Levi, Finland – November 14, 2025 – Under the shimmering northern lights and a crisp Arctic chill, the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup bib draw ceremony in Levi transformed into a love-fest Thursday night, with American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin stealing the spotlight not just with her start position, but with a heartfelt shoutout to her global fanbase.
“Love you all,” Shiffrin wrote on social media alongside a photo of the packed event, capturing the electric energy of the crowd. “What a crowd at the bib draw tonight! Tomorrow is going to be a big day!
The post, which quickly racked up thousands of likes and shares, underscored Shiffrin’s deep connection with supporters as she gears up for Saturday’s women’s slalom – the first of the season and a pivotal early test in the lead-up to the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. With the bib draw complete, all eyes are now on the Levi Black course, where Shiffrin will chase her record-extending ninth victory at the venue she affectionately calls her “lucky reindeer hill.”
The bib draw, held in Levi’s vibrant town center amid twinkling lights and the distant jingle of reindeer bells, drew hundreds of fans braving sub-zero temperatures. Shiffrin, drawing bib 6 – a favorable early start that could shield her from the variable course conditions often plaguing later racers – beamed as she accepted her number, high-fiving supporters and signing autographs late into the evening. Teammates Paula Moltzan (bib 10) and a strong U.S. contingent including Nina O’Brien, AJ Hurt, Elisabeth Bocock, Liv Moritz, Katie Hensien, and debutante Annika Hunt rounded out the North American charge, signaling depth and promise for the Olympic cycle.
Shiffrin’s enthusiasm was palpable, a stark contrast to the high-stakes pressure of an Olympic qualifying year. Fresh off a fourth-place finish in the season-opening giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, where she raced from a challenging bib 20 and climbed the ranks with surgical precision, the 30-year-old is entering Levi with momentum. “It’s a boost knowing I can execute from anywhere on the start list,” Shiffrin said post-Sölden, emphasizing her offseason focus on handling rough, rutted snow – a skill that could prove decisive on Levi’s technical, twisty Black slope.
As the reigning slalom World Cup champion with a staggering 64 career victories in the discipline – more than any skier in history – Shiffrin arrives as the overwhelming favorite. Her Levi legacy is unmatched: eight prior wins here, including a dominant 1.2-second margin last season over Austria’s Katharina Liensberger and Germany’s Lena Duerr. This weekend marks her 16th appearance at the event, where she’s claimed the iconic reindeer trophy more times than anyone.
Yet, the field is stacked with talent hungry to challenge the queen. Liensberger and Duerr return as podium threats, while rising stars like Canada’s Ali Nullmeyer and Switzerland’s Michelle Gisin lurk with upset potential. Notably absent is Shiffrin’s longtime rival, Slovakia’s Petra Vlhová, still sidelined by a January 2024 injury but expected back in training soon. The void adds intrigue, as Shiffrin eyes her 102nd career World Cup win – a milestone that would further cement her as Alpine skiing’s GOAT.
Saturday’s action kicks off with first-run starts at 11:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. ET), followed by the decisive second run at 2:00 p.m. (7:00 a.m. ET). Fans stateside can catch the live drama on Ski & Snowboard Live, with European viewers tuned into Eurosport and Discovery+. Globally, FIS TV offers free streaming via the app.
As the bib draw crowd dispersed into the snowy night, Shiffrin’s words lingered like a promise: tomorrow’s slalom isn’t just a race – it’s a celebration. With fire in her eyes and ice under her skis, the Edwards, Colorado native is ready to light up Levi once more. In an Olympic season defined by uncertainty and ambition, Shiffrin’s blend of gratitude and grit could set the tone for another historic campaign.
