As the chill of the Finnish Arctic settles over the Levi Black course, the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup turns its focus to the season’s first slalom showdowns, where American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin is poised to reclaim her throne in the technical discipline she has long defined.
The women’s slalom opener is set for Saturday, November 15, with the first run kicking off at 10:00 a.m. local time (3:00 a.m. ET), followed by the decisive second run at 1:00 p.m. (6:00 a.m. ET). Shiffrin, the two-time Olympic champion and record holder with 101 World Cup victories, will anchor the U.S. Ski Team’s efforts in what has become her personal playground. The following day, Sunday, November 16, marks the second slalom of the weekend, mirroring the schedule with runs at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. local time. This rare doubleheader format intensifies the early-season stakes, offering competitors a chance to build momentum ahead of the grueling Olympic-qualifying campaign leading to the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.
Shiffrin enters Levi with a storied legacy on this hill. Since 2016, every women’s World Cup slalom here has been claimed by either the American or her longtime rival, Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova – with Shiffrin securing eight triumphs, including last season’s dominant wire-to-wire victory that pushed her career tally to 98 at the time. “Levi has always felt like a second home,” Shiffrin said in a pre-event interview with Olympics.com. “The course demands precision and power, and after a summer focused on rebuilding my giant slalom base, I’m excited to let it rip in slalom.”
Her preparation has been methodical. Following a challenging end to the 2024-25 season marred by an abdominal injury from a crash in Killington, Shiffrin posted four slalom wins to close out strong, all while eyeing a sixth overall Crystal Globe and a ninth discipline title in slalom – which would eclipse Lindsey Vonn’s mark of eight small globes in downhill. This season, she’s committed to a selective Super-G schedule but plans to contest all 16 technical races pre-Olympics, starting with Levi’s dual events. “I’m stronger in GS than I’ve been in years,” she added, hinting at cross-discipline carryover benefits for her slalom prowess.
The field is stacked with challengers hungry to dethrone the queen. Austria’s Katharina Liensberger, who rounded out last year’s Levi podium, brings consistent podium threat, while Germany’s Lena Duerr eyes redemption after a solid preseason. Vlhova, recovering from her own injury setbacks, could make a statement if she returns to full form. With Federica Brignone sidelined by injury for the early going, the door is ajar for Shiffrin and Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami – the reigning Super-G champ and overall runner-up last season – to vie for early supremacy. Gut-Behrami, in her farewell campaign before retirement, has voiced ambitions for a third overall title.
Weather forecasts for Levi predict crisp, clear conditions with temperatures hovering around -5°C (23°F), ideal for the fast, rutted Levi Black slope that punishes the slightest error. Organizers confirmed the events post-snow inspection on November 6, ensuring prime racing surfaces. Men’s slaloms run concurrently on the same weekend, drawing a global audience to this Lapland gem that blends high-stakes competition with post-race reindeer parades and Northern Lights viewing.
Fans can catch the action live on NBC Sports, Peacock, and the FIS TV app, with free streaming available via skiandsnowboard.live for international viewers. For Shiffrin, these races aren’t just about points – they’re a launchpad toward Olympic gold in February and etching her name deeper into skiing’s pantheon. As she straps in for run one on Saturday, all eyes will be on whether the 30-year-old from Eagle-Vail, Colorado, can extend her Levi win streak and signal another season of unparalleled excellence.
