American alpine skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin has revealed an unexpected benefit from her recent foray into speed events, stating that skiing Super-G (SG) over the past week has turned out to be excellent preparation for the high-speed demands of slalom.
Shiffrin made her long-awaited return to Super-G on December 14 in St. Moritz, Switzerland — her first speed race in nearly two years and her debut in the discipline since December 2023. Despite registering a DNF after a promising start, the 30-year-old described the experience as “a really positive” step back into speed, reigniting her passion for the event.
“Monumental steps for me. SG is beautiful❤️,” Shiffrin posted on social media following the race.
The two-time Olympic champion’s insight highlights how the raw velocity and flow of Super-G — a discipline blending speed and technical turning — has sharpened her edge for slalom, where quick reactions and aggressive speed management are crucial.
Shiffrin heads next to Courchevel, France, for a slalom race, aiming for her fourth victory in the discipline this 2025-26 World Cup season and a potential fifth consecutive slalom win dating back to last year.
Currently leading the overall World Cup standings, Shiffrin has dominated technical events this season while strategically reintroducing speed disciplines ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Her cross-discipline approach underscores why she remains the most versatile and successful skier in history, with fans eagerly watching if this Super-G “prep” translates to yet another slalom masterclass.
