The slopes lit up like a winter wonderland under the floodlights as alpine skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin capped off another dominant performance in the FIS World Cup night slalom, securing her sixth victory of the season and her record-extending 107th career World Cup win (70th in slalom).
The American phenom, widely regarded as the greatest alpine skier of all time, powered through the challenging Hermann Maier course in Flachau with precision and flair, finishing with a combined time of 1:50.52. Her teammate Paula Moltzan charged to second place at 1:50.93, delivering a thrilling US 1-2 finish that had the packed crowd roaring—echoing the electric atmosphere fans have come to expect from these high-stakes night races.
“Snowspace sparklefarts…” Shiffrin posted on social media shortly after the event, playfully capturing the magical, almost surreal vibe of the snowy, floodlit showdown (swipe/scroll for the full context 🥴⭐️❤️).
“The crowd was INSANE… thank you all so much for showing up like that 🥹🥹,” she added, her gratitude shining through the exhaustion. In a heartfelt shoutout, she exclaimed, “Also… PAULA!!!!!!! 🫂🫂,” celebrating the unbreakable bond and shared success with Moltzan, who has been a key part of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team’s resurgence.
The night wrapped up well past midnight with the routine but necessary doping control procedures—a standard protocol in elite competition. “Prob more words to come tomorrow but it’s midnight and we just finished doping-control and it’s literally SO FAR past bedtime… night night!!” Shiffrin signed off, promising a deeper recap once she’s caught up on rest.
This victory comes at a pivotal moment in the 2025-26 season, just weeks before the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics kick off on February 6. Shiffrin’s mastery in slalom continues to build unstoppable momentum, positioning her as a heavy favorite for gold in her signature discipline. The US duo’s podium lockout not only boosts team morale but also sends a strong message to the international field.
With one more slalom remaining before the Olympic break, the “Snowspace Sparklefarts” energy—whimsical name aside—perfectly sums up the joy, intensity, and pure magic of elite ski racing under the stars.
Stay tuned for Shiffrin’s full reflections, and here’s to more sparkling performances on the road to Cortina! 🏆❄️🇺🇸
