Fresh off her dominant 103rd World Cup victory in Sunday’s women’s slalom here, Mikaela Shiffrin turned her gaze westward with unbridled enthusiasm, eagerly anticipating a rare homecoming to Colorado’s Copper Mountain Resort.
The 30-year-old American phenom, who leads both the overall and slalom standings after back-to-back triumphs in Levi, Finland, and Gurgl, couldn’t contain her joy at the prospect of trading European hotel beds for the comfort of her own.
“I’m really excited to go to Copper. Finally I get to stay in my own bed!” Shiffrin quipped to reporters, flashing a playful grin that belied her laser-focused form on the slopes.
Just a short drive from her training base in Eagle-Vail, Copper Mountain marks the World Cup’s return to the venue after more than two decades – the women’s events, that is. Shiffrin last raced there competitively in 2001 as a wide-eyed junior, but the resort’s upgraded lifts and fresh snow promise a triumphant full-circle moment.
The technical showdown kicks off Friday with men’s Super-G and giant slalom, but the spotlight shifts to the women on Saturday, November 29, with a giant slalom followed by Shiffrin’s specialty – slalom – on Sunday, November 30. It’s the first U.S. stop of the season, filling in while Vermont’s Killington undergoes renovations, and local fans are buzzing with expectations of a Shiffrin sweep.
“I’ve been building toward this all summer, especially in giant slalom,” Shiffrin said, referencing her renewed strength after last season’s injury setbacks. “Racing at home adds that extra fire – and yeah, sleeping in my own bed doesn’t hurt.”
With 103 wins already under her belt – including four slaloms last year – Shiffrin enters Copper as the overwhelming favorite. Challengers like Switzerland’s Camille Rast and Albania’s rising star Lara Colturi, who both podiumed in Gurgl, will need flawless runs to dent her lead. But on familiar terrain, under clear Rocky Mountain skies, the three-time Olympic medalist appears primed to extend her record tally ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard officials project record crowds, with tickets selling out fast. Broadcast coverage airs live on NBC and Peacock, ensuring Shiffrin’s quest for history reaches ski enthusiasts worldwide.
As the circuit’s North American swing continues to Beaver Creek the following week, Shiffrin’s early-season surge signals another Crystal Globe chase. For now, though, it’s all about that home-soil advantage – and, apparently, uninterrupted sleep.
