Mikaela Shiffrin, the undisputed queen of alpine slalom, is riding a wave of momentum as she returns to her home state of Colorado for the inaugural Stifel Copper Cup. Fresh off a commanding victory in Gurgl, Austria—her 103rd career World Cup win—the two-time Olympic champion is poised to dazzle on familiar snow at Copper Mountain Resort this Thanksgiving weekend.
Shiffrin’s latest masterclass came on Sunday in the Austrian Alps, where she crushed the women’s slalom field by 1.23 seconds, finishing in a blistering 1:48.11. The 30-year-old Edwards native led both runs, extending her lead over Albania’s rising star Lara Colturi, who settled for second place for the second straight week. Switzerland’s Camille Rast rounded out the podium in third, mirroring last year’s Gurgl results and underscoring Shiffrin’s stranglehold on the venue.
“It’s pretty much exactly how I expected—not easy, but I knew the others were pushing, so there’s no choice. You have to go,” Shiffrin said post-race, her voice laced with the quiet confidence of someone who’s redefined greatness in the sport. The win marked her 66th in slalom alone, both overall and discipline records that seem increasingly untouchable as she enters the Olympic season.
Challenging conditions in Gurgl—brisk temperatures dipping to -10°C and a tricky, aggressively dry course—tested the entire field, claiming high-profile casualties like Austria’s Katharina Liensberger in the first run and Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić in the second. Yet Shiffrin, training her trademark precision, built a 0.31-second edge after the opening leg and sealed it with the fastest second-run sector times. Fellow American Paula Moltzan impressed in fifth, signaling depth in the U.S. squad as they gear up for home soil.
Now, all eyes turn to Copper Mountain, where the Stifel Copper Cup presented by United Airlines kicks off Thursday, November 27, with men’s super-G and giant slalom races. The women’s action—Shiffrin’s focus—unfolds over the weekend: giant slalom on Saturday, November 29 (first run at 10 a.m. MT, second at 1 p.m.), followed by slalom on Sunday, November 30 (first run at 10 a.m., second at 1 p.m.). This marks the first time Copper has hosted a full World Cup alpine event since 2001, replacing the traditional Killington stop and injecting fresh energy into the U.S. calendar en route to the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
For Shiffrin, it’s a homecoming laced with nostalgia and novelty. Raised in nearby Edwards and a longtime U.S. Ski Team training staple at Copper, she’ll finally race in her home state for the first time since Aspen events over a decade ago. “I’m really excited to go to Copper. I stay in my own bed for the first time during the season since we used to go to Aspen—that’s more than 10 years ago,” she shared, her enthusiasm bubbling over. The slalom on Sunday holds special allure, where Shiffrin’s two-race streak could extend to three, but the giant slalom presents a sterner test after her fourth-place finish in the season opener in Sölden.
Teammate Moltzan, fresh off her Gurgl top-five, looms as a dark horse in GS after her runner-up in Sölden and a worlds bronze earlier this year. On the international front, Colturi’s back-to-back silvers signal her threat level, while Rast’s world championship pedigree keeps the pressure on.
Beyond the gates, the Stifel Copper Cup promises a festival vibe in Center Village, with free entry, VIP options, and high-altitude thrills on Rosi’s Run finish. FIS confirmed the event last week after a successful snow check, ensuring prime conditions for the Thanksgiving spectacle.
As Shiffrin swaps Austrian chill for Colorado crisp, the message to her rivals is clear: the chase is on, but the throne remains hers. With 103 wins in the bag and home fans roaring, expect fireworks—and perhaps a few more records—in the Rockies.
Coverage of the Stifel Copper Cup airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock, and SkiAndSnowboard.live. For tickets and updates, visit CopperColorado.com.
