The International Ski Federation (FIS) unveiled its provisional calendar for the 2025/26 Alpine World Cup season on May 9, setting the stage for an intense pre-Olympic buildup. For U.S. alpine star Mikaela Shiffrin, this means up to 16 technical events before she defends her legacy at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics—a golden opportunity to reclaim the podium she last topped in 2018.
Shiffrin, the all-time leader in World Cup victories with 97 wins and a two-time Olympic champion, is gearing up for a grueling yet strategic run. The calendar features 11 technical stops before the Games’ February pause, blending high-stakes races across Europe and North America to sharpen her form for the February 7-18 competitions in Italy.
Kicking off the season in classic fashion, Shiffrin will tackle the giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, on October 25, followed by the slalom in Levi, Finland, on November 15. North American supporters get a treat soon after, with home-soil action at Copper Mountain, Colorado, on November 29-30, featuring both giant slalom and slalom disciplines.
The tour then crosses the border to Mont-Tremblant, Canada, for back-to-back giant slaloms on December 6-7, rounding out a continent-spanning early stretch. Technical specialists like Shiffrin will wrap up their pre-Olympic preparations with a doubleheader at Špindlerův Mlýn in Czechia on January 24-25, fine-tuning edges just weeks before the Games.
On the speed side, women’s downhill and super-G athletes launch in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in December with two downhills and a super-G, before shifting to Val d’Isère, France, for a downhill and super-G the following week. Their final tune-up comes at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, with a downhill and super-G leading directly into Milano Cortina.
Post-Olympics, the calendar thins out with just four events: two speed stops in Andorra and Italy, a technical visit to Åre, Sweden, and the season-capping World Cup Finals in Lillehammer, Norway.
Men’s racing mirrors the women’s opener, starting with a giant slalom in Sölden on October 26, then Levi, setting up parallel paths toward the Olympics.
FIS emphasized that the schedule remains tentative, pending full Council ratification and potential adjustments for weather or other disruptions. For Shiffrin, 34 at the Games’ start, this Olympic cycle represents a pivotal chapter—chasing elusive golds in slalom or giant slalom to etch her name deeper into history.
