Mikaela Shiffrin is taking a different approach to the 2026/2027 ski racing season.
The six-time overall World Cup champion announced that she is entering what she calls an “exploration season,” focusing more on giant slalom and super-G while following a reduced slalom schedule. She explains that the change is not about stepping away from competition or reducing her commitment to ski racing, but is instead about creating more space to follow what currently motivates her most.
Shiffrin Plans To Race Less Slalom
Shiffrin plans to compete in fewer slalom races this season, with Killington currently scheduled to be her first slalom race before she selects additional events throughout the winter. The decision is partly practical. By maintaining her slalom ranking, Shiffrin wants to preserve the option of returning to a heavier slalom schedule if she decides she misses the event later in the season.
She isn’t reducing her slalom events because the discipline has become easier. She admits that slalom requires an enormous amount of physical and mental preparation, and she doesn’t want to race it without giving it the level of preparation that it demands.
A New Focus On Giant Slalom And Super-G
After 16 years of largely maintaining the same competitive focus, Shiffrin said her curiosity is currently pulling her toward giant slalom and super-G. Her recent progress in giant slalom has helped fuel that interest, entering last season concerned about potentially falling out of the top 30 in the discipline but eventually working her way back into the top seven. She said that experience gave her renewed excitement about exploring her potential in the event.
More Recovery And Room To Explore
The revised schedule will also give Shiffrin more opportunities for recovery and body maintenance. She expects to have dedicated periods away from skiing that can be used to recover rather than immediately returning to slalom training. She amay miss some familiar stops on the World Cup calendar, including Levi, but the new schedule will give her rare opportunities to spend brief periods at home with family.
She remains ambitious, competitive and eager to ski fast. Her goal is not to do less because she cares less. She says she wants to create enough space to discover what comes next in her career.