Mikaela Shiffrin stood atop the podium in Gurgl on Sunday with the familiar weight of a crystal globe in her hands, but her words afterward carried a deeper resonance than another routine victory lap.
In an emotional Instagram post that quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of likes, the 30-year-old American reflected on a weekend that delivered her second consecutive World Cup slalom triumph of the young season—and perhaps the sweetest one yet.
“Today was exhilarating!! Not easy, never given,” Shiffrin wrote, borrowing a line from Doja Cat to underscore the point: “Ain’t finna pop for no reason…” 💥
After spending significant portions of the past two seasons watching from the sidelines while recovering from injury, Shiffrin’s joy at simply being back in the start gate was palpable. “Having watched a good chunk of the past 2 seasons from the sidelines, I’m honestly so grateful to be part of it 🥹,” she shared.
The victory in the Austrian Alps marked Shiffrin’s 98th career World Cup win and her 59th in slalom alone—extending her own all-time records—but the numbers felt secondary to the emotion pouring out of the five-time overall champion.
“I’m so thankful to the team around me—all of their work has paid off again this weekend ❤️,” she continued. “We’re taking it all one step at a time.”
Shiffrin was quick to spread the praise, congratulating Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami and France’s Camille Rast, who joined her on the podium. “Congrats to Lara and Camille… I love to see the speed of these women. Everyone is pushing and it’s so motivating to give my absolute ALL in these races.”
The depth of the women’s technical field has rarely been stronger, and Shiffrin—long the benchmark—now finds herself chasing as often as she’s being chased. That dynamic, far from daunting her, appears to be lighting a new fire.
Next up is a rare treat: a brief stop at home before the World Cup circuit heads to Copper Mountain, Colorado, for the Stifel Copper Cup Presented by United Airlines. For the first time this season, Shiffrin will sleep in her own bed—a luxury she highlighted with visible excitement.
From the sun-splashed slopes of Gurgl to the familiar Rocky Mountain air awaiting her in Colorado, Shiffrin’s momentum is undeniable. Two wins in two slalom starts, an emotional outpouring of gratitude, and a sport pushing her to new heights.
As she wrote in closing:
“…Next stop 🔜 Stifel Copper Cup, Presented by United Airlines!! #stifelusskiteam”
If the first two races of the season are any indication, the rest of the World Cup field had better buckle up. Mikaela Shiffrin is back—not just racing, but feeling every second of it.
