For Mikaela Shiffrin, returning to Courchevel holds deep personal significance. It was here that she celebrated her first victory after her father’s passing in February 2020. Reflecting on her emotional giant slalom win on December 14, 2020, she shared, “It helped me realize that even though my life might never be the same, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.”
This Thursday, Shiffrin will be back at the French venue for a night slalom, marking her first World Cup race since her injury in November. She faced a challenging incident in Killington, Vermont, where she crashed and suffered a serious muscle injury that required surgery.
“There is a lot of meaning built into this race for me,” Shiffrin expressed, highlighting the beauty of returning to the place where she triumphed. It’s a significant moment for her as she gears up to face the slopes once again.
After her injury, which left her with a severe puncture wound, Shiffrin had to work hard to get back to her form. She underwent surgery in December and received support from medical professionals and her team. “They’ve all been so helpful and supportive,” she said. “It takes a village.”
Shiffrin recalled how past injuries prepared her for this moment. Last season, she recovered from a crash in Cortina d’Ampezzo just in time to make her mark. Now, she is focused on managing her energy and time as she heads into an important race season. “This season, we’ve got to manage time and energy, and that’s a huge piece,” she noted.
The upcoming slalom race will serve as Shiffrin’s final preparation for the World Championships starting February 4 in Saalbach. Her spokesperson mentioned that she plans to focus on the technical events, keeping her options open for super-G races later on.
Interestingly, Lindsey Vonn expressed her desire to team up with Shiffrin for the new combined event at the championships, which features teams of two skiers competing in different disciplines. Vonn’s enthusiasm was evident when she remarked on how exciting it would be to join forces with Shiffrin, given their impressive combined wins in World Cup history.
While Shiffrin didn’t specifically comment on Vonn’s wish, she emphasized her focus on the race ahead. “I need some GS training, and the time between Courchevel and the GS and the slalom race at the World Championships is really impactful for my races for the rest of the season,” she said.
The recovery process also brought unexpected benefits. Shiffrin mentioned that her injury allowed her to focus on core skills and strength-building exercises that are often overlooked during a normal racing season. “My raw strength is better now than it’s been in a while,” she shared, looking forward to seeing how this will translate to her skiing.
Shiffrin’s mentality remains strong as she prepares for her return. “If we’ve got a chance, we’ve got to try because this is where I want to be,” she said, demonstrating her commitment and passion for the sport.
The first run of Thursday’s slalom begins at 9 a.m. MST, and she is ready to embrace the challenge ahead.
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