciplines. In 2019, she became the first ski racer in history to win in every event: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, alpine combined and parallel. 

Shiffrin took her first giant slalom win in 2015 at the season-opener in Soelden. Her first super-G win was in Lake Louise, Canada in 2019, where she also won her first downhill in 2018. She won an alpine combined in Crans-Montana, Switzerland in 2017 and her first parallel at a city event in Stockholm, Sweden in 2017. 

Shiffrin holds 12 World Cup crystal globes in three different disciplines, including four overall titles, as well as 14 World Championships medals—seven golds, four silvers and three bronzes—and three Olympic medals. She has also already clinched the 2023 slalom, giant slalom and overall globe. 

Shiffrin next races on the slalom on Saturday in Åre.

RESULTS
Women's giant slalom