In a pulse-pounding first run under crisp Rocky Mountain skies, American alpine sensation Mikaela Shiffrin reclaimed her throne, storming to the lead in the women’s slalom at the Stifel Copper Cup. Clocking an impeccable 52.94 seconds, Shiffrin edged out Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener by 0.28 seconds and Austria’s Katharina Liensberger by 0.69, setting the stage for a nail-biting second run and a potential third consecutive World Cup slalom victory.
The 30-year-old Shiffrin, already the proud owner of a record 103 career World Cup wins, entered the day as the overwhelming favorite after dominating the season’s opening two slaloms in Levi, Finland, and Gurgl, Austria. Her flawless descent down the challenging 54-gate course—featuring tight turns and high-speed traverses—drew thunderous cheers from a home crowd that packed the slopesides, marking the first U.S.-based women’s World Cup stop since 2017.
“This course demands precision, and that’s what I brought today,” Shiffrin said post-run, flashing her signature grin amid a swarm of media. “The energy here is electric—it’s fuel for the fire.” With arch-rival Petra Vlhová sidelined by injury, Shiffrin faces a fierce but familiar field, including the resurgent Lara Colturi of Albania, who shadowed her with runner-up finishes in the prior slaloms.
The action unfolded on a sun-drenched Thanksgiving weekend, drawing thousands to Copper Mountain Resort for the Audi FIS Ski World Cup event. Shiffrin’s bib-one start lived up to the hype: she carved through the upper section with surgical accuracy, building a buffer that held firm as the remaining 58 starters chased. American teammate Paula Moltzan posted a solid 54.73 for a mid-pack position, while Nina O’Brien and others qualified comfortably for the afternoon’s decisive second run.
Yesterday’s giant slalom offered a stark contrast, where Shiffrin faltered to 14th after a sluggish opener, overshadowed by New Zealand’s Alice Robinson’s commanding victory—her fifth career win—by a whopping 0.96 seconds over Julia Scheib of Austria. That stumble dropped Shiffrin in the GS standings but did little to dent her overall lead, where she sits atop the crystal globe chase with 268 points, 50 clear of Colturi.
Today’s slalom, however, feels like redemption. Shiffrin’s early-season form has been a masterclass in adaptability, blending raw power with the technical finesse that has defined her eight overall World Cup titles. A win here would mark her 104th victory and extend a streak unseen since her 2019-20 rampage, where she claimed the first three slaloms. “It’s not about the streak—it’s about the fight,” she added, eyes already on the finish line below.
As the second run kicks off at 1 p.m. MT, all eyes turn to whether Shiffrin can seal the deal on home snow. Holdener, a two-time Olympic medalist, and Liensberger, the 2022 world slalom champion, lurk as potent threats, but Shiffrin’s margin offers breathing room. Teammate Moltzan, fresh off a breakout GS podium last month, could steal the show with a hot second descent.
Fans can track live timings via the FIS app or tune into NBC and Peacock for U.S. coverage. With Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics looming, this Copper Mountain clash isn’t just a race—it’s a statement. Shiffrin, ever the pacesetter, leads the charge.
