Shiffrin’s Need for Speed? %

Considering her momentous, title-clinching showing at high speed in the French Alps, the question is inevitable: Should Mikaela Shiffrin incorporate more speed races into next season’s program?

Shiffrin’s coach Mike Day on the possibility: “Everything is on the table.”

Shiffrin’s masterful performances in downhill and super-G races at World Cup Finals in Courchevel – an unexpected victory and timely second-place showing – locked up her fourth career overall World Cup title in resounding and improbable fashion.

Her dominant display in France begs the question: Should Shiffrin incorporate more speed races into next season’s program? 

Shiffrin charged to podium finishes in five of the ten speed races entered this past season, including a confidence-boosting second place at a Lenzerheide super-G. It was an inspiring display of racing following the challenging and distressing Beijing Olympics. She carried that momentum and ultimately outdistanced Petra Vlhova by 184 points to win her fourth overall crystal globe. Obviously, the 485 points earned in speed events were crucial.

In fact, Shiffrin’s 485 points across ten speed races during the 2021-’22 World Cup season accounted for the largest percentage of total points, 32.5%, of her four overall titles. By comparison, she scored 529 points in speed events in 2018-’19. However, it represented just 24% of her grand total of 2,204 points that season.

The numbers, performances, and ‘wow factor’ make a convincing argument as to why the 27-year-old, 74-time World Cup winner should add more speed to her repertoire.

Despite her pivotal performance at the season finale downhill and super-G races in Courchevel, delivered in a country renowned for its wonderful baguettes, Shiffrin says tech events will most likely remain her bread and butter.

“My focus wasn’t really on speed this year, but then it worked out very well for these last races and that was just awesome,” Shiffrin told Ski Racing Media shortly after being presented her fourth overall crystal globe in Meribel, France. “Of course, it’s always fun to win, but I normally find more consistency in tech and super-G, but downhill is entirely separate and takes so much time.”

“It’s hard to say, but my instinct or tendency would actually be to work a bit more with my GS and slalom because I was excelling more in speed over these last races of the season,” she added.

Shiffrin and Kilde Put Their Heads Together

Prior to her game-changing downhill victory in Courchevel on March 16 – her first win in the discipline since January 2020 and one of three in her career – Shiffrin talked shop with boyfriend Aleksander Aamodt Kilde regarding the new ‘Eclipse’ downhill track. As she was in pursuit of another overall title, the Norwegian speed specialist was on the verge of his first downhill title.

“We’ve been trying to analyze it together – I told her not to be satisfied with the speed she has because it’s a course where you can really tighten up the line and be smart in places because she is the best skier in the world,” Kilde said, shortly after Shiffrin clocked the fastest time in the second training run. “It’s fun to see her execute the way that I’d like to,” he added.

“He is great at analyzing skiing on every level, but obviously in speed, he is the top, top, best, and it’s amazing to watch him, talk about it, and I learn so much,” Shiffrin says of Kilde.

Having Kilde in one’s corner would seem to make for an irrefutable argument that Shiffrin should come out fighting in more downhills when the bell rings next season. 

“It’s always different to talk about it, then do it – I was able to do it this week in France, but that’s not always the case,” Shiffrin says about succeeding in downhills.

Brignone Comments

Federica Brignone, who finished third in this season’s overall standings, says Mikaela should do what feels right to her. However, the Italian also believes her downhill potential remains untapped. 

“She could win a lot more in speed,” Brignone opines. “Mikaela has the perfect technique, she has the speed, and is obviously not afraid so she can win, but she needs to do what is best for her and I think she has to have fun.”

Shiffrin’s Coach Mike Day Offers Insight

Questioned about Mikaela’s stellar finish to her title-winning season, her coach of six years, Mike Day, commends her resilience and says her performance was the “definition of a true champion.”

“To see the way she came back from the experience in China to get back on the podium in super-G in Lenzerheide immediately, ski some reasonable technical races and then to do what she did here (in France) in the speed races was just tremendous,” Day told Ski Racing Media.

Asked about the likelihood that additional speed races will become part of Mikaela’s program next season, Day says that anything is possible.

“I love it – I find it very fun. It’s fun to do well in speed, but it’s not fun when it’s scary and when you don’t feel comfortable going fast,” Shiffrin says.

“Everything is on the table right now – we like to go back to places that we’ve been in speed from a comfort and experience level, so we have to target the tracks that she has seen and then introduce new ones that make sense,” Day said.

In recent seasons, Shiffrin has preferred the downhills and super-G tour stops in Lake Louise, St. Moritz and Cortina, all venues that she has prospered at. Naturally, downhill races require time-consuming, three-to-four-day commitments when you account for the necessary training runs.

“I would love to see her doing speed more consistently, but it does take away from her preparation for other events, so everything is a give and take,” Day said.

The Need for Speed

Whether Shiffrin and team opt to place a greater emphasis on the downhill and super-G races in the future remains to be seen. However, the highly confident athlete knows that her uncanny ability to produce results in speed with minimal preparation is a powerful trump card that she can play as the chips fall.

The dominant American ski racer adds: “It’s wonderful to know that I have a good pace in the speed events.”

Follow Brian on Twitter – @Brian_Pinelli