As the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup heats up ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, all eyes are turning north to the Laurentian Mountains. This weekend, December 6-7, the iconic Mont-Tremblant resort explodes onto the scene as host of back-to-back women’s giant slalom (GS) races – the only World Cup stop in eastern North America this season. And leading the charge? None other than American sensation Mikaela Shiffrin, the two-time Olympic champion who’s dominating the early season like a force of nature.
Fresh off a flawless slalom sweep – three straight World Cup victories in Levi, Finland; Gurgl, Austria; and her home turf at Copper Mountain, Colorado – Shiffrin enters the weekend with 104 career wins under her belt, the most in Alpine skiing history. At 30, the Edwards, Colorado native is not just chasing records; she’s redefining them, having overcome a harrowing injury last November that left her with a punctured abdomen and months of recovery. Her 14th-place finish in GS at Copper was a gritty reminder of her versatility, but it’s her slalom supremacy – now four races unbeaten, including last season’s finale – that has fans buzzing about Olympic redemption after a tough 2022 Beijing campaign.
“Tremblant is going to be electric,” Shiffrin said in a recent interview, reflecting on the course’s challenging “Flying Mile” – a high-speed beast known for its steep drops, tight turns, and unforgiving terrain. “The crowd here is always so passionate, and with the Olympics on the horizon, every point counts. I’m feeling strong and ready to push in GS.” Currently sixth in the GS standings after a determined fourth in Sölden and that solid Copper run, Shiffrin is hungry for her first GS podium of the season.
But Shiffrin won’t have the slopes to herself. The start list reads like a who’s who of women’s skiing, blending Olympic pedigree with rising stars. Defending GS champion Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland, in her farewell season, brings her powerhouse style and a crystal globe to defend. Italy’s Federica Brignone, fresh off dominating the 2025 Worlds GS in Saalbach, and New Zealand’s Alice Robinson, a consistent top-three threat, are primed to challenge. Don’t sleep on Austria’s Julia Scheib or Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund, who’ve surged with podiums in Sölden and Copper.
For Canadian fans, it’s a homecoming. Local hero Valérie Grenier, a Mont-Tremblant native, leads a stacked squad including Britt Richardson, Cassidy Gray, and debutante Kendra Giesbrecht. Grenier, who cracked the top 11 in Sölden, could turn the pedestrian village finish line into a sea of red-and-white cheers. “Racing in front of our home crowd is everything,” Grenier posted on social media. “Let’s make this weekend unforgettable!”
The action kicks off Saturday with the first GS at 11:00 a.m. local time (first run), followed by the second at 2:00 p.m. Sunday’s double-header shifts to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., with medals awarded immediately after in the heart of the village – a unique setup that puts spectators slopeside for the drama. Expect 63 athletes from 20 nations, 300 volunteers, and up to 15,000 roaring fans transforming the resort into a winter wonderland of adrenaline. Après-ski vibes? Friday’s DJ warm-up at Place Saint-Bernard, Saturday’s Coca-Cola stage festivities with hosts Marie-Michèle Gagnon and Randy Ferguson, and Sunday’s village party – it’s more than racing; it’s a full-on celebration.
Tremblant isn’t just stepping up; it’s replacing Lake Louise as Canada’s crown jewel stop, thanks to upgraded snowmaking (139 new poles and fans for early-season reliability) and course tweaks like backfilling on the Johannsen slope. No more weather woes like last year’s cancellation – Mother Nature is cooperating with crisp temps and fresh powder.
Tune in worldwide: Peacock for U.S. viewers, CBC Sports in Canada, Eurosport/Discovery+ in Europe, or free on FIS TV and the app elsewhere.cbd91c Tickets are still available at coupedumonde.tremblant.ca – general admission starts at $25 CAD, with VIP options for that up-close podium thrill.
As Shiffrin eyes her 105th win and a GS breakthrough, this Tremblant takeover could be the spark that ignites her Olympic fire. Grab your cowbells, bundle up, and get to the mountain – history’s about to carve its way down the Flying Mile. Who’s ready to witness greatness?
