Full Breakdown
Mikaela Shiffrin Announces “Exploration Season,” Shifting Emphasis to Giant Slalom and Super-G
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Schedule Change
On October 6, three-times Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin said she will race fewer slalom events in the upcoming World Cup season and devote more time to giant slalom (GS) and super-G. She will skip the early-season slalom stops in Levi, Finland, and Gurgl, Austria, and instead make her first slalom appearance at Killington, Vermont. The season will open with a GS race in Sölden, Austria, in late October, followed by a series of GS and super-G events before she returns to slalom later in the winter.
Background & Context – Recent Achievements
Shiffrin entered the 2026-27 season after a record-breaking year that included a second Olympic slalom gold at the Milan-Cortina Games, a ninth World Cup slalom title, and a sixth overall World Cup crystal globe. She also holds the all-time record for World Cup victories and the most slalom wins, with 22 GS wins and five super-G wins, plus Olympic golds in GS (2018) and super-G (2019).
Data & Statistics
- Career World Cup wins: 110 (record)
- Slalom wins: 73 (record)
- Giant-slalom wins: 22 (women’s record)
- Super-G wins: 5 (most by a woman)
- Slalom crystal globes: 9
- Olympic gold medals: 3 (slalom 2014, 2026; GS 2018)
- World Cup overall titles: 6 (most in history)
Official Statements & Responses
Shiffrin described the plan as an “exploration season,” emphasizing curiosity rather than a reduction in ambition. She said the change is not driven by a lack of interest in slalom; rather, she wants to test a different balance that could extend her career and allow more time at home in Colorado during the October-to-March period.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Public announcements have confirmed the first GS race in Sölden and the first slalom at Killington, but the exact number and timing of additional slalom starts remain unspecified. Sources indicate that the decision on whether to compete in the World Championships slalom in February will be made later in the season.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m changing the question. Instead of asking how much can I possibly fit into this upcoming season, I’m asking what happens if I give myself enough space to explore the things that I’m the most curious about. I don’t actually know the answer, so that’s kind of the point.” — Mikaela Shiffrin
- “Right now, the plan is Killington as my first slalom and potentially a few others throughout the season,” — Mikaela Shiffrin
What’s Next
The season will begin in late October with the Sölden giant-slalom. Shiffrin’s first slalom will take place at Killington in late November, after which she will select additional slalom events based on her progress and physical condition. She may adjust the schedule throughout the winter and could return to a more slalom-heavy program if needed.