Fresh off her emotional 102nd World Cup victory in Levi, Finland, Mikaela Shiffrin is wasting no time shifting focus to the next chapter of her Olympic season — and this one hits especially close to home, literally.
The 30-year-old American skiing icon gave fans an intimate glimpse into her early-season preparation on Wednesday, posting a heartfelt video diary from Copper Mountain Resort in her native Colorado. In the footage, Shiffrin trains under clear blue skies on the resort’s pristine speed and technical lanes, narrating her excitement about what’s to come.
“It’s starting to feel more like home,” Shiffrin says in the clip, smiling as she carves flawless turns down the mountain she’s trained on since childhood. “Having World Cup racing on home snow… it means everything.”
For the first time in nearly a decade, the women’s FIS Alpine Ski World Cup will visit the United States outside of Vermont when Copper Mountain hosts the Stifel Copper Cup presented by United over Thanksgiving weekend, November 27-30, 2025. The event features men’s and women’s giant slalom and slalom races — disciplines where Shiffrin has long reigned supreme — marking the only women’s World Cup stop in the U.S. this season.
“It’s so exciting to see Copper as a true World Cup race venue,” Shiffrin said earlier this year when the calendar was confirmed. “I’m particularly excited because it’s so close to home — I can sleep in my own bed and my community can come and experience it.”
Long known as “The Athlete’s Mountain,” Copper has been the official training headquarters for the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team since 2022 and a favorite prep destination for athletes worldwide. Its early-season snowmaking, dedicated race lanes, and high-altitude conditions make it the perfect proving ground — and now, for one weekend, the global stage.
In her latest post, Shiffrin showcases drills in both slalom and giant slalom, emphasizing the mental and physical reset after Levi’s triumph (where she dedicated her ninth reindeer, named “Winkie,” to her mother Eileen). With the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics just three months away, the two-time Olympic gold medalist appears sharper than ever.
“Training here feels different,” she reflects in the video. “The energy, the support, knowing friends and family will be in the crowd soon… it’s fuel.”
Shiffrin’s dominance in technical events is unmatched: 65 slalom wins, 60 giant slalom podiums, and a record-extending resume that already includes six overall Crystal Globes. A strong result at Copper could see her pull even further ahead in the standings while thrilling American fans starved for home-soil racing.
The Stifel Copper Cup kicks off with men’s giant slalom on November 27, followed by women’s GS on the 28th, men’s slalom on the 29th, and women’s slalom on the 30th. For Shiffrin, it’s more than a race weekend — it’s a homecoming.
As the Colorado native put it: “This is where it all started. Bringing the World Cup here? It really does feel like home now.”
Fans can catch all the action live on Peacock and NBC platforms, with thousands expected to line the course in what promises to be one of the most electric atmospheres of the season. If Shiffrin’s current form is any indication, the Queen of the World Cup is ready to put on a show — right in her own backyard.
