Two-time Olympic gold medalist and the most decorated alpine skier in history, Mikaela Shiffrin, is pulling back the curtain on the training regimen that keeps her at the top of the sport.
In a new video with Women’s Health, Shiffrin breaks down three of her go-to strength exercises, offering aspiring skiers and fitness enthusiasts a rare look inside the routine that has fueled her record-breaking career.
A Lifetime of Elite Training
Shiffrin began weight training at just 10 years old and now trains six days a week. On many days, her total training load — including strength work, conditioning, recovery, and on-snow sessions — reaches four to eight hours.
Rather than relying heavily on traditional bilateral lifts, Shiffrin prioritizes single-leg movements that mirror the asymmetric demands of ski racing. Before any weighted work, she focuses on thorough movement preparation, starting with foam rolling, band-assisted mobility drills, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS), and core activation.
Her Top 3 Strength Exercises
1. Weighted Crossover Lateral Step-Ups
This functional exercise builds glute and quad strength while targeting hip stabilizers. The crossover step pattern enhances hip mobility and balance — critical for powerful edge control and stability during high-speed turns.
2. Hanging Oblique Knee Raises
Core strength is non-negotiable in alpine skiing. Shiffrin highlights these raises for their ability to develop oblique strength through side flexion and rotation, improving the connection between upper and lower body. The movement proved especially useful during her recovery from a November abdominal injury.
3. Pull-Ups
Simple yet highly effective, pull-ups are a Shiffrin favorite because they make her “feel powerful.” They build upper-body strength, grip, shoulder stability, and overall body control — all essential for absorbing forces and maintaining posture on the mountain.
While recreational skiers won’t match Shiffrin’s elite training volume, her approach offers universal lessons: prioritize mobility work, build a rock-solid core, emphasize unilateral strength, and choose exercises that directly translate to skiing performance.
Watch the full Women’s Health video to see Shiffrin demonstrate each movement with perfect form and explain their specific benefits for ski racing.
At a time when longevity and injury resilience define elite athletes, Shiffrin’s thoughtful, purposeful training philosophy continues to set the standard. Whether you’re chasing podiums or simply aiming to ski stronger and safer, these insights from the greatest of all time are pure gold.
