Mikaela Shiffrin delivered another rock-solid performance in giant slalom, finishing fourth in today’s FIS World Cup race on the demanding Erta slope in Kronplatz – a clear sign she’s dialing in form at the perfect time with Milano Cortina 2026 just weeks away.
The American superstar, who leads the all-time World Cup wins list at 107, attacked the steep, technical course with her trademark precision and consistency. After placing fourth in the first run, she held her ground in Run 2 to secure a strong top-5 finish behind winner Julia Scheib (AUT), runner-up Camille Rast (SUI), and third-place Sara Hector (SWE). It’s exactly the kind of result Shiffrin needs in GS – building confidence and rhythm ahead of the Olympic giant slalom on February 15 in Cortina.
But the U.S. story didn’t stop with Shiffrin. Teammate Paula Moltzan continued her breakout season with an impressive eighth-place finish – another top-10 that highlights her growing strength in giant slalom and adds serious depth to Team USA’s technical team. Moltzan’s recent podium in Flachau slalom (second behind Shiffrin) already had momentum rolling; today’s result shows she’s carrying that fire across disciplines.
The biggest cheer of the day? Elisabeth Bocock notched a career-best 12th place – a massive personal breakthrough for the young U.S. skier and proof the Stifel U.S. Ski Team pipeline is producing results when it counts.
With the Erta’s brutal gradients and perfect conditions today, this was no easy day on snow. Yet the Americans came away with three skiers in the points, strong positioning, and growing belief heading into the Olympics. Shiffrin’s fourth keeps her firmly in the conversation for GS hardware in Cortina (where she’s chasing redemption after past seasons), while Moltzan and Bocock’s finishes signal a team that’s peaking together.
The countdown to Milano Cortina is heating up – and Team USA looks locked and loaded.
Who’s feeling the red-white-and-blue hype? More top finishes incoming? Olympic medals on the horizon? Drop your predictions below, fire up those reacts, and tag your ski crew! 🇺🇸🏅
