Mikaela Shiffrin Gears Up for Thrilling World Cup Night Slalom Return in Courchevel!

For Mikaela Shiffrin, Courchevel is a special place. It’s where she found hope after her father’s passing. She shared that her victory in December 2020 reminded her that life can still hold value despite its challenges.

Now, Shiffrin is back in Courchevel for a night slalom. This marks her first World Cup race since a significant injury in late November. She crashed during a giant slalom in Killington, Vermont, which left her with a serious injury.

“This race holds a lot of meaning for me,” she said. “It’s beautiful to return here.”

During her crash, Shiffrin was close to her 100th World Cup win. Instead, she suffered a deep puncture in her side, which required surgery. Despite the setback, she managed to show her strength by attending an award event just a day after her operation.

Shiffrin expressed gratitude to her mom, coaches, teammates, and doctors who helped her through her recovery. “It takes a village,” she emphasized.

This isn’t the first injury she’s faced. Last season, she had a fall during a downhill race but made a comeback quickly since the off-season was approaching. This time, she needs to manage her energy more carefully with many important races ahead.

The upcoming slalom on Thursday serves as her last practice run before the World Championships in February. Shiffrin will focus on the technical events but hasn’t ruled out participating in other races.

Recently, Lindsey Vonn expressed excitement about potentially teaming up with Shiffrin for the new combined event at the World Championships. This format includes two skiers from the same nation competing in a downhill and slalom, combining their times.

Shiffrin is eager to perform well at her next race. “If we have a chance, we’ve got to seize it,” she shared. “I want to show the world that I’m ready, despite the uncertainties.”

The first run of the slalom starts at 9 a.m. MST, with the second run scheduled for noon. Shiffrin is all set to make her mark once again.

Finding Strength Through Injury

This injury has pushed Shiffrin to focus on strengthening parts of her body that are crucial for skiing but often overlooked during the busy season. “I’m feeling stronger than I have in a while,” she mentioned. “How that translates into my skiing is still to be seen.”

With her sights set on the future, she remains focused on being present for each chance she gets to race. “I’m not taking any opportunities for granted,” she added, showing her resilient spirit.