Mikaela Shiffrin shifts focus from slalom to speed disciplines

Alpine skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin has announced a significant shift in her competitive strategy for the upcoming season. The American record-holder plans to reduce her participation in slalom events, which has historically been her most dominant discipline. Instead, she intends to focus more heavily on giant slalom and super-G.

Shiffrin explained that the decision is driven by a desire for personal growth and to avoid professional stagnation. She noted that continuing to focus solely on slalom might lead to an earlier retirement. She stated, ‘This season is about discovery,’ and emphasized that her motivation comes from the process of self-improvement rather than just winning or accumulating trophies.

As a result of this change, Shiffrin will skip early-season slalom competitions in Levi and Gurgli, making her slalom debut later in the season at Killington. This shift in the competitive landscape is expected to impact her rivals, including Petra Vlhová.