In the crisp alpine air of South America’s premier training grounds, Mikaela Shiffrin is once again channeling her unyielding drive, lacing up her Atomic skis for what promises to be a defining 2025-26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season. The American phenom, already the most decorated skier in history with 101 World Cup victories, is gearing up with her longtime sponsor Atomic – the Austrian powerhouse behind her record-breaking arsenal – and her fiancé, Norwegian downhill ace Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, couldn’t hold back his emotions. In a simple, one-word Instagram comment that has sent fans into a frenzy, Kilde declared himself “Proud” of Shiffrin’s latest training montage, a raw glimpse into her relentless preparation.
The post, shared by Shiffrin on September 4 from Chile’s Valle Nevado resort, captures the 30-year-old in her element: carving flawless turns on sun-kissed slopes, her Atomic Bent Chetler 100 skis slicing through the snow like a hot knife through butter. “Thanks, 🇨🇱!! Moving Right Along… ✈️ #weareskiing #stifelusskiteam,” she captioned the image, a nod to her ongoing recovery from a brutal abdominal puncture crash in Killington last November that sidelined her for two months. Atomic, Shiffrin’s partner since 2012, amplified the moment on their official channels, highlighting how the brand’s innovative tech – including the new 2026 Redster SL for slalom precision – is fueling her quest for win No. 102 and beyond.
Kilde, 28, who has been by Shiffrin’s side through every high and low, dropped his reaction in the comments section: “Proud.” It’s a word that carries the weight of their shared journey. The couple, engaged since early 2024 after meeting at a World Cup event in Chile a decade ago, have weathered storms together. Kilde’s own nightmare – a horrific January 2024 crash in Wengen that shattered his shoulder and triggered sepsis – forced him to sit out the entire 2024-25 season. Now fully recovered, he’s back on snow himself, posting his first post-surgery skiing video just days before Shiffrin’s update, drawing an awestruck response from her: “In awe.” Their mutual support has become the stuff of alpine legend, with Shiffrin crediting Kilde’s patience during his rehab as a beacon for her own resilience.
“Mikaela’s work ethic is unmatched,” Kilde told Olympics.com in a June interview, reflecting on their intertwined paths toward the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. “We’ve both stared down the barrel of injury, but watching her push through? It’s inspiring. This season, with Atomic backing her, she’s unstoppable.” Shiffrin’s offseason has been a masterclass in focus: dialing in on slalom, giant slalom, and super-G while skipping downhills to hone her edges. Atomic’s R&D team, based in Altenmarkt, has tailored her gear with cutting-edge carbon reinforcements and adaptive flex for variable conditions, tech that’s already netted her eight world championship golds.
As the World Cup opener looms in Sölden on October 25 – a giant slalom where Shiffrin has triumphed four times – rivals like Slovenia’s Ilka Štuhec and Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami are taking note. But Shiffrin’s eyes are on history: eclipsing Ingemar Stenmark’s 86-win mark was just the warmup; now, with 101 under her belt from last season’s nine victories, she’s gunning for 110 by Milan. “The slopes don’t care about records,” she said in a March Stifel U.S. Ski Team presser. “They care about showing up every day. And with Aleks and Atomic in my corner, I’m all in.”
Fans flooded Shiffrin’s post with fire emojis and cheers, while Kilde’s “Proud” racked up thousands of likes, underscoring the couple’s role as alpine skiing’s power duo. Lindsey Vonn, Shiffrin’s predecessor and fellow Atomic alum, echoed the sentiment last month with her own one-word nod to Kilde’s return: “Legend.” As the powder flies and the gates drop, one thing’s clear – Shiffrin’s 2025-26 campaign isn’t just a season; it’s a statement. And with Kilde’s pride lighting the way, expect fireworks.
