As the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season builds momentum toward the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin is set to deliver a festive early holiday treat for fans. With a playful nod to Santa’s sleigh, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced that Shiffrin will chase “reindeer number 9” in the women’s slalom opener this Saturday at Copper Mountain, Colorado – her home turf and a pivotal stop in the 2025/26 campaign.
The event, part of a North American swing that kicks off the technical racing calendar stateside, promises high-stakes action as Shiffrin eyes another podium in her signature discipline. The two-day stop features giant slalom on Friday, November 28, followed by slalom on Saturday, November 29 – a schedule designed to energize local crowds before the tour heads to Mont-Tremblant, Canada, for more GS battles in early December.
“Slalom is where the magic happens – tight lines, quick decisions, and that rush of speed,” Shiffrin said in a recent team statement, reflecting on her unparalleled dominance in the event. With 60 career World Cup slalom victories – the most in history – Shiffrin enters the weekend as the clear favorite. Her season has already seen a strong start with a fifth-place finish in the October giant slalom opener in Sölden, Austria, setting the stage for her pursuit of a record-extending 100th career win overall.
The first run of Saturday’s slalom is slated to begin at 4:00 a.m. ET, with the second run to follow later in the morning, weather permitting. Fans can catch the live action exclusively on skiandsnowboard.live, the official streaming platform for U.S. Ski & Snowboard events. On-site spectators at Copper Mountain will enjoy prime viewing from the base area, where the #StifelUSSKiTeam – proudly sponsored by Stifel – will rally behind their hometown hero.
Shiffrin’s form couldn’t come at a better time. After navigating a challenging 2024/25 season marred by an abdominal injury in Killington, Vermont, the 30-year-old Vail native has rebounded with laser focus. She enters Copper with three podiums already in technical events this fall, including a slalom win in Levi, Finland, underscoring her resilience and precision on the hill. “This stop feels like coming home,” Shiffrin added. “The energy from the Colorado crowd always gives me that extra push – like harnessing a bit of holiday magic.”
Copper Mountain, known for its challenging terrain and high-altitude punch, has hosted World Cup races sporadically since 2011, but this marks a marquee return for women’s technical events. Course preparers have teased a fast, rhythmic setup that plays to Shiffrin’s strengths: aggressive gates demanding her trademark blend of power and finesse. Competitors eyeing the crystal globe, including Sweden’s Sara Hector and Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener, will be eager to challenge the American’s supremacy.
Beyond the individual battle, the weekend underscores the U.S. team’s depth. Teammates like Paula Moltzan and AJ Hurt are slated to join Shiffrin, bolstering America’s medal hopes in a season stacked with 16 technical races before the Olympic break. For Shiffrin, who boasts seven World Championship golds and three Olympic medals, Copper represents not just points toward another slalom title but a motivational launchpad.
Tune in early Saturday to witness history in the making. Will Shiffrin snag that elusive ninth “reindeer” and light up the leaderboard? The mountain awaits.
