Mikaela Shiffrin Shifts Gears: Joins Breezy Johnson in Team Combined Event, Skips Giant Slalom at 2025 World Alpine Ski Championships

Mikaela Shiffrin has made a big change to her plans for the 2025 World Alpine Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria.

On February 10, she announced she won’t be defending her giant slalom title on February 13. Instead, she shared her struggles on social media: “The long-story-short is…I’m not there. Right now, I feel quite far away. I’m currently working through some mental obstacles to return to the GS start with the intensity required for racing.”

Shiffrin has decided to participate in the new Team Combined event on February 11. This is a fresh format where she will race alongside her longtime friend and competitor, Breezy Johnson, who just won the downhill world championship. Although she had planned to skip this event, she changed her mind.

“Breezy and I have been racing together since we were 11. We’ve been roommates, competitors, and friends,” Shiffrin said. This camaraderie could give their team an edge in the new competition.

The Team Combined format, making its senior debut at these Championships, will also appear at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. Each team competes with one downhill run followed by a slalom. The fastest combined time wins gold.

The USA will have a strong lineup, featuring four pairs. Alongside Mikaela and Breezy, Lindsey Vonn will team up with AJ Hurt, super-G bronze medalist Lauren Macuga will partner with Paula Moltzan, and Jackie Wiles will join Katie Hansien.

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