Mikaela Shiffrin lit up the frozen slopes of Levi on Saturday, November 15, claiming her 102nd career World Cup win and kicking off the 2025/26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season with a masterful performance that embodied pure joy and precision. The American superstar, beaming with her signature infectious smile, finished over 1.5 seconds ahead of the field in the women’s slalom opener, solidifying her status as the undisputed queen of the discipline as the Olympic year ramps up toward the Milano-Cortina 2026 Games.
Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the all-time leader in World Cup victories, wasted no time asserting dominance. She clocked the fastest time in both runs on the challenging Levi Black course, leading by more than a second after the morning leg and extending her advantage in the afternoon finale. “It’s starting to feel more like home,” Shiffrin said post-race, reflecting on her ninth triumph at the Finnish resort—earning her yet another iconic reindeer trophy, a Levi tradition for winners. Albania’s Lara Colturi, celebrating her 19th birthday, charged to a career-best second place (+1.66 seconds back), while Germany’s Emma Aicher rounded out the podium in third (+2.59s). U.S. teammate Paula Moltzan delivered a strong fourth-place finish, helping the American women seize the top two spots in both the overall and slalom standings, and widening the U.S. lead in the Nations Cup to 184 points over Austria.
This victory marks Shiffrin’s first podium of the season following a pair of giant slalom races in Sölden, Austria, and comes after a resilient recovery from an abdominal injury in late 2024 that sidelined her briefly.cdbd5e With 65 slalom wins now under her belt—the most in any Alpine discipline—Shiffrin is primed for an “iconic” campaign, as FIS Alpine celebrated in their post-race update, with eyes on reclaiming the overall Crystal Globe and adding to her Olympic medal haul in Cortina d’Ampezzo and the Dolomites next February.
The win’s elation spilled over into fan engagement, as Ikon Pass—Shiffrin’s longtime ambassador partner—launched the “Ski Hearter” giveaway to capture the heart-pounding passion of the sport. Open through today, November 16, the promotion invites skiers to nominate a friend or loved one who “skis hearters”—embodying that fearless, joyful commitment to the mountain like Shiffrin herself—for a shot at life-changing prizes.
The grand prize, valued at up to $15,000, includes round-trip travel, a two-night stay at the luxurious Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains in St. Moritz, Switzerland, tickets to the women’s Super-G (December 13) and Downhill (December 14) World Cup races, two 2025/26 Ikon Passes for unlimited access to over 50 North American resorts, a $2,000 Visa travel voucher, exclusive Ikon swag, a signed Shiffrin ski suit, and a Stifel U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Insider Membership. Both the nominator and nominee could win, turning a simple shoutout into courtside seats to watch Shiffrin chase more history in the glamorous Swiss Alps—a key pre-Olympic tune-up stop.
Twenty-five runner-up winners will receive custom “Ski Hearter” swag bags, complete with beanies, neck gaiters, stickers, luggage tags, and even conversation heart candies reimagined for the slopes. To enter, head to bit.ly/skihearter or the link in Ikon Pass’s bio, and share your nomination story of ski passion before midnight tonight. The stunning victory photo capturing Shiffrin’s radiant “face of joy” was snapped by photographer @mountain.max.
As the World Cup tour snowballs toward St. Moritz and beyond, Shiffrin’s Levi masterclass signals a season of redemption and records. For fans, it’s not just about watching greatness—it’s about joining it, one heartfelt nomination at a time.
